Hello fellow expats...

This is a bizarre topic... I know... But when it comes to personal toiletries, I'm pretty particular. One of the things I have never found a local alternative for is my deodorant. 

I've tried several brands here and there over the years and always ended up with HEAVILY scented, sticky wet roll on goo. The unfamiliar brands available here are labeled with tiny fonts and almost entirely in Thai, making it hard to figure out what is what.

My solution for the last decade has been to just buy a few big bottles of unscented Dry Idea whenever I'm in the states.  It's cheap, not too heavy, doesn't take up much space in my bags, and it doesn't spoil... so stocking up has worked until now. However, for reasons that should be apparent to all, that hasn't been possible lately. My last bottle ran out and after trying two more local brands... HELP!

 

Anyone know of a locally available brand that uses a formulation similar to Dry Idea Roll-on? (https://www.dialprofessional.com/products/antiperspirants-deodorants/dry-idea-roll-on/

Preferably unscented? 

 

I looked at ordering it online, but the shipping costs and hassle of it doesn't make sense.

 

The main thing I'm looking for is the "feel" of the product. They call it "DRY" Idea for a reason... there is no water in it... It doesn't feel wet and sticky and gooey when you put it on.
 

And for the love of god, why do they put so much STINK in all the brands they sell here? 
I don't want to smell like "Blue Ice", "Tropical Stud" or whatever other disgusting scents the marketers come up with.

I'm sitting here now with sticky armpits and this artificial stench like a cheap car freshener around me... 

Anyone? Any idea on the Dry Idea?

 

Thanks for entertaining my tempest in a teacup problem for the day.

 

 

 

Its not cheap but its right here.......

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.3Kjoe

If you want something with no scent   you could go to your local wet/vegetable market and ask for some "Sang som"  ( Alum Crystal)   it comes in  white/clear crystal form

very cheap and traditional Thai antiperspirant    just make sure to remove all the sharp edges before aplying to armpits  as they can be very sharp !!

@CharlieH

Thanks... I did see that, and it's on a couple of other ecommerce sites also, but as we both said it's very expensive with international shipping costs.

And that still doesn't guarantee that it won't get additional fees from customs when it arrives. Almost everything I've ever ordered from overseas has been both an extra expense and extra hassle when it arrived, so that's definitely not my first choice for multiple reasons.

That's why I hoped there was some other reasonably similar product available locally.

Any non gooey, non scented roll on would do the trick. I hope someone has a tip about a locally available product like that.

 

 

Gillette Endurance High Performance Gel is pretty good and only lightly scented. Can get on Lazada for a price, I get it sent out from UK. 

It says 48 hours.   LOL

4 minutes ago, rjcampbe said:

@CharlieH

Thanks... I did see that, and it's on a couple of other ecommerce sites also, but as we both said it's very expensive with international shipping costs.

And that still doesn't guarantee that it won't get additional fees from customs when it arrives. Almost everything I've ever ordered from overseas has been both an extra expense and extra hassle when it arrived, so that's definitely not my first choice for multiple reasons.

That's why I hoped there was some other reasonably similar product available locally.

Any non gooey, non scented roll on would do the trick. I hope someone has a tip about a locally available product like that.

 

 

I use Nivea Men Silver Protect Ap/Deodorant which has no perfume and although a little sticky when applied, quickly dries and does the job.

@johng

That's a reply I wasn't expecting. Kudos for giving me a full on belly-roll chuckle on that one.

I'm hoping that I can find a happy medium between the over branded /over scented metrosexual goo they sell next to the 37 varieties of hair wax and needing to file the sharp edges off a hunk of alum crystal from the wet market.

Surely, there must be some middle ground??

I know... don't call me Shirley. ????

9 minutes ago, rjcampbe said:

@CharlieH

Thanks... I did see that, and it's on a couple of other ecommerce sites also, but as we both said it's very expensive with international shipping costs.

And that still doesn't guarantee that it won't get additional fees from customs when it arrives. Almost everything I've ever ordered from overseas has been both an extra expense and extra hassle when it arrived, so that's definitely not my first choice for multiple reasons.

That's why I hoped there was some other reasonably similar product available locally.

Any non gooey, non scented roll on would do the trick. I hope someone has a tip about a locally available product like that.

 

 

Its below "custom' threshold and the shipping is about 30 baht ! Will take under 14 days, just for info.

 

I would recommend "Dove' roll on, thats lightly scented and not gooey.

3 minutes ago, rjcampbe said:

@CharlieH

Thanks... I did see that, and it's on a couple of other ecommerce sites also, but as we both said it's very expensive with international shipping costs.

And that still doesn't guarantee that it won't get additional fees from customs when it arrives. Almost everything I've ever ordered from overseas has been both an extra expense and extra hassle when it arrived, so that's definitely not my first choice for multiple reasons.

That's why I hoped there was some other reasonably similar product available locally.

Any non gooey, non scented roll on would do the trick. I hope someone has a tip about a locally available product like that.

 

 

You can get the Alum crystal roll on in Pattaya,get a non scented natural version.you do have to make it wet but it dries ok.its long lasting and not expensive.It should only contain Ammonium Alum,good luck in translating the Thai labels.

@charlieH

What is the customs threshold?

As I said, early on in my stay here I ordered a few things and got nailed when it arrived. Both in terms of cost and just the hassle of having to deal with customs <deleted>. I'm kinda gun-shy on ordering international now. Maybe I need to rethink that.
 

2 minutes ago, adammike said:

You can get the Alum crystal roll on in Pattaya,get a non scented natural version.you do have to make it wet but it dries ok.its long lasting and not expensive.It should only contain Ammonium Alum,good luck in translating the Thai labels.

I should say it's a stick of Ammonium Alum in a plastic tube so no sharp edges,same size and shape as most of the deodorants you see.I think I even found some in a 7/11.

 

 

As already mentioned the blue one is alum, cheap around 70 baht and works for me.

 

The other one is a "natural" one and recommended for teens with high hormone levels who tend to sweat a lot. Around 90 baht. 

1 hour ago, CharlieH said:

Its not cheap but its right here.......

 

https://s.lazada.co.th/s.3Kjoe

 

 

whaaaaaaaaa 

776 baht for 100ml ???

 

 

1 minute ago, tgw said:

 

 

whaaaaaaaaa 

776 baht for 100ml ???

 

 

I know... Right?

Thanks all for the inputs. Have some things to check out.

 

2 minutes ago, tgw said:

whaaaaaaaaa 

776 baht for 100ml ???

There does seem to be some sort of monopoly or maybe luxury tax ?

on "deodorants" in Thailand

if you go to the  shops Boots,Watsons,Tesco"ssss  .Bigc etc  they have a very limited range especially "for men"  price is almost universally 150 +++  baht for 150 ml bottle

sometimes there are  BOGOF   specials  sometimes they have a better deal on

"own brand" products   mostly though it seems to me overpriced considering Thailand is a very hot and sticky country I would have thought they could sell  in bulk for a smaller profit    but as often the case here its " back to front"

 

28 minutes ago, Farma said:

As already mentioned the blue one is alum, cheap around 70 baht and works for me.

 

The other one is a "natural" one and recommended for teens with high hormone levels who tend to sweat a lot. Around 90 baht. 

The blue one is what I got in a 7-11.

23 minutes ago, Farma said:

As already mentioned the blue one is alum, cheap around 70 baht and works for me.

 

The other one is a "natural" one and recommended for teens with high hormone levels who tend to sweat a lot. Around 90 baht. 

I use the one on the left, brilliant stuff, it doesn't stop you from sweating but it certainly stops you from smelling yucky, when I lived in the UK I used Mitchum roll on, not sticky, no overpowering fragrance, and it did the job, trouble is you can't buy it here, Nivea, which is krap, seems to have cornered the market here.

 

Get the Alum, with the shower running, make the stick wet, apply to armpits & then towel dry as  normal, you'll never have a problem again ????

43 minutes ago, adammike said:

You can get the Alum crystal roll on in Pattaya,get a non scented natural version.you do have to make it wet but it dries ok.its long lasting and not expensive.It should only contain Ammonium Alum,good luck in translating the Thai labels.

Most of the large 7/11s have it. Grace Crystal Brand. 

44 minutes ago, rjcampbe said:

@charlieH

What is the customs threshold?

As I said, early on in my stay here I ordered a few things and got nailed when it arrived. Both in terms of cost and just the hassle of having to deal with customs <deleted>. I'm kinda gun-shy on ordering international now. Maybe I need to rethink that.
 

Baht 1,500 or foreign currency equivalent. Anything under that threshold should be duty free.  Excluding drugs and dildos, which are illegal regardless the price. 

This works for me.

 

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/snake-brand-prickly-heat-cooling-mist-30ml-i2462190090-s8623471864.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.1.652075d5krwVGt&search=1

2 hours ago, rjcampbe said:

@johng

That's a reply I wasn't expecting. Kudos for giving me a full on belly-roll chuckle on that one.

I'm hoping that I can find a happy medium between the over branded /over scented metrosexual goo they sell next to the 37 varieties of hair wax and needing to file the sharp edges off a hunk of alum crystal from the wet market.

Surely, there must be some middle ground??

I know... don't call me Shirley. ????

You will find the unscented crystal alum, shaped and in plastic containers for easy application, in most drug stores. It's effective and exceedingly long lasting.

 

You might find something suitable on the iherb website. Prices are not outrageous.

https://th.iherb.com/pr/Arm-Hammer-UltraMax-Solid-Antiperspirant-Deodorant-for-Men-Unscented-2-6-oz-73-g/83970

4 hours ago, GarryP said:

Baht 1,500 or foreign currency equivalent. Anything under that threshold should be duty free.  Excluding drugs and dildos, which are illegal regardless the price. 

@GarryP
Damn. And here I was about to get high and order a <deleted>.

I felt a bit strange posting this topic, but seeing where we ended up I guess no boundaries were violated!

Just now, rjcampbe said:

@GarryP
Damn. And here I was about to get high and order a <deleted>.

I felt a bit strange posting this topic, but seeing where we ended up I guess no boundaries were violated!

Hey... Why did you get to say <deleted> in your message but in mine they deleted it?

Used to use Nivea, around 100 Baht, discovered ‘Exit’ in Supercheap, just as good and only 35 Baht.

15 hours ago, xylophone said:

I use Nivea Men Silver Protect Ap/Deodorant which has no perfume and although a little sticky when applied, quickly dries and does the job.

Yeah...I swear by the Nivea brand....in this climate...works a charm on my malodorous self

I use this alum deodorant stick. You can get it in Boots and a stick lasts for months and doesn't leave any residue on clothes.

 

 

If you know someone coming to Thailand have them bring a bunch for you.

 

Otherwise Amazon or Ebay.  

Listen to everyone that's suggesting Alum Sticks.

 

Best thing I've ever used. Super cheap and super effective.

 

I buy mine here.

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i584834616-s1082106385.html?urlFlag=true&mp=1

 

You can buy Dry Idea on Lazada:

https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=dry+idea+deodorant&_keyori=ss&from=input&spm=a2o4m.searchlist.search.go.6275623b6u53wh