Korean Job Discussion Forums

[iiicalypso]

Could somebody tell me what the story is with deodorant in Korea? I have been rationing my supply because I cannot seem to find it in the store. I am not one to go asking questions, so I do the furtive glance as I walk down the aisle. Finally got tired of looking like a shoplifter and asked the woman at the pharmacy. She took out what would generously be considered a sample size from behind the counter. It isn't Oxycontin, for gods sake, it is Right Guard.

Is there a secret to finding the damn deodorant-- a secret handshake, or a password-- or is this just the way it is?

[waterbaby]

Is there a Body Shop near you? They sell men's deodorant. If you're in Seoul, you could check out the Red Door store in Itaewon (nondescipt looking store, walk up the street behind Burger King for about 2mins, past all the antique shops) as they have familiar brands.

[little mixed girl]

.....

[Holyjoe]

The Namdaemun Import market (near Namdaemun great gate, it's underground) sells the stuff - just hunt around all the stalls for one that sells toiletries and medicines.

[rapier]

I have noticed roll on deodorant. never use it though.
deodorants are a fallacy, a marketing gimmick. you smell worse with stale deodorant than anything else. If you take your 2 showers a day and wash your clothes a lot, you'll always smell fresh and good. Au naturel is best.

[schwa]

Theres a product out of Australia simply a chunk of some kind of rock crystal. Effective deodorant (but not an antiperspirant) I've used it happily for years. Rub it on after a shower & youre good to go all day.

Sorry not much help to the OP but others travelling to or from western areas might consider it -- easy to find in natural food stores & trendy pharmacies in Canada & the States, presumably in Australia too. A big advantage is not having to stock up. One cube of it lasts up to 2 years & costs less than $5.

[maxxx_power]

[just because]

E-Mart sells deodarant and I saw some in LG 25. I bring mine with me. 10 sticks of roll-on last year. it has lasted as i'm not really a sweaty, hence smelly person.

[J.B. Clamence]

I brought a two-year supply with me. I've heard they sell it at the Red Door shop in Itaewon, but I've never been in there.

[Draven]

I've seen Nivea deodorant for men and women at Carrefour. If memory serves, it was about 5,000 won.

[Leeroy]

I remember being able to find some deodorant in places like Doota and the like in Tongdaemun. Independant vendors in any mall or market are worth scouring, though they will almost always try to rip you off if they have the stuff.

Side note. I remember hearing countless times from Koreans that westerners smell like (insert whatever). But every time I asked my students why Koreans don't use deodorant (and was implying that several I had come across really do need to), they'd always reply with "Korean people don't smell". Now I know that we all have our different odours among the races but really, many Koreans I know constantly emit that garlic odour from eating kimchi three times a day. Summer time in Korea in subways, buses, and taxis were the worst. I know that here in Japan people often remark about Korean people and their garlic tainted BO. I've heard it from a few other nationalities too.

I think it's true that we do have stronger smelling sweat than the average Korean, but it's not an issue if you are prepared to use deodorant. I can't think of an odour more evocative and distinctive than the smell of Korea and it's people. It really smells bad in a few places and on a more than a few people too, in my opinion anyway. Anyone else share the same view? I've come across a few other travellers who have said the same thing about the distinctive smell of Korea and Koreans.

[Son Deureo!]

Yeah, I've heard Koreans make comments about the "foreigner smell" while not even noticing their own kimchi breath. I've been told we smell a bit like rotting milk.

The way I see it, they're just as likely not to have a clue about what they smell like to us as we are about our own smell.

Still ticks me off, though.

[Mr. Pink]

[rapier]

Ok, I'm mending my ways and buying a stick of deo tomorrow...

[eamo]

Is this myth still going around that de-odorant is hard to find in Korea?

I see it everywhere!! Supermarkets, beauty stores, even saw it in a 7-11 for gods sake. It's a little expensive but it's there.