Job Discussion Forums

featherp · Joined: 12 May 2011 Posts: 10

what is it about deodorant in China? don't they have it there? a few posts we have seen on here recommend taking a stash of deodorant. Is there any other day to day items you wished you'd brought with you. We are going to a smallish city (1 million people) a 1.5 hr trip from Jinan. so any hints or suggestions greatly appreciated.

Halapo · Joined: 05 Sep 2009 Posts: 140 Location: Jiangsu, China

For just about everything you can think of, you can get. If you shop online, even better and a good place to find things you are missing in local stores.

Deodorant is that odd thing, even in Shanghai it can be a challenge to find. I regularly shop in a supper market that is only stocked with foreign goods ( mostly European but lots of American and Japanese products as well). I rarely see Deodorant there. Many of my Chinese co-workers are still baffled about what I was talking about last time I asked about it. They thought I meant perfume. I guess there just isn't a Chinese word for it.

Many western goods can be "hard" for find, simply because there is no local demand for them here, or the Chinese version is so much cheaper. So if you are very brand loyal you will find lots of things hard to get ( like say Heinz Ketchup for example, however "Ketchup isn't that hard to find at all ).

Deodorant should get a classification all its own, moving it from hard to "close-to-impossible".

Steve_McQueen · Joined: 04 Dec 2009 Posts: 37

Moving to China in September - taking around 14 sticks of Old Spice High Endurance with me Laughing

FYI the OP should look on Taobao for products. Do a search of the things you will need before you leave. Take with you what you think you might need based on the items being/not being available on Taobao.

Miajiayou · Joined: 30 Apr 2011 Posts: 283 Location: Nanjing

Deodorant belongs to the class of items that I can FIND, but I generally prefer ones from back home. There is a nice baggage allowance on international flights, so why not? I bring deodorant, q-tips, mascara, and socks. I can find all of those things here, but I don't usually like them.

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Man,

I thought it was hard, but the Watson's here had a range of adidas deoderants [but about 60 yuan], however the other day they started to stock Lynx [Axe for American's I believe]

Bought 5 on the spot because you can never be sure what they will thinking when it comes to restocking!

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

I usually bring a good supply of deodorant and cologne with me. Thing is you can find womens deodorant but not men's for some odd reason. Guess they like their men nice and ripe. To op just wondering what city you were going to outside of Jinan. Sounds like a place I lived last year and it was very difficult to find some person hygiene "comforts."

When people want to send me anything or actually come to visit, I always ask them to send or bring me an extra stick or two of deodorant. Can't really stock too much of the stuff especially if you live where it is hot and humid.

(P.S I think the Adidas and Lynx sprays smell terrible and they are not really anti-wet they are just anti-smell)

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

I find Nivea deodorant / anti-perspirant along with Fa brand, and another named Rexona. Yes, Adidas and maybe another sports brand are fairly easy to find. I can find roll-on and spray, but no solids or gels, but yes they have men's scents in all those brands. The prices are fairly expensive (Fa and Rexona not quite as much), so I always stock up on a few sticks when I go back home. I can find all these brands in major supermarkets and the aforementioned Watson's stores. If you're craving nice, thick sports socks and you can find a Decathalon store, they have a wide selection at a good price. Otherwise, even Wal-Mart doesn't carry them (BTW: Chinese based Wal-Marts are a joke). The bigger the city, however, the more you'll be able to find most of what you need and there's always TaoBao (the Chinese version of ebay) - - just ask a Chinese friend help you to navigate the site.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

To be honest I quit using deodorant. I take plenty of showers and wear clean clothing in the summer. I live in Dong Bei, so in the winter I have to wear four layers of clothing and no one knows what I smell like. I don't feel like I have any problems with odor.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

I get my old spice on taobao. It is imported from Canada, but is the same. Total price is also about the same.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

roll-on deodorants can now be found almost everywhere!
even in smaller towns, can usually be found in the
average grocery stores. not always stocked in the
normal spot amongst the personal hygiene items.
many times will be in a glass showcase towards the
front of the store.

most will have really strong floral scents, with the occasional
spring breeze or ocean spray that isn't too disagreeable.

i stocked up on a year's supply at watson's last week, on
special for 10 rmb/bottle.

and picked up a small chinese deo for travel. the label says
林间小路 which would be forest paths....(mmm, smells like
mushrooms and deer poo!)

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

I usually get mine at the local Watson's. But I stumbled across this stuff last week in my university's on-campus grocery store-which is not known for carrying any western-style products!

http://www.sasa.com/SasaWeb/eng/product/viewProductDetail.jspa?itemno=103106004006

The above-link is from Google. That's the stuff I got. It's actually really nice, and smells a lot better than Right Guard (which isn't a stretch). Notice they had to attach a colorful sticker on the cap to explain to people how to use it.

According to the website, it's only available in HK and China. Read the one comment it's received from a Chinese customer, a woman: She bought it and gave it as a gift to her husband. It's special "taste" (fragrance?) gave her a lasting memory and she's sorry didn't buy more.

Posted FWIW.

Keep your eye out for "Body Ice Deo Spray". If it's sold in my school's grocery attached to the cafeteria (which doesn't even carry FA), it's gotta be becoming more widely available in the better stores and cosmetic counters.

Lister · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 264

When I travel I usually stock up on Tylenol, or some decent equivalent. There are probably good local painkillers here but I've never been able to find one.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Ariadne · Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 960

Yes, most items can be found in China, but it takes awhile to find out where to buy things and how to get to the places that sell them. Bring along a good supply of personal care items, over the counter meds, and prescription meds so you'll be comfortable while you settle in.

As someone already mentioned, restocking can be an issue. Just because a store had something yesterday does not mean they will have it tomorrow. Learn to stock up when you find something you like.

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