Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vincentmiser]

Folks, after scouting two E-marts and one Lotte mart, I came to the conclusion that the country has two favourite (women's) deoderants.
WHAT

THE

HELL!!!!???

My Mitchum ran out three days ago and things are not going well on the B.O front. This needs to change.
I checked out gmarket and found something...Is this normal?

I figured I would trek to Seoul and have a look for foreigner markets and such.

Ideas? Recommendations?

Thanks, in advance.

[Gibberish]

I really don't understand this post except that she's smelly and she's going to Seoul.

[You]

I think he is looking for an anti-perspirant deodorant, but can only find female brands.

I'm heading to Homeplus in a few minutes, I will scout out the deodorant section for you and see if there are any hits for you there

[D.D.]

Emart has both mens and womens. The brand is called Nivea and is usually close to the checkout counter in the food store part or behind the counter in the makeup section.

For men I suggest buying the one called dry impact because the roll on one called cool kick has no kick. It is like rolling on water with a bit of gue in it. the Dry impact one works well.

[Illysook]

Make friends with a soldier or hit one of the black market stores in Itaewon...or just ask the folks at home for a care package. When they really miss you, they don't mind. I once got a box with enough girlscout cookies and deodorant to just about open my own black market store.

[eamo]

My deodorants are sent from home in my twice-a-year 'precious things' box.

Or I get them myself when leave Korea. I got like 6 great deodorants in Hong Kong last time. Still got two left.

No way I'm paying 9000 for deodorants I don't even like.

For some things, it's actually cheaper to have them sent from home. Like teabags, for example.

[Hanson]

Ah, the deodorant thread... How I have missed you so...

[eamo]

[benji1422]

Upon the advice of this forum (sometimes its not a total waste of time), I changed my diet, reducing dairy, and rubbed apple cider vinegar ($1) under my armpits before showering.

Not only does it work like a charm, killing all the toxic bacteria which creates the "sweat smell", but I feel healthier and better about myself because I am not excreting sour fermented dairy out of my pores. Also anti-perspirant is really bad for you and many, if not all, deodorants contain aluminum... is that really what you want on your skin?

The Japanese, upon first encountering Caucasians in the mid-1800's, noticed their distinct "sour milk smell" coming from their bodies, so you'd probably do yourself good to take an inventory of what you eat as well. Just like koreans don't smell kimchi/garlic emanating from their pores unless its gets really bad, we are used to the sour milk smell on each other.

If you must, I see Speed Sticks all over Myeongdong... but to be honest, I believe they are sold as novelty beauty items for Asian women who want to "smell" like western girls.

[eamo]

^ You think I want to give up dairy foods for the sake of Koreans....

[byrddogs]

[You]

I don't drink dairy and I know almost everyone at my school does because it's served with their lunch. (Usually the kids like to mix a little chocolate milk powder into it) I've never noticed a smell coming from any of the teachers or the children though.

[kloofy]

A few of the stores in Itaewon has Old Spice, blue... and white, dry. for 5,000, you could arrange for them to send you a box of 6 or 12... if I can find the guys number... Shite...

[mc_jc]

There are some cosmetic stores around Dongdaemun that sells it, but be prepared to pay 7,000-9,000 a stick.
You can find American brands outside most army and air force bases as Ajumma always knows someone on the inside.
Luckily I only pay $1.25 for mine at the PX or the shopette

[Sulla]

There is an antiperspirant called Driclor and it can be bought in ninety percent of the pharmacies (no prescription required) in Korea. It is very effective-especially for the condition hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating) which affects certain parts of the body. It contains the regular stuff (aluminum something or other) that antiperspirants have, but in a higher concentration. After applying it for a week, you will stop sweating (it also stops odor). Koreans and many other Asians do not emit body odor like caucasions because they do not have many apocrine glands (special sweat glands that produce odor); this is why there is a dearth of deodorant products in this country. The Driclor should set you back 9000 Won.