A Parent’s Guide to Understanding T(w)een Deodorant Needs (aka why your son doesn’t need to smell like a walking bottle of regret)
Let’s set the scene.
You’ve just walked past your son’s room and got hit with a wall of... something. It’s hard to say exactly what it is — a mix of sport socks, hormonal confusion, and a budget cologne called “TOXIC CLOUD”. You peek in and there it is: a half-used can of supermarket antiperspirant, probably borrowed from his mate or snuck into the trolley because the black-and-silver packaging looked “cool”.
Sound familiar? I’ve been there too.
We’ve all been there — in that panic moment where body odour arrives uninvited and your first thought is “Quick! Get the spray!”
But here’s the deal: most of those heavy-duty supermarket sprays? Not made for your tween or teen’s pits. Not even close.
Here’s why it’s time to bin the can and start fresh.
1. 🚫 They’re Not Designed for Young, Sensitive Skin
Let’s talk skin. Tween and teen skin is still developing, more sensitive, and more prone to irritation — especially in the underarm area where sweat, friction, and hormones are throwing a daily rave.
Those supermarket sprays? They’re loaded with alcohols, synthetic fragrances, and harsh chemicals that can cause dryness, redness, and in some cases, full-blown irritation.
Think of it like borrowing Dad’s razor before you’ve even grown peach fuzz. It’s not just overkill — it’s unnecessary and potentially harmful.
2. 🧪 The Ingredient List Reads Like a Chemistry Set
A lot of mainstream antiperspirants (especially those marketed as “for men”) are packed with stuff like:
- Aluminium compounds (which block sweat glands but can mess with skin microbiomes)
- Parabens (linked to hormone disruption)
- Phthalates and synthetic fragrances (hello, skin irritation and potential allergy city)
Most tweens don’t need all that — they just need help managing odour, not shutting down their sweat glands like a military operation.
That’s where natural deodorants like Neon Goat’s Shvitz Stick, The Pitz Shvitz Spritz and Shvitz Spritz come in. No nasties, just smart ingredients that work with the body, not against it.
3. 👃 Smelling Like a Man ≠ Confidence
Let’s talk scent. That “man spray” smell might seem appealing to your son because it’s bold, familiar, and plastered all over ads with dudes scaling cliffs or exploding into motorbikes (seriously, what are those ads?).
But here’s the thing: smelling like a 40-year-old gym bro doesn’t make your son feel more confident. If anything, it might make him more self-conscious, especially when he’s still figuring out who he is.
Confidence comes from feeling fresh and in control — not from dousing yourself in synthetic musk.
4. 🌱 Boys Deserve Products Made for Them
Why are we giving our boys hand-me-down hygiene solutions?
They deserve products made specifically for their age, stage, and needs — not leftovers from the men’s aisle. At Neon Goat, we’ve created our formulas just for tweens and teens. That means:
- Natural, skin-friendly ingredients
- Age-appropriate scents
- Easy-to-use packaging that doesn’t scream ‘mum picked this out’
Because when a product feels like theirs, they’re more likely to actually use it. (And yes, using deodorant daily is kind of the whole goal here.)
5. 🌍 The Bigger Picture: Health, Habits & Sustainability
Switching to a natural deodorant isn’t just about dodging chemicals. It’s about teaching your son:
- To care about what goes on his body
- To understand that good hygiene is self-respect (not punishment)
- And to make mindful choices — for himself and the planet
Our Shvitz Stick, The Pitz and and Shvitz Spritz aren’t just clean, effective and gentle — they’re also part of our mission to be more sustainable, more transparent, and more honest about what’s in our products.
Because being fresh shouldn't come at the cost of your kid’s health or the planet.
✌️ Final Thoughts: Ditch the Macho Mist
So next time your son reaches for the macho spray can, maybe slide him something better instead. Something made for his skin, his stage, and his everyday battles with post-P.E. class and puberty.
Let’s leave the man sprays down the supermarket aisle and give our boys something better: deodorants made just for them, by people who actually get it.
Neon Goat — fresh pits, no nasties, and zero toxic clouds.
Shop our Shvitz products - Best selling Spritz Duo Now →
Written by Jackie Baron
Founder + Mum
