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j. Soc. Cosmet. Chem., 42, 159-166 (May/June 1991) Efficacy of a deodorant and its components: Triethylcitrate and perfume ANDREAS LUKACS, HANS CHRISTIAN KORTING, OTTO BRAUN-FALCO, and KLAUS STANZL, Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilians- Universitiit, Munich (A.L., H. C.K., O.B. -F. ), and Department of Research and Development, Sebapharma GmbH & Co., Boppard (K.S. ), Germany. Received June 18, 1990. Synopsis Both perfumes and acids are considered as potential active ingredients of deodorants. In a double-blind controlled trial, deodorant preparations containing perfume and triethylcitrate in a 60% ethanol base were compared to preparations lacking either perfume or triethylcitrate, and to a placebo preparation. The degree of offensive smell of the axillae of 30 healthy volunteers was assessed by sniffing. The skin surface pH and the bacterial flora were examined at the same time. The total preparation with both perfume and triethylcitrate was effective compared to the placebo with respect to the reduction of malodor. Moreover, the perfume component indicated efficacy in this respect. But triethylcitrate was not effective in the present formula. A marked influence on the skin surface pH could not be shown with any of the preparations. Thus, alterations of the bacterial flora if demonstrated at all could not be traced to a change in skin surface pH. INTRODUCTION The offensive smell of malodorous skin has become a major concern for many individuals (1). Over the last century a whole range of varying deodorants has been developed (2). Perspiration contributes a lot to the problem (1). In fact, antiperspirants have also been found effective to control body odor. Although antiperspirants form a frequent ingre- dient of commercial deodorants, they are not considered as deodorants in a stricter sense. So far, four major types of deodorants in this stricter sense of the term have been proposed: 1) antimicrobials, 2) perfumes, 3) odor absorbers, and 4) acidifiers. The rationale for the use of antimicrobials lies in the effect on the quantity of the bacterial skin surface flora. Various bacterial species on human skin are thought to produce substances from primarily nonodorous sweat, which then form the chemical substrate of offensive body odor (3-7). Nowadays antimicrobials are disfavored more and more in the given context. This applies to both topical antibiotics as well as to disin- fectants. Although the latter group of substances is still frequently used, there is 159