PA Media
Traitors star Charlotte Church admits “I generally stink” after ditching deodorant and shaving
Charlotte Church has revealed she has ditched deodorant and stopped shaving, saying she “generally stinks”.
The 39-year-old singer from Llandaff in Cardiff revealed it on the Walking The Dog podcast after host Emily Dean complimented her on how “lovely” she smelled.
Church, who recently appeared on Celebrity Traitors, said she was surprised by the comment and explained she stopped using deodorant because she was concerned about chemicals.
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA) said deodorants and antiperspirants had to meet strict safety standards in the UK. But beauty journalist Anita Bhagwandas said Church’s stance reflected a shift in people embracing natural beauty.
Church said she responded to Dean’s comment by saying: “Do I? That’s surprising – I never smell nice.
“I don’t wear deodorant or anything, so I generally stink,” she added.
Church said she had also stopped shaving 18 months ago and encouraged women to “do whatever feels good” with their body hair, adding “dye it, shave it, whatever – but for me, I’m just like, nah”.
She explained she liked the “contradiction” of her choices.
“I love wearing dresses, beautiful dresses, with my really hairy legs and heels and nails. It’s so confusing for people.”
Anita Bhagwandas
Beauty journalist Anita Bhagwandas said Church’s decision reflected a wave of “micro-movements” within the beauty industry
Journalist Bhagwandas, 41, from Newport, said she had seen a wave of “micro-movements” in which people were moving away from traditional products due to concerns about chemicals, particularly aluminium.
“We’re simply more aware of what we’re putting on our skin and bodies, and that’s definitely a good thing,” she said.
Lockdown “solidified” this shift as people went without salons and began simplifying their beauty habits, she suggested.
Decisions around shaving and body hair are now increasingly viewed as “personal” rather than a “social obligation”, she explained.
“Hair is there for a reason – it serves a biological function,” Ms Bhagwandas said.
“Letting it do its thing is probably the most natural thing you can do and lots of people have really embraced that, which is great.”
Ms Bhagwandas said younger generations faced less stigma than previous generations, when body hair was often labelled “masculine” or “unfeminine”.
She added that more celebrities, including Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, openly embraced their natural hair.
“We’re in this really great place, that I hope will continue, where we’re getting to pick and choose what we want to do – rather than it being forced or an expectation,” she added.
Is deodorant safe?
The CTPA said all UK cosmetics, including deodorants and antiperspirants, must meet “strict” safety regulations.
Extensive scientific reviews, most recently by the European Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety in May 2024, confirmed aluminium in antiperspirants was safe with no link to breast cancer.
It said all cosmetic ingredients, whether natural or synthetic, were rigorously tested for safety.
Products also undergo professional safety assessments and market checks before being sold, it said.
The CTPA added: “Years of scientific research and testing goes into making each and every item in our bathroom cabinets and make-up bags.”
