If you’re just making the switch from antiperspirant to natural deodorant, you may be noticing that the natural deodorant isn’t working as well as you’d hoped. Well, if you haven’t gone through an armpit cleanse, you’ll have to hold off on judging your natural deodorant. Years of antiperspirant doesn’t get undone with a few swipes of the good stuff. Over the next four-to-six weeks, you should expect a number of changes to occur as you adjust and settle into a different method of deodorizing. But don’t sweat it, we’ve got your back. Here’s what to expect:

Week One

For the first week using natural deodorant, you’ll likely be smooth sailing. That’s because extended use of antiperspirant plugs the pores in your underarms, which prevents you from sweating and smelling.

Weeks Two and Three

Odor-causing bacteria will overproduce — and you’ll notice. You may also sweat more as your body removes toxins. During the third week is when you’re most likely to notice a decrease in strong odor. While you’ll eventually sweat less, moisture comes part in parcel with natural deodorant because it doesn’t include any pore-clogging additives. Sweat is chill, though. Everybody’s doing it.

Weeks Four to Six

Since everyone’s body is a little different, the total cleanse time can differ. However, at this point in the process, you should experience very little odor. If you haven’t already, get in the habit of keeping your natural deodorant on you and reapplying throughout the day.

What you can expect at the end of your cleanse is that you may not have body odor at all, or that your natural scent emerges every day. There is no right way for your body to smell, so it’s important to keep an open mind about what you’ll learn from this process.

Hot Tips for Managing Odor Through the Process

• When you wash your underarms, use antibacterial soap to eliminate odor-causing bacteria. This will cushion you during the height of your cleanse.
• Take hot baths — sweat is your body’s natural method of draining toxins. Encourage the flow by sweating it up in the bath or a sauna.
• Use a clay mask on your underarms. Clay masks draw impurities from the pores on your face and will do the same for your pits.
• When reapplying natural deodorant throughout the day, start by wiping away excess moisture and product buildup.