Edible deodorant: Perfume candy to cure body odor?

(DEO Perfume Candy)

We all know what to do when we encounter someone with bad breath. Politely give 'em a breath mint and perhaps extol the virtues of flossing, right? But what about a person with B.O. so funky it could peel wallpaper off the wall? Then what?

Simple. Give them a few pieces of Deo Perfume Candy, a new confection billed as edible deodorant.

Beneo, an American nutrition and health company partnered with Bulgarian candy maker, Alpi, to develop sweets that will leave you smelling like a bed of roses.

"The innovative technology behind Deo Perfume Candy is based on research by Japanese scientists," explains Deo's website. "Their studies showed that when ingested, rose oil exudes aromatic compounds, such as geraniol, through the skin. When evaporating through the skin, geraniol aromatizes it with a beautiful rose fragrance."

One serving size (four pieces) contains 12 mg of geraniol. While the strength and duration of the perfume depends on body weight, developers say one serving size eaten by a person weighing 145 pounds could last up to six hours.

While this all sounds like something whipped up in Willy Wonka's dream factory, the science is nothing new. Anyone who's ever chowed down on garlic, asparagus or cumin know how easily different foods can effect body odor and fluids.

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And, as the Guardian points out, Deo Perfume Candy is not alone in world of edible deodorants. There's Swallowable Parfum, a Dutch company developing a similar concept and the now-defunct Japanese chewing gum, Otoko Kaoru, which translates as "man scent."

Bags of Deo are already sold in shops in Spain, Germany, China, Korea, Armenia and are expected to soon be available in the U.S. However, for those that can't wait, the $10 bags are available for sale online.