Totally agreed, ahahaha the AXE phase, right! I never really loved the smell but I used it for years on end.

Since I stopped showering with shower gel regularly my hair has been much healthier and less greasy. I smell good without the chemicals. that said, I'll sometimes still use deodorant and shower gel, but that's super rare these days, and always for the convenience of other people (when riding on a train for a long time or something like that.)

I feel much better knowing all that stuff doesn't need to be worked through by my kidneys and liver, and the body can handle mostly anything if we don't constantly use it on a day-to-day basis. As you said, moderation is key!

Cheers my friend