9 Best Deodorants and Antiperspirants for Women

Smelling good is important. Not only will a pleasant scent make you seem more hygienic and put-together, but it will also help you attract success and romance. In fact, according to a report by the Social Issues Research Centre, smelling pleasant fragrances will increase people’s perception of your attractiveness.

Because of this, deodorants and antiperspirants have earned their place as everyday staples. After all, no amount of pricey perfumes can ever mask smelly and sweaty pits. How much you sweat will depend on a variety of factors, such as your diet, gender, weight, environment, and genetics. This is why it’s important to pick a product that has a high success rate across different crowds.

We created this buying guide to help you choose the best deodorant and/or antiperspirant. In the pursuit of dry and fresh-smelling armpits, we’re often overwhelmed with a bunch of choices that promise a bunch of things. That’s why we’ve broken down the shopping process and explained what you should look for in a product, all the factors you have to consider, as well as several application tips to help you get the most out of whatever product you choose.

Let’s dive in!

Deodorant vs. antiperspirant: Is there a difference?

Many people use the terms "deodorant" and "antiperspirant" interchangeably, but they’re actually different. When you’re looking for a product for your underarms, you can either get a deodorant, an antiperspirant, or a deodorant-antiperspirant combo.

Deodorant

Deodorant is something that will keep you smelling pleasant. After all, everyone loves to be around people who smell good. When we sweat, the bacteria on our armpits give off an unpleasant odor. This is because these microorganisms thrive in hot, moist, and lipid-rich environments which, if you think about it, is exactly what sweaty underarms are like.

If you don’t use deodorant, anything you spray on top—whether that’s a two-dollar cologne or the most expensive perfume on the market—will simply disappear into the stench radiating from your underarms.

A deodorant contains various ingredients that will target and kill bacteria to prevent unpleasant odors from forming. Some deodorants will also contain added fragrance to help mask any leftover odors.

Antiperspirant

An antiperspirant, on the other hand, targets the sweat glands and keeps your armpits dry. They’re not primarily concerned with odor protection, but since they prevent sweat from coming out of your sweat ducts, they’re bound to help minimize odor, as well.

Antiperspirants use aluminum compounds to plug the sweat glands. These compounds are aluminum chloride, aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine, aluminum chloralhydrate, and aluminum hydroxybromide, among others.

Deodorant and Antiperspirant combo

If you’re looking for something that will keep you dry and control odors at the same time, a product that is both a deodorant and antiperspirant is your best bet. It has both germ-killing and sweat-blocking properties to give you maximum protection against wetness and odor.

What to look for in a good deodorant/antiperspirant

It must do its job well. A good deodorant/antiperspirant will fight odor at the source and control underarm sweat. It must hold up and keep you feeling and smelling fresh regardless of your level of physical activity and weather conditions.

It shouldn’t leave white marks on your clothes. If you’re not careful, you might end up with a product that leaves unsightly white streaks on your dark tops. A good deodorant and antiperspirant, on the other hand, will go on clear and never stain your clothing.

Its packaging should be convenient and easy to use. A product that has well-designed packaging will make your life so much easier. No one wants the hassle of fumbling with complicated or messy packaging, especially during hectic mornings. The best deodorants and antiperspirants will make application quick, easy, and intuitive.

It should dry quickly. Having to keep your arms raised just to let your deodorant dry can be annoying. Besides, the feeling of wet and sticky underarms can be uncomfortable. Not to mention, a slow-drying deodorant can leave residue behind on your clothes.

It must not irritate the skin. The skin on the underarm is under constant stress from friction. As such, it’s prone to irritation especially after shaving. A good antiperspirant or deodorant must be gentle on the skin. It shouldn’t contain ingredients that might be too harsh, as these ingredients can cause redness and rashes to develop.

It should last all day. You’ll find many deodorants that claim 24 or even 48 hours of protection on the market, and that’s because a good product should last you at least an entire day. A good deodorant should not require you to reapply throughout the day. At most, a one-a-day application is ideal.

It should smell good. Obviously, no one wants to deal with a nasty-smelling product. However, note that deodorants, of all personal care products, can be prone to being overpowering or off-putting in terms of scent. If you’re not a fan of fragrance, there are always fragrance-free options out there for you.

About natural, aluminum-free deodorants

If you prefer to buy a natural, aluminum-free product, know that it will not be able to prevent perspiration. Natural deodorants do not have components that can block sweat ducts, so they can only provide deodorization. At best, these deodorants will contain some clays and baking soda to help absorb moisture, but they won’t completely prevent sweat.

How to choose the best deodorant and antiperspirant

Here are some things you have to consider when choosing a deodorant and/or antiperspirant.

1. Know what you’re really looking for.

Do you need an antiperspirant, a deodorant, or both? As you may have already learned from the first section of this guide, these are all different products. Knowing what exactly you need will help you find the right product and manage your expectations.

2. Decide what delivery method you prefer.

Deodorants and antiperspirants come in different textures and packaging. The most common ones are gel, spray, solid stick, roll on, and cream.

Stick deodorants and antiperspirants are probably the most common. They’ve been around for ages, and they’re the first thing everyone probably thinks about when the word “deodorant” pops in their heads. Stick products are convenient and easy to apply. They provide a way for you to directly apply the product on your underarms, which helps safeguard their effectiveness.

Spray-type packaging is also available, and it’s the most recommended delivery method if you have a lot of hair on your armpits. Oftentimes, using a stick deodorant on hairy armpits isn’t as effective, since the hair prevents the actual product from reaching the skin. Note, however, that spray-type deodorants and antiperspirants aren’t recommended for people with sensitive skin because of their alcohol content.

Gel deodorants and antiperspirants are cool, clear, and soothing. If your main concern is preventing white marks from appearing on your clothes, gel products are your best option. They are also lightweight and will give you that barely-there feeling.

Roll-on products are also applied directly onto the skin. They’re pretty straightforward and easy to use. However, we don’t recommend roll-on deodorants if you have hairy armpits as the rolling mechanism might snag your hair.

Lastly, cream deodorants and antiperspirants are also available for people with sensitive skin. They often come in a tube or jar, and they contain additional hydrators that help soothe the skin. 

3. Scented, unscented, or fragrance-free?

Most conventional deodorants and antiperspirants are scented, which helps them mask odors and leave you smelling nice and fresh. If you have a sensitive nose, however, you might want to go for an unscented version.

Unscented products will literally have almost no scent, and this is made possible by using masking ingredients that counteract the “natural” smell of the components in the product. Meanwhile, fragrance-free varieties don’t contain anything that will alter or mask the natural smell of the product itself.

4. Should you get a “clinical strength” product?

Clinical strength products will keep your pits drier for longer, which makes them an awesome pick if you find that regular products aren’t doing it for you. However, since they boast a stronger formulation, they have a higher concentration of actives that might cause irritation—which brings us to the next point…

5. Is your skin sensitive?

Some of us are unfortunate enough to react badly to deodorants and antiperspirants. Fortunately, variants that are specifically made for sensitive skin now come aplenty, so it’s really just a matter of picking a product that’s labeled specifically for delicate skin.

Are deodorants from the men’s section better?

Many ladies think that deodorants and antiperspirants for men are far more superior than products that are made for women. After all, dudes sweat a lot more than us, right?

Wrong. A quick look at the ingredients list of men’s and women’s deodorants will reveal that they’re actually pretty much the same. They just differ in fragrance and packaging. That said, if you think your usual deodorant isn’t meeting your expectations anymore, you’re better off buying a clinical strength variant instead of going for a deodorant that’s marketed towards the lads.

What to do with super sensitive underarms

If all of the deodorants and antiperspirants you’ve tried ended up giving you a rash, your skin is probably super sensitive. When this happens, try to avoid applying any product on your armpits immediately after shaving or showering, since this is the time that your skin is most vulnerable.

If that doesn’t work, you can also try exploring aluminum-free products. Some people don’t react well with popular ingredients like aluminum chloride and aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine. Another option is to change to a product that uses a different delivery method. For instance, sprays or gels might work better than solid sticks because they don’t run against your skin.

How to apply deodorant and antiperspirant for best results

• Follow the directions printed on the label. Some deodorants and antiperspirants will require special usage methods. Whatever type of product you end up going for, it’s a must to follow the special instructions written on the label.
• Allow the product to dry completely before putting your top on. Doing so will do two things. First, it will ensure that the product has completely settled on your skin, therefore boosting its effectiveness. Second, this will prevent yellow stains and white marks from forming on your clothes.
• If you can, apply your product of choice before going to bed. If you have used clinical strength deodorants, you’ll find that many of them advise you to apply the product on clean underarms at night, just before you go to bed. Because you perspire less at night, this will give the active ingredients enough time to properly penetrate your sweat ducts.

What if over-the-counter deodorants are no good?

Tried everything without seeing the results you’re after? It might be time to consult your doctor.

According to the Archives of Dermatological Research, the prevalence of hyperhidrosis in the United States in 2016 is at about 4.8% or 15.3 million people. Prescription antiperspirants are available for people who suffer from this condition. You may also opt to get iontophoresis or Botox injections as a solution to this problem.