We’ve all been there. That awful moment when you realize that your deodorant or antiperspirant just isn’t up to the job. Whether you’re in need of a clinical-strength sweat-blocker or an all-natural, top-shelf cream, these are the best brands on the market today.
The Science Behind Armpit Stink
Why do armpits smell so funky? According to researchers, sweat has no smell, but when mixed with a certain type of bacteria, the terrible, terrible magic happens. As this type of bacteria goes to work, it produces something called thioalcohols.
“They’re very very pungent,” says lead researcher David Bawdon, via NPR. “We work with them at relatively low concentrations so they don’t escape into the whole of the lab but … yes, they do smell. So we’re not that popular.”
Now that they’ve isolated the main type of bacteria that causes stinky pits (Staphylococcus hominis), they hope to engineer a product that can target it while leaving your skin’s biome intact. Until that happens, there are a ton of options to choose from. These are some of our favorites!
Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant
A quick note about deodorant vs. antiperspirant. Although we tend to use the terms interchangeably, they do very different things. Antiperspirants use aluminum salts to block the sweat glands in your armpits. This prevents sweat from getting the chance to mix with that nasty bacteria.
Deodorants work by masking or blocking the odor while allowing you to perspire freely. Some products target the bacteria, while others go after the stink. Which product you prefer is a personal choice, and both types of underarm odor defense are on this list.
Best Variety of Scents: Native
If you’re looking for a deodorant that gets the job done and smells great, then check out Native. The brand offers an incredible variety of scents for even the pickiest of pits. My personal favorite is Tie-Dye Vanilla Cupcake, a collab with Baked By Melissa, but Citrus & Herbal Musk, Coconut & Vanilla, and Sea Salt & Cedar are all strong contenders. If you can’t decide which one to get, take advantage of Native’s “build your own” three-pack offer!
Native products are also free of aluminum, so they’re a great choice for a more natural deodorant. “Deodorants typically contain aluminum and parabens, which I want to avoid, so my go-to has been Native, which has ingredients that you could actually eat,” Hollywood fitness trainer Patrick Murphy told CNN. “I sometimes work 10-hour days, so it’s pretty amazing that this deodorant can handle that, and keep me smelling fresh all the way up to that last client.”
Read More: Best Sunscreen For Every Skin Type
Best Cream Deodorant: Kosas Kosasport Chemistry Deodorant
The secret to Kosas Kosaport Chemistry Deodorant is the cocktail of alpha-hydroxy acids. The ingredients include shikimic acid, mandelic acid, and lactic acid, which work together to deodorize, exfoliate, and brighten your skin. Aloe vera juice and hyaluronic acid provide soothing all-day hydration, too.
Kosasport Chemistry’s “serene clean” scent is light and refreshing. The product is light, too, without the stickiness or residue that you can get from other deodorants.
Best Cooling Antiperspirant: Dove Advanced Care Cool Essentials Antiperspirant & Deodorant
Dove’s antiperspirants are some of the best drugstore products available, but the Advanced Care Cool Essentials is consistently a customer favorite. It provides up to two full days of antiperspirant protection, plus a refreshing green tea and cucumber scent. The formula is free of drying alcohol and loaded with moisturizers. That makes it perfect for a post-shave application.
According to Dove, “this antiperspirant deodorant formula works to care for your delicate underarm skin – leaving your underarms feeling healthy and protected.”
Best Basic Solid: Ban Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Invisible Solid
Sometimes you just want a basic, reliable antiperspirant. No bells and whistles. No trendy ingredients or weird smells. Ban’s unscented Invisible Solid is “ideal for sensitive skin and doesn’t compete with your perfume.”
Although Ban is best-known for roll-ons, the solid provides a lot of odor-fighting bang for your buck. It’s also cruelty-free, paraben-free, and dye-free.
Best Budget Natural Deodorant: Schmidt’s Naturals
So you want a natural deodorant at a drugstore bargain price? Then Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant might be the stick you’ve been looking for. The product is made with shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils to provide a refreshingly clean experience for up to 24 hours.
The brand’s Charcoal & Magnesium deodorant neutralizes odors with a mix of activated charcoal and other plant-based ingredients. Plus, it smells like freshly fallen rain! All of their products are free from aluminum salts, artificial fragrance, filler ingredients, propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens.
Best Luxury Deodorant: Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream
Once you try Drunk Elephant’s products, it’s hard to go back. The brand’s Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream is fragrance-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. Unlike many natural deodorants, it’s also formulated without baking soda—an ingredient that can cause irritation in some people.
Instead, Sweet Pitti combines bacteria-fighting mandelic acid with moisture-absorbing arrowroot powder. Shea butter provides a rich, moisturizing layer of hydration and protection.
Best PH-Balancing Deodorant: Megababe The Smoothie Deo
Megababe’s deodorants are so incredible, most of them have a waitlist just to buy them. While Rosy Pits is their most hyped product, don’t overlook The Smoothie Deo. It uses a mix of fruit enzymes that help balance the pH of your pits. The Smoothie Deo also contains probiotics to help your skin’s microbiome naturally fight back against odor-causing bacteria.
“When skin’s pH becomes imbalanced, odor-causing microbes can thrive. Lemon, orange & bilberry extracts help re-balance! Lactobacillus ferment, a healthy probiotic, signals skin to produce and regulate good microbes for added odor protection!”
Read More: Keratosis Pilaris: What Really Causes It, and How to Treat It
Best Clinical Strength Antiperspirant: Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid
“Did you know that heat, activity, and stress can all cause you to sweat and that stress sweat smells the WORST? That’s because stress sweat comes from a different gland, causing more bacteria and more odor.”
So says Secret, and I believe them. Secret’s Clinical Strength Invisible Solid is engineered to keep your underarms dry and fresh. As a clinical-strength antiperspirant, it contains more aluminum salts than the average product. That means up to 48 hours of protection. It’s also a PETA-certified cruelty-free product! This is the deodorant I use on days when I’m going to be on my feet from dawn ‘til dusk.
Best CBD Deodorant: Apothecanna Everyday Deodorant Spray
Apothecanna’s Everyday Deodorant Spray is a unique product that skips the ingredients found in most commercial antiperspirants and deodorants. Instead, it uses zinc ricinoleate to neutralize odors and an “uplifting” blend of mandarin, geranium, and cedar essential oils to make your pits smell like a million bucks.
In addition, this spray contains 100mg of CBD oil per 2oz. The company recommends that you spritz your pits every 6-8 hours. Reviewers rave about it despite the hassle of reapplying, so consider giving this product a try as part of your CBD routine.
Best Cream Antiperspirant: Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream
Kiehl’s products are the stuff of legends, so it’s no surprise that their deodorant cream is amazing. The formula includes “micro-sized drying molecules which absorb moisture without leaving residue,” while the unisex scent and packaging make it an ideal choice for any gender.
The company promises that “[w]ith a unique texture, our antiperspirant and deodorant cream also leaves underarms feeling soft and smooth. Stay fresh with our extremely gentle, yet efficient unscented deodorant and antiperspirant.”
If you’re already a fan of Kiehl’s products, then adding their cream deodorant and antiperspirant to your beauty routine is a no-brainer.
Best Designer Deodorant: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant
Nothing but the more luxurious products are fit to grace your underarms. Donna Karan’s Cashmere Mist. This fabled product’s spicy floral fragrance has notes of lily of the valley, Moroccan jasmine, and sandalwood for a timeless and elegant alternative to conventional deodorants.
Yes, it’s expensive at $30 a container. But aren’t you worth it? Note that the scent is divisive in the product reviews, with some customers claiming that they can’t stop sniffing their pits and others claiming that the floral is too old-fashioned and overpowering. Your mileage, as with all of these products, may vary! The good news is that if you love the scent, you can mix and match the deodorant with the iconic fragrance and body lotion as well.
Best Spray Antiperspirant: Degree Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray
If you want the hardest-working spray deodorant on the market, then consider trying Degree Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray. This product won’t keep you dry for just 24 hours. It won’t even wimp at 48 hours. Instead, Degree promises 72 hours of high-performance sweat protection.
The UltraClear Black+White Pure Clean Dry Spray version has the same Motionsense Technology as the other scents, but with the added bonus of protecting your clothes as well as your pits. Whether you’re swinging a racket or running from meeting to meeting, you stay protected,” Degree states. “An instantly-drying formula protects you from white marks on black clothes and yellow stains on white.”
