Are you tired of feeling self-conscious about sweat and odor during the day? Fear not, we've got you covered with the best deodorants of 2023.
Whether you're into clinical strength, invisible, or natural options, there's a deodorant out there that will keep you fresh all day.
Clinical Strength Deodorants
If you're looking for a deodorant that can withstand even the toughest workouts, clinical strength deodorants are the way to go. These deodorants have a higher concentration of active ingredients that help control sweat and odor.
5
What We Love: It smells fresh and effectively blocks odor.
What We Don’t Love: It doesn’t fully block sweat all day long.
Designed to last for 24 hours, Uriage Clinical Strength Deodorant has made waves for its fresh, long-lasting appeal. It doubles as an antiperspirant, meaning it blocks odor, as well as sweat.
“The deodorant went on smoothly and was instantly absorbed — it wasn’t tacky, sticky, or greasy, and left no stains on the black shirt that I wore,” one of the customers says. “I used it as directed, and even though I had minor sweat, no odor permeated through my clothes, and it still smelled and felt good."
Other highlights of this top-rated deo? It’s hypoallergenic, has a fresh unisex scent, and it’s infused with Uriage Thermal Water to nourish under-arm skin — all for under ￥100.
4.5
What We Love: It neutralizes odor without covering it up with a fragrant scent.
What We Don’t Love: It feels quite wet upon application.
Considering the name of this deodorant, you might be surprised to find that it applies wet. Once on, Certain Dri Clinical Prescription Strength Antiperspirant dries down to a matte finish that offers full coverage against odor and sweat, without leaving any residue on clothes in the process.
While the deo performs well, feels comfortable, and doesn’t transfer, we have to admit that it has a slightly chalky feel, which we imagine would become more noticeable with more than two swipes of the product. Still, given the performance and the price, we found it was impossible to beat.
4.8
What We Love: It works well to prevent sweat and effectively blocks odor for up to 24 hours.
What We Don’t Love: The consistency of the deodorant is slightly dry, so it doesn’t apply very smoothly.
Secret Antiperspirant Deodorant for Women With Pure Essential Oils smells deliciously of coconut and mandarin.
The scent was really lovely; it smelled fresh and clean, without being too perfumey or overpowering. If they made a candle version of it, I would burn it in my room all day long.
Another key takeaway? It’s an incredible antiperspirant — in fact, the best of the bunch. "After completing a 15-minute brisk walk on the treadmill, I had worked up a sweat on my forehead and neck, but didn't feel much, if any, dampness on my armpits — this deodorant is very effective," a tester says. "Over the course of 24 hours, my armpit would get slightly damp when I was active (walking outside in the heat, packing for my move, etc.), but not enough to make my shirt sleeve wet. The antiperspirant effects are impressive."
The only downside was the consistency. "It didn’t glide smoothly onto my armpits, as it was slightly dry," the tester says. "But it wasn't sticky or greasy — it had a barely-there feeling, which I found comfortable [once applied]."
4.8
What We Love: It doesn’t have a scent but it totally blocks the smell of everyday underarm odor.
What We Don’t Love: It leaves a white residue behind.
If you have sensitive skin, this fragrance-free antiperspirant deodorant is a must. Beloved by over 10,000 Amazon shoppers, Vanicream Anti-Perspirant Deodorant works well to block everyday sweat and odor — as in the type you’d experience going about your commute, running errands, engaging in a low-to-moderate intensity workout, and so on.
The scent was really lovely; it smelled fresh and clean, without being too perfumey or overpowering. If they made a candle version of it, I would burn it in my room all day long.
While it works well to block sweat and provide odor protection, this stick deodorant does leave behind white residue. “This product doesn't claim to go on clear. It did leave some white residue on my shirt after a workout, but it washes out easily and doesn't result in any staining,” a reviewer says.
4.5
What We Love: It smells great!
What We Don't Love: It doesn't last a full 24 hours.
Prefer the texture of gel deodorants? Secret Derma+ Invisible Gel Antiperspirant and Deodorant has earned five-star accolades from over 1,800 Amazon shoppers. We also found that it applies quite wet but it dries down after a few seconds or so.
"There's no transfer at all and it smells very nice," the reviewer says. That said, it doesn't last for the full 24 hours it promises. "The fragrance wore off by the end of the day and you can definitely smell the sweat," the reviewer says. "Still, I love how effective and affordable this deodorant is [for shorter wear] — I would recommend this product to someone who does not sweat very much."
4.7
What We Love: It smells like fresh laundry detergent and works well to prevent sweat and BO.
What We Don't Love: The applicator is quite wide, which makes applying it a bit unwieldy.
Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Deodorant is formulated with baking soda to naturally absorb odor and help prevent excess sweating — which is especially important when you're powering through an intense workout. "This deodorant has a smooth application, great smell, and it's an amazing bang for your buck."
The only downside is the size of the applicator. The mouth of the stick is quite wide, which we assume is to encourage only passing it over the pit area once or twice, as the directions say to only use thin layers.
Natural Deodorants
For those who prefer natural alternatives, there are plenty of options available in the market. Made with plant-based ingredients and free from harmful chemicals, these deodorants will keep you smelling fresh all day long.
5
What We Love: This stick rubs on totally clear.
What We Don't Love: It can feel a bit sticky upon initial application.
The star of the show here is coconut oil, which is naturally antimicrobial and anti-bacterial, which helps to keep your pits odor-free. This formula is also clear, and doesn't leave any white marks or residue on your skin or clothing.
4.8
What We Love: It has a 48-hour odor protection claim.
What We Don't Love: While Schmidt's has lots of scent options, we wish they have an unscented version available.
This deodorant is Ecocert certified natural as well as cruelty free and vegan. It promises long lasting odor protection. Each Shmidt's deodorant is unisex and made from 100% plant-based ingredients, like magnesium, shea butter, and arrowroot powder. The addition of jojoba oil and vitamin E means that it'll also soothe skin upon application. There are even baking soda free options available for sensitive skin.
4.8
What We Love: It smooths out bumps and uneven skin tone under the arms.
What We Don't Love: It takes more than a few minutes to dry completely on the skin.
If you struggle with bumps, spots, or even acne underneath your arms, this AHA-packed formula will be your holy grail. AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acids, and they work by exfoliating your skin as well as wiping out dullness and discoloration. A lot of the ingredients found in this Kosas Chemistry formula, like mandelic acid, are also found in your favorite facial skincare products. However, since this tube also includes shikimic acid, it'll also keep you odor-free. And yup, it's aluminum-free.
4.5
What We Love: It help soothe and condition the skin.
What We Don't Love: It is a little sticky upon initial application.
Salt & Stone’s formula is enriched with seaweed extracts, hyaluronic acid, and nourishing oils to soothe and condition the skin. Then, there are probiotics to help balance skin’s microbiome and neutralize odor.
4.8
What We Love: It is really cheap! Wearing this, you won't stink.
What We Don't Love: You may still feel beads of sweat going down your armpits mid-workout.
In addition to being aluminum-free, this deodorant doesn't include baking soda, which can cause stinging. Aside from BO protection, the formula does include moisturizing ingredients found in skincare, such as like glycerin, to soothe and soften skin.
Invisible Deodorants
No one wants to deal with white marks or yellow stains on their clothes due to deodorant usage. That's where invisible deodorants come in handy. These deodorants are specially formulated to leave no residue, so you can wear your favorite clothes without worrying about stains.
4.8
What We Love: It’s a hardworking antiperspirant that’s PETA-certified cruelty free to boot.
What We Don't Love: Some may not enjoy the ball application.
This solid gel antiperspirant was a firm favorite among the Health team. Not only did it effectively minimize sweat and odor, it didn't transfer onto clothes at all, and even managed to win over someone who doesn’t typically enjoy roll-on deodorants.
After 30 minutes of cardio, the deodorant effectively stopped the smell of the sweat and even after 24 hours of wearing this antiperspirant. The texture of Secret Clinical Strength is silky smooth. And while it does roll on wet, it dries clear without clumping.
4.3
What We Love: This is one of the most effective and best value products.
What We Don't Love: This product has a strong (but refreshing) fragrance that may not suit everybody.
As an antiperspirant, our tests showed that this product was effective at managing both sweat and smell and held strong even after the 24-hour mark. There's no noticeable stains on clothes and you can feel strongly protected after physical activity.
4.2
What We Love: It has a non-irritating spray formula that applies clear.
What We Don't Love: The unique fragrance may be too overpowering for some.
This is a great option for those who prefer their deodorant in a spray application. The packaging claims it's transfer-resistant for up to 100 colors and that held true during our tests. Dove Dry Spray showed up clear from the first moment of application, stayed wet on the skin for a few minutes before drying completely, and didn't stain any black tops or sports bras afterwards.
It's worth noting that the label says that it will keep you protected for 48 hours. However, with a normal working day (which included walking through the city, exercise, and riding the subway), it lasted closer to 24 hours. But we still think that makes for an excellent antiperspirant. The fragrance, though pleasant, can eventually mix with the sweat, which is off putting for some users. If this is you, take advantage of one of the other three spray options in this list.
4.4
What We Love: It's a quality option from an independent business.
What We Don't Love: This antiperspirant may transfer onto darker clothing.
Do you like to start your day with a touch of luxury? Then perhaps this is the antiperspirant for you. Sitting at the $20 mark, this is one of the pricier options, but for some, it’s worth it for the fragrance and the fact that it’s produced by an independent business and is vegan and cruelty-free.
In terms of performance, the Pit Boss scored 4.4. Major points went towards the woodsy fragrance and the fact that it kept sweat odor at bay for 24 hours. However, it was noted that the product had transferred a little onto the inside of a black shirt.
4.7
What We Love: It has a simple formula from a trusted favorite.
What We Don't Love: While effective, this product is not as heavy duty as the others in the list.
This antiperspirant held up to the test as there was no perceptible smell of sweat post-exercise. However, we did notice some body odor after 24 hours, so we agreed that it wasn’t as strong as some of the other deodorants and antiperspirants. It is still excellet because it dried quickly, was clear upon application, and left no residue.
Clinique’s invisible deodorant also received top marks in the transfer-resistance category as it didn’t transfer onto any clothing throughout the test period.
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