The Top 10 Best Deodorants and Antiperspirants for Men [Aug. 2017]

We’re men. We sweat. And if we’re not careful, we smell. Yes, we all know about proper hygiene and grooming; we shower, we add cologne (in the proper amount and scent, of course), and we don’t skimp on the soap.

We also put on deodorant and antiperspirant and call it good enough.

Wait – call it “good enough?” You mean, like grabbing that same old deodorant, or a version of it, off of the store shelf while believing it’s a fail-safe guard against our natural sweat and body odor? Ah, therein lies the rub, or the smell, as it were.

Just as we can learn about cologne and the difference between slapping some on in the morning versus making a careful, refined kind of choice, so can we learn about deodorant and antiperspirant and make educated, careful decisions when it comes to choosing them.

Those store shelves are jam-packed with every kind of formula and scent you can imagine. It can all get a bit confusing, and in our confusion, we pick randomly, or with shaky reasoning – such as we like the product’s label or design. It’s kind of like picking a horse in the Derby because of its color; you can easily end up throwing your money down the drain. Don’t pick a deodorant without understanding the consequences.

Before we delve any deeper into the best deodorant for men, let’s take some time to examine some things straight from Deodorant/Antiperspirant 101.

Contents:

1. Deodorants and antiperspirant: What’s the difference?
2. So when should I use deodorant? When should I use antiperspirant?
3. A word of caution: The chemical dilemma
4. The 5 best deodorants for men
5. The 5 best antiperspirants for men

1. Deodorant and Antiperspirant: What’s The Difference?

First, the basics: antiperspirants keeps you from sweating while deodorant cuts down on the man stink that occurs when you sweat. However, it also comes down to other factors, not the least of which is the reason we sweat and stink in our underarms in the first place.

There are two types of sweat glands on your skin, the eccrine glands, and the apocrine glands, and they’re most heavily concentrated in your underarms. Eccrine glands are there to cool you down when you’re hot.

Apocrine glands, meanwhile, carry secretions of proteins and fats from your body, along with your sweat, and are responsible for your underarm smell. The fats and proteins react with bacteria to create odor.

While deodorants can’t keep you from sweating, they do wage holy war against the not-so-pleasant smell given off by the apocrine glands. Specifically, they counteract the bacteria which feast on the proteins and fats. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, are designed to keep you from perspiring, period.

2. So When Should I Use Deodorant? When Should I Use Antiperspirant?

Here’s the kicker: many experts suggest that we use antiperspirant the wrong way. “I apply mine in the morning, of course,” you’re thinking, and you’re definitely not alone. But by applying it in the morning after your shower, you make it harder for antiperspirant’s active ingredients to work their way down into your sweat ducts and clog them up.

That said, apply your antiperspirant at night before you go to bed when your sweat glands are less active, and your armpits are drier. The effects of the ingredients will last for 24 hours, and even your morning shower won’t wash them away.

As for deodorant? Stick with your morning routine and put it on after you shower to enjoy a day of smelling great, not offensive.

3. A Word of Caution: The Chemical Dilemma

We’d be remiss if we didn’t carefully address the controversy surrounding the use of certain chemicals in deodorants and antiperspirants. It’s a serious issue, with some studies showing that toxic chemicals found in deodorants and antiperspirants can cause cancer, Alzheimer’s and allergic reactions. Nasty stuff.

While the data around such claims can be conflicting, there’s certainly no small concern.

Here’s a brief look at some of the chemicals found in conventional products:

Aluminum

The active ingredients in antiperspirants are aluminum-based compounds which block the sweat glands. Studies have suggested that aluminum compounds may present a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. And, yes, men can get breast cancer, too.

Parabens

Parabens come in many forms, attached to long names such as methylparaben and butylparaben, and are a class of artificial preservatives used in personal care products. Like aluminum, parabens are under scrutiny for their possible role in the development of breast cancer.

Propylene Glycol

This bad boy is a neurotoxin known to cause dermatitis, and kidney and liver damage. Oh, and it was first developed as an anti-freeze.

TEA/DEA

Also known as triethanolamine and diethanolamine, TEA/DEA adjust your body’s pH and then, through a chemical process, become a base for a cleanser. They both could be toxic is absorbed into your body over a long period of time.

Triclosan

Triclosan is used to kill bacteria on the skin and other surfaces. It’s also a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis. Studies show that it may also disrupt thyroid function and other hormone systems.

FD&C Colors

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, these are artificial colors used in food, drugs and cosmetics. They can cause allergic skin reactions, and some are made of carcinogenic coal tar derivatives.

Talc

Talc is used in personal care products as an absorbent and color additive. It’s also classified as a carcinogen because it contains asbestiform fibers.

So, are we saying that all conventional deodorants and antiperspirants are potentially harmful and that you should always choose all-natural products (of which plenty are available)? Again, the data concerning the chemicals mentioned above is perhaps inconclusive, but there’s no denying it’s a serious matter worth considering.

We’ll give you both options – natural and non-natural – when it comes to our list of best deodorant and antiperspirant for men.

We’ve covered a lot of ground. It’s time now to narrow your choices and look for the best deodorants and antiperspirants that will truly complement all that’s appealing about you – from your well-groomed beard to your carefully- and wisely- placed cologne.

Let’s add some more of the right stuff to your arsenal. It’s time to take a look at what products are included on the Mount Rushmore of deodorants and antiperspirants.

4. Mt. Rushmore: Best deodorants for men

Learning how to choose the best deodorant for men means taking into various considerations. For starters there’s scent, and as a man, you don’t want to smell like a woman. Fair enough. You also have to choose what sort of application you like best – spray, stick, roll-on or gel.

If you have a significant amount of underarm hair, you may want to opt for a spray instead. If you lead an active lifestyle or live in a hot or humid climate, you may want to consider a deodorant with a time-release formula that includes an antiperspirant.

Primal Pit Paste Natural Deodorant

You’ve got to hand it to Amy Cazin, a Tampa Bay-area mom and athlete. Her quest for finding a safe-yet-effective deodorant has produced Primal Pit Paste Natural Deodorant, a product loved by the masses that’s also not your father’s deodorant. Cazin took note both of her child’s sweat odor – at a surprisingly young age – as well as the many products advertised at race events that contained toxic chemicals.

As she put it, her “primal” quest led her to develop an all-natural deodorant that includes no ingredients grown with chemicals, no aluminum, no parabens, or other nasty stuff that’s considered a health hazard. Instead, it’s a formula filled with organic oils such as coconut, sunflower and pumpkin seed, as well as organic kinds of butter.

It’s scented with lavender and includes baking soda, which neutralizes the bacteria that causes odor. It goes on as smooth as, well, butter, and smells good all the live long day. Thanks, Amy.

Herban Cowboy Forest Deodorant

The Herban Cowboy story is one that’s just begging to be told. Founded by a couple who, at the time, were living in a cabin on a dirt road with no Internet, and were broke, the Herban Cowboy line of personal products has definitely entered the modern world of conveniences.

But the real point is that the stuff works – and it’s all-natural, using food-based ingredients that are 100% vegan. Note: It has no active drying ingredients (such as propylene glycol), so your armpits won’t dry in the same manner as with a conventional deodorant. That said, you may have to apply it more than once during the day.

But you won’t be disappointed. Reviewers love its ‘manly’ forest-like smell and the fact that the scent lasts a good long time for a natural brand.

Dove Men+Care Deodorant With Antiperspirant

This one isn’t natural but it is dermatologist-recommended and boasts of its 48-hour odor and wetness protection, which is no small claim. It also offers superior sweat protection while being gentle on your skin – hence, the dermatologist recommendation.

It’s also Dove’s first deodorant/antiperspirant specifically designed for men, so there’s no worry that you’ll smell anything but manly. It comes in both gel and dry spray and an “extra fresh” scent.

If there’s a con, it’s that some reviewers suggest that Dove Men+Care Deodorant stained their shirts. Whether that’s a matter of the reviewer slathering too much on, especially on an overly-hairy armpit, isn’t quite clear.

Old Spice High Endurance, Original Scent Men’s Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant

Who hasn’t heard of Old Spice, or doesn’t recognize that whistle/jingle which is part of every commercial they do? Talk about brand recognition.

It’s also the stuff you may remember your father applying every morning – or slapping some of its after-shave and cologne on after a good shave, but the Old Spice brand, if not seeing a resurgence in recent years, has withstood the test of time better than so many products from dad’s grooming kit.

Ah, and that scent. It’s what the folks at Old Spice call the ‘scent of victory,’ and all of its scents are cooked up in their Old Spice scent kitchen (truly). One can only picture dozens of pots full of boiling, bubbling liquid, the air thick with their signature scent – and victory.

There’s nothing subtle about the Old Spice marketers, who also remind us that their scents create “the desire to climb mountains, simply because they exist.” Wow. No shortage of hyperbole there, but the bottom line is that many men love it, and, therefore, buy it.

Crystal Body Deodorant Stick

Another natural with no harsh chemicals, the Crystal Body Deodorant Stick is the world’s leading natural mineral salt deodorant.

Crystal founder (and CEO) Jerry Rosenblatt came upon a product made of mineral salts which not only purified water but also worked as a powerful hypoallergenic deodorant. Rosenblatt and friends brought a bunch of salt rocks back to the U.S., produced a deodorant, then had their first major score by selling to an upscale New York City department store. Today, Crystal’s products are sold in 35,000 stores worldwide.

Crystal emphasizes the importance of disarming odor at its source by hindering odor-causing bacteria, rather than masking it with a heavy scent. It comes in unscented and slightly scented versions.

5. Mt. Rushmore: Best antiperspirants for men

Again, back to the basics. Antiperspirants are a chemical agent which causes a reaction in your body designed to control moisture. Their active ingredients plug up the sweat glands to prevent sweat from coming out.

Most antiperspirants contain some chemical compound. Thus, you need to be careful in choosing your antiperspirant because aluminum compounds are considered irritants and can be difficult to use for those who suffer from eczema or psoriasis. If you’re one of the sufferers, look for an antiperspirant containing aluminum sesquichlorhydrate instead. Moreover, be wary of those that use zinc as a substitute for aluminum, because zinc can be just as irritating to your skin.

Degree Men’s Dry Protection Antiperspirant & Deodorant

Degree clearly doesn’t mince words when it claims it has the world’s No. 1 antiperspirant. True or not, the Degree Men’s Dry Protection line is a big seller and typically earns strong reviews.

Degree’s line includes these antiperspirants: Clinical Protection Shower Clean, Clinical Strength Clean, Motionsense Shower Clean and Motionsense Antiperspirant Overtime.

Degree’s scents tend to lean toward the citrusy side, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

It comes in an invisible solid that goes on clear; it’s body heat-activated, and it’s great for outdoor sports or your workout routine.

Gillette Clear Gel Cool Wave Antiperspirant and Deodorant

Gillette, now owned by Procter & Gamble, is big. Big, as in assets in the $50 billion range.

But big doesn’t necessarily mean bad, and Gillette has been proving itself in the personal care products field, starting with its famous razors and blades, for a long, long time.

It promotes its Cool Wave Antiperspirant as the top gel antiperspirant on the market.

Reasons to buy include its round-the-clock protection from wetness and odor and a transparent dry shield. It also comes in a two-pack to provide great value at checkout.

Axe Phoenix Antiperspirant Stick

Axe is all about finding your best style, working on it, and then making a great impression – including the all-important first impression.

Its motto is “Find Your Magic.” Well, its Phoenix Antiperspirant Stick will help both with the impression and the magic as it combines Axe’s unique scent with an antiperspirant that keeps you dry throughout the day.

Reviewers compliment its musky, manly scent that sets itself apart from the fleet of other products on the shelf. Axe, like with its magic, also stresses its Axe Effect, which is what most of us associate with the brand, at least, when it first came on the market.

Put simply, wear their products and you’ll be an instant hit with potential love interests.

While not literally true, perhaps, Axe does help you look and smell great, and its Phoenix Antiperspirant Stick will tame your sweat. The rest is up to you.

Jack Black Pit Boss Antiperspirant

First of all, Jack Black, the company, has nothing to do with Jack Black the actor, although they may like or may not like his movies.

But the company Jack Black was formed in the year 2000 as a response to what its founders felt was a serious lack in men’s skincare products. They’ve since built a reputation as an upscale source of such products worldwide.

Reviewers give it high marks for what’s essential in quality men’s antiperspirants: 1) Great, manly smell, 2) Effective and long-lasting, 3) It’s non-irritating. And you’ve got to love the name, which comes from a casino pit boss, who needs to remain calm and confident (and dry) as the world swirls around them.

SweatBlock Clinical Strength Antiperspirant

If you’re one to sweat excessively, then SweatBlock is for you.

It lays claim to being the top-selling antiperspirant on the market, and considering that it’s doctor recommended (and FDA approved) and that one application can last seven days, there must be some merit to it.

They don’t mess around either, offering a 30-day money back guarantee with every item they sell.

Each pack comes with eight antiperspirant towelettes.

The folks at SweatBlock, like us, recommend putting it on at bedtime when your sweat glands are less active.

Now it’s time to hit the streets and seek out the best men’s deodorant and antiperspirant that is needed as part of your well-groomed-man arsenal.

The choices are many – and can be found in both organic and non-organic categories – but knowledge is power. And power is the ability to choose wisely. Stay dry, my friends.

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