Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant: Which Is Right for You?

Man figuring out what is better to use: deodorant or an antiperspirant?
Yakobchuk Olena/Getty Images

We’ll do whatever we need to do to smell good — or at least to not smell bad. But does that mean it’s better to control the odor our bodies naturally produce with deodorant or to stop the problem at its source with antiperspirant? When it concerns our grooming, it’s best to get a professional perspective on whether to use one over the other. We spoke to Mia Saini Duchnowski, co-founder and CEO of Oars+Alps, and Dr. Corey Hartman, dermatologist and spokesperson for Old Spice, to help us out.

Related Reading

What Is Antiperspirant?

Man with buzzcut and facial hair directly applying antiperspirant on his underarm in the the bathroom.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

An antiperspirant’s No. 1 benefit is that it eliminates wetness. Guys who are really bothered by wet underarms when the mercury starts to climb clearly fall into this camp. It may also be a concern in the workplace, where damp armpits during a big client presentation might be interpreted as nervousness. And don’t get us started on how that can complicate a first date. 

Recommended Videos

“Antiperspirant contains aluminum salts, which act to plug and deactivate sweat glands, preventing perspiration and sweating,” says Hartman. “Our underarms are prone to moisture and odor. Deodorant fights the odor that comes when sweat mixes with bacteria.” 

Read more: Best Antiperspirant for Men

What Is Deodorant?

Close-up of a man's armpit as he is about to apply deodorant.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“Deodorant protects against odor,” says Duchnowski, “But antiperspirant is like putting duct tape on your armpits. It blocks sweat glands from making sweat. Sure, that controls wetness, but that’s not normal (for our bodies). Deodorant includes ingredients that kill the bacteria that lead to underarm odor.”

“We use a proprietary blend that includes corn starch, which is acidic and kills the bacteria,” says Duchnowski. “When we work with guys who are switching from antiperspirant to deodorant, their biggest fear is that they are going to sweat too much. With regular use, sweat gets more normalized. It takes a little time for your body to go through a sort of ‘detox,’ and get used to what you are putting there.”

Read more: Best Deodorants for Men

Which Is Right For You?

A man wearing a leather jacket deciding on which deodorant or antiperspirant to buy at the pharmacy.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When switching from an antiperspirant to deodorant, and vice versa — or even changing products or brands within each category — it’s not uncommon to break out initially as your body adjusts to the newcomer. 

“Sometimes people get a rash and will toss their new deodorant. Again, anytime you switch products that could happen,” says Duchnowski. “Your sweat is what’s causing this. It takes time to adjust — about five to six weeks. When switching from antiperspirant, particularly, your pits are in the process of purging. You’re no longer sealing up those ducts. You may sweat more initially, too. Eventually, your body will adjust, you’ll produce fewer bacteria, you’ll sweat less, and you’ll smell less. 

“Some guys will switch back and forth — they have a big meeting coming up or they switch to an antiperspirant seasonally when it gets warmer. It can be a confidence booster. I compare it to yo-yo dieting. Your body is designed to sweat. Focus on controlling the odor,” explains Duchnowski. 

Hartman concurs. “When we talk to patients who are experiencing irritant or allergic contact dermatitis, it’s easy to blame a new product. Some ingredients, like fragrances and dyes, can be particularly bothersome, especially if the person has an impaired skin barrier that is not holding hydration and moisture as it should. When introducing new things into that environment, they can disrupt and cause irritation. The active ingredient in most antiperspirants is aluminum chloride salt, which is notoriously irritating. While that ingredient is very effective, one has to be careful because some products may not have been formulated correctly, or the percentage of aluminum may be too high for the product’s moisturizer content.” 

Should You Use Natural Deodorants?

Oars + Alps focuses on using natural ingredients and fragrances in its deodorants, but occasionally allergic reactions can happen. “We focus on the 26 allergen-free fragrances that have been identified by the European Union,” says Duchnowski. “Another point is that sometimes a natural deodorant may cause irritation from friction because we don’t use any synthetic ingredients to make the product go on more smoothly.” 

To that point, Hartman points out that two recent Old Spice introductions were designed to have the smoothest application and lowest residue for an “elegant” product. You may have seen the latest Old Spice commercials featuring the bath-towel-wrapped actor Isaiah Mustafa from the brand’s iconic campaign of a decade ago. Now Mustafa interrupts his “son” — played by Keith Powers — on the basketball court and at the office. The spots introduce Old Spice Ultra Smooth and Old Spice GentleMan’s Blend. The Ultra Smooth line includes both an antiperspirant and a deodorant; while the whole collection focuses on more subtle scents and a focus on skin benefits. GentleMan, on the other hand, is targeted toward men with more sensitive skin and features an antiperspirant and deodorant combo. 

“Our skin changes approximately every 10 years,” Hartman. says. “As we age, it produces less oil, so we are able to withstand fewer harsh chemicals and irritants. It impacts our skin barrier’s ability to keep the good stuff in, and the bad, out. Switching products can become an issue, but sticking with the same product for 40 years may not work either because your skin is not the same as it was in your twenties.” This may affect anything from your favorite pit juice to laundry detergent or shaving products.

An added benefit to using either product may be that you can skip wearing other fragrances.

“Are guys still even wearing cologne today?” asks Duchnowski. “We have six different scents, so men are switching up their deodorant from day to day, rather than wearing cologne.” Oars + Alps recently launched its Coconut Capri deodorant, featuring coconut water, Sicilian sea salt, crushed almond, cedar, and sugar cane. Two of its fragrances are available in deodorants made specifically for sensitive skin, too.

One final point: This writer studiously avoided using antiperspirants for most of my adult life because I’d heard about studies touting a potential correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and the aluminum in the product. (Yet another drew a relationship between antiperspirant and breast cancer.) That was a long time ago and, at this point, there is no reason to believe there is a direct causal relationship. 

Whew. Great to know I don’t have to sweat about that anymore. 

John Jones
John Jones is a Jersey City, New Jersey-based writer who enjoys covering design in all its forms, from fashion to…
Topics
Acqua di Parma releases the ultimate men’s fragrance for the summer
Acqua di Parma releases new Italian reserve collection
dark blue acqua di parma bottle in front of colorful background

Even if you aren’t planning to jet off to Capri or Amalfi, there’s still another way you can add some Italian summer flair to the season. For Acqua di Parma, invoking Italian scents is an everyday act, but their newest fragrance collection takes this to another level. Playing off three familiar fragrances, the brand has enriched the scents to unveil its new Blu Mediterranea La Riserva collection. Released in a decadent dark blue shade, this collection stands out from the brand’s traditional lineup with a subtle tone switch. The perfect unisex fragrances for the season, Acqua di Parma transports everyone to the Italian coast with plenty of style. 

Exploring Italy with Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterranea La Riserva

Read more
How to trim a beard the right way — from stubble to full-on lumberjack
Choose the right beard, get the right tools, and master these techniques for a great look
Beard trimming

At first glance, how to trim a beard seems like an easy problem to solve. I have first-hand experience with this, as my beard grew out evenly when I decided to sprout one. Even better, it came in with a reddish color that complemented my long face and Scotch-Irish ancestry on my father’s side. The basic color and uniformity made it easy to overlook the inevitable mistakes I made, so the toughest task was reminding myself to trim every other day. Otherwise, I would grow a small beard forest that was tough to handle.
For many men, though, it’s not so simple. That’s especially true for beard novices and for those men whose beards serve up some surprises. When that happens, trimming becomes a tougher task, so a brief tactical review is a solid idea.

Choose the right beard type, then get a trimmer

Read more
These unusual men’s colognes are inspired by your favorite food
Man spraying on cologne

For many men, the quest to find the ultimate personalized fragrance is unending. They know all about colognes, expensive and otherwise. They also go into this project with boundless curiosity, well aware of how much they’ll benefit from getting it right with the best men's colognes, both personally and professionally.
In addition, they’re often actively involved in exploring food-based colognes and scents. This can open up a whole new world of personalized fragrances, so it’s well worth taking a closer look to see what works and how far you might want to go in your explorations.

Spices are a staple in the world of scents

Read more