8 Best and Worst Deodorants on the Market

I bought a new deodorant that said all the right things -- you know, "fresh scent," "wetness protection," "goes on clear," all that good stuff. I put it on and took a pit-whiff: It passed the test.

At least, it passed until about two hours later, when I lifted my arms to embrace an old friend and I smelled the unmistakable scent of my very own, very truly rank, B.O. Luckily, she's the kind of friend you can laugh with about stuff like that. What if it had been a co-worker? The guy I've gone out with exactly twice? When I slipped away to the bathroom a few minutes later to soak up the pools of sweat with toilet paper (classy!), I saw that my shirt had already done most of the clean-up job. I looked like I'd just logged a full day on a construction site.

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There's nothing worse than finding out your deodorant is a dud. After all, you don't find out it's terrible until you're in the middle of a situation where it's suddenly horrifyingly, embarrassingly obvious that you stink. And who has the time, patience, budget, or nose to figure out firsthand which deodorants really work -- and which don't?

Like you, we don't want to be stuck with stench. That's why we gathered hundreds of reviews from our Total Beauty readers, who have tried every deodorant and antiperspirant on the market and aren't shy about sharing which ones work (and which ones do squat).

Read on to see the 8 best and worst deodorants and antiperspirants around -- and rest assured that you'll never have another damp, smelly meltdown again. No sweat.


The Worst No. 4: Secret Scent Expressions Clear Gel, $3.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.8

Why: Readers say this deodorant is "messy, slimy, smells awful, and does not do its job," because "it doesn't block odors at all, but attempts to cover it with a different smell." One reader says, this product is "not a deodorant, but an odorant" and "if you have problems with sweating, stay away from this gel because as soon as I get sweaty, it smells like perfume and armpits." Some readers also say their underarms get "sticky and irritated after using this product for a few days in a row."


The Worst No. 3: Tom's of Maine Natural Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick, $3.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 6.5

Why: Readers say using this deodorant "is almost worse than not using deodorant at all." "I find myself reapplying four times a day and I've never had to reapply deodorant before," says one reader. Another says, "This deodorant caused me to have body odor. I started smelling like an onion patch." And those with "even remotely sensitive skin" should steer clear as some reviewers experienced "a sunburn-like rash within a week of use with itchy, peeling skin."


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The Worst No. 2: Suave 24-Hour Protection Invisible Solid Antiperspirant/ Deodorant, $2.49

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.8

Why: One reader says, "Though the price made me swoon, [this product] cost me quite a bit more embarrassment than I had planned on. Everything you hate in a deodorant is in this one: leaves white stains on clothes, clumps, and feels like glue underneath your arms." Readers say this product "does not glide on smoothly," so they feel like they are "trying to rub a candle or a dry bar of soap" on their underarms.


The Worst No. 1: Secret Original Aerosol, $4.49

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 5.0

Why: One reader who lives in a warm climate says, "In the middle of a 95-degree summer, I will end up with sweat rings if I wear this product, so if this was my only option for an antiperspirant, I'd rather stay indoors." Another reader agrees, saying this "doesn't help prevent perspiration at all" and the powder scent of this product is "way too intense." The fumes from the aerosol "make me sick -- I had to force myself to stop using it."


The Best No. 4: Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant and Deodorant, $19

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.1

Why: Readers say this antiperspirant and deodorant is "underarm therapy" and is "the only one that works consistently well." "Not even the prescription deodorant my dermatologist prescribed works as well as this to combat both odor and wetness," says one reader. "I use it all year long and it's worked better for me in the summer than any other brand I've ever tried." Another reader adds, "In spite of its powerful protection, this is also the gentlest deodorant I've ever used" and it doesn't have the "cloying, floral, overpowering smells of your standard deodorants."


The Best No. 3: Secret Original Invisible Solid, $2.99

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.1

Why: Most readers have "been using this product for years, since [they were] old enough to wear deodorant." One reader says, "No matter how many other products I have tried (and thrown away) over the years, I always come back to this one. It is reliable and never lets you down." Another reader says, "It also doesn't ball up like some of the other brands" and it "does not get cakey" so "I can put this on first thing in the morning and not have to worry all day long."


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The Best No. 2: Kiss My Face Liquid Rock Roll-On Deodorant, $5.99


TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.3

Why: Readers feel good about "the fact that [this deodorant] contains no aluminum" and the "simplicity of the ingredients makes it perfect for pregnancy." One reader says, "This deodorant does exactly what it is supposed to do. I recently tried to purchase more natural products but was skeptical of getting a deodorant because I assumed it would not work. This has left me odorless and sweat-free even after an hour-long spin class."


The Best No. 1: Secret Clinical Strength Sensitive Skin, $8.29

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.3

Why: One reader says, "I have had excessive sweating issues under my arms for over 20 years and this is the only product I have ever found to work for me. For the first time in ages, I can wear tighter colored shirts on a hot day without having to worry about an ugly sweat mark." And one reviewer with sensitive skin says this product "never gave me any problems and it actually soothed and conditioned my underarms."


Want more? See 6 more deodorants and antiperspirants that women love here.

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