These sticks, sprays, and roll-ons work hard to control odor and keep sweat at bay. While sweating and body odor are completely normal, the best deodorants and antiperspirants can keep you smelling fresh and staying dry—whether you’re navigating the morning subway rush or powering through a hot Pilates class. First, a quick (ahem) refresher: Antiperspirants and deodorants are not interchangeable. Antiperspirants use aluminum to temporarily “plug” sweat ducts and therefore minimize odor, whereas deodorants don’t actually prevent sweat, but they do mask any B.O. with bacteria-reducing ingredients or other smells.
Knowing what formula works with your skin, however, can make all the difference. For sensitive skin, natural and aluminum-free deodorants can curb odor without aggravating your pits. If sweat control is a priority, antiperspirants and clinical-strength formulas offer extra support for those who sweat heavily or deal with hyperhidrosis (guilty). Your options also go well beyond the traditional stick, with sprays, roll-ons, serums, gels, and creams to suit just about every preference.
Best Overall Deodorant: Salt & Stone Santal & Vetiver Deodorant, $20
Best Overall Antiperspirant: Secret Clinical Strength Completely Clean Invisible Solid, $14
Best for Sensitive Skin: Curie Clean Deodorant Stick, $14
Best for Preventing Ingrowns: Saltair 5% AHA Serum Deodorant Fragrance Free, $26 (2-Pack)
If your current deodorant isn’t working hard enough, we asked Allure editors and board-certified dermatologists to share their favorite formulas for keeping musk, sweat, and everything in between in check.
Why it’s worth it: When a deodorant smells so good that you can’t help but go “ooh” and “ahh,” applying it (and reapplying) becomes something to look forward to. Salt & Stone’s Aluminum-Free Deodorant is a favorite amongst many Allure editors, namely due to its hard-to-beat scent lineup. With six fragrances to choose from, including the Best of Beauty-winning Santal & Vetiver, it keeps underarms smelling fresh for the long run. But besides combatting stink, this transfer-resistant formula works with the skin’s natural pH levels, meaning it helps keep the skin microbiome and healthy bacteria happy.
Magnesium does the heavy lifting to neutralize odor-causing bacteria, while tapioca starch absorbs excess moisture without leaving your underarms high and dry—compared to actives, such as baking soda, which dry or sensitive underarms may find irritating. A soothing blend of spirulina, shea butter, and niacinamide rounds out the gentle, moisturizing list. And, of course, the stick glides smoothly with no pesky signs of it left behind.
Why it’s worth it: The right antiperspirant does more than put an end to the constant sweat-check. Case in point: Secret’s Clinical Strength Completely Clean Invisible Solid, a 2026 Best of Beauty winner that our team tested over months (and across different seasons) so you can wholeheartedly trust that it will have you covered on steamy first dates or toasty subway rides.
When it comes to an antiperspirant, its concentration of aluminum compounds says a lot about its level of sweat control. This Secret formula contains 20% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, which Dara Spearman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana, previously shared is “the highest level available over the counter to target heat, activity, and stress sweat.” It pairs the active with nourishing castor oil, bisabolol, and hyaluronic acid to soothe and hydrate the skin. Plus, the invisible glides on clear to help prevent white marks on your favorite black tee. (No outfit casualties, please!)
Why it’s worth it: Native’s Coconut & Vanilla Deodorant Spray is a past Best of Beauty winner that feels like next to nothing and smells like a warm beach vacation in a bottle. (If the tropical vibes aren’t your preference, the spray has six other addictive scents). The fast-drying formula features a soothing dose of niacinamide and triglyceride to help keep pits feeling smooth and comfortable. And unlike some deodorant sprays that leave behind a chalky finish, this one has a fine, clear mist that feels refreshing but won’t leave you coughing amidst a cloud of deo.
Why it’s worth it: Chances are you’ve spotted this during your many drugstore runs, or, perhaps, recognize it as a 2024 and 2026 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner. No matter the year, we love the Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant Deodorant Spray for its crisp, spa-like scent (Cool Essentials, specifically, is an editor favorite), but the real appeal is how well it delivers odor and sweat protection, thanks to 20% aluminum chlorohydrate. It also softens dry underarms with moisturizing sunflower seed oil, all while staying alcohol-free (a common, sometimes-irritating additive in deodorant sprays). Give it a few seconds for the formula to completely dry down—when it does, you get a nearly weightless finish, so you can be out the door almost as fast as you apply it.
Why it’s worth it: If you’re over deodorant marks transferring onto your shirt, this Ban AHA Roll-on Serum Deodorant is a mess-free alternative. Thanks to its smooth rollerball applicator, the lightweight, liquid formula evenly distributes product without leaving behind a heavy residue. And while it does contain three forms of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs for short)—lactic, shikimic, and mandelic acids—the serum balances the gentle exfoliants with anti-inflammatory plant extracts (such as sandalwood and barley) to help soothe and calm stressed-out pits.
Why it’s worth it: Dark underarms are completely normal and nothing you need to “fix,” but if it makes you self-conscious to go sleeveless, the Best of Beauty-winning SheaMoisture Even Tone Deodorant Stick can help. The formula contains niacinamide and sea buckthorn extract (a derivative of vitamin C), two ingredients commonly used to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, to effectively even tone. It also features shea butter, glycerin, and sunflower seed oil to moisturize skin and soothe irritation caused by friction or shaving—that’s a win-win.
Why it’s worth it: For dry underarms that need a little extra TLC, Herbivore’s Coco Rose Deodorant delivers moisture via squalane, coconut and castor oils, and tremella mushroom to help prevent moisture loss—because your pits are skin, too—leaving underarms soft, smooth, and protected. Its gentle, aluminum-free formula uses tapioca starch over other aluminum alternatives to absorb moisture without causing irritation, thus earning a 2026 Best of Beauty Award in our Clean category. Bonus: We could smell its sweet notes of coconut, rose, berry, and vanilla bean all day long—be prepared for many sniff-checks (but not the bad kind).
Why it’s worth it: Underarms have enough to deal with between shaving, friction, and sweat, so your deodorant certainly shouldn’t be another pain point. Curie’s Clean Deodorant Stick is boosted with cocoa butter, fruit extracts, aloe, and vitamin E oil to calm redness and moisturize irritated pits. It also skips baking soda, a common irritant for sensitive skin, in favor of tapioca starch so it’s tough on sweat while being gentle on your skin. While the stick comes in eight scented options, there’s an unscented version for skin easily aggravated by fragrance.
Why it’s worth it: There’s nothing wrong with choosing a deo solely for its scent but Megababe’s The Santal Deo gives you even more reasons to swipe it on. The aluminum-free formula helps reduce odor with naturally-derived magnesium hydroxide and zinc ricinoleate, and kicks irritation to the curb with ceramides, shea butter, and castor and coconut oils. Scent-wise, our editors are keen on The Santal with its warm notes of sandalwood, violet, and amber that feel effortlessly elevated. If you’re in the mood for something brighter, the brand’s other scents range from a salty peach to zesty, smoothie-inspired blends.
Why it’s worth it: Dealing with post-shaving stinging or worse, the accompanying ingrowns? This 2023 Best of Beauty-winning formula helps smooth the way with a gentle trio of exfoliating acids—mandelic and lactic acids (AHAs) and polyhydroxy acid (PHA for short)—that are kind on skin but tough on bumps and texture, while the roll-on applicator helps distribute the formula evenly across skin and prevent streaking. It also boasts niacinamide, xylitol esters, and glycerin to help soothe irritated skin and control odor. Just give it a few seconds to dry down before heading out the door.
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