As a teenager, a can of whatever your mum got you from the supermarket probably sufficed, but having successfully made the transition from boy to man, now comes a time where more thought needs to go into what you’re spritzing onto your armpits every day – you need one of the best deodorants for men.
Whether you're looking for the best affordable deodorants from brands like Sure, Dove and Lynx, or, whether you're looking for something a little more sophisticated from brands such as Tom Ford and Chanel, we've collected the best deodorants and antiperspirants right here.
And, if you're looking to upgrade your grooming routine, then you'll also need to read the best men’s fragrances and colognes for long-lasting scents, the best moisturisers for soft and subtle skin, as well as the best men’s eye cream to fix the effects of a hectic lifestyle.
Choosing the best deodorant for you
The underarm area is actually pretty sensitive and just because one spray may be good for your friend, doesn’t mean it won’t potentially cause your pits to come out in a terribly itchy rash.
If you’re prone to that kind of reaction, a deodorant specially formulated for sensitive skin may be the direction for you.
Some men are more prone to sweating than others; whether it’s because their sweat glands are always in hyper mode, they become hot easily or because they feel anxious under pressure. If that’s the case, make sure you purchase an anti-perspirant deodorant, and there’s no shame in purchasing an extra strong one either, if those armpits are a real problem.
What's the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant?
The quick answer to that is antiperspirant stops you from sweating, while deodorant stops you from smelling.
Deodorant kills the bacteria on your skin, so when you sweat there aren't enough bacteria sitting on your skin to multiply and create an odour.
If you’re worried about sweat stains on your clothing an antiperspirant is the better product for you. These contain aluminium salts that dissolve in moisture on the surface of your skin. As it dissolves, it forms a gel that temporarily blocks your sweat glands and helps prevent additional sweating.
If scent is of the utmost importance, many of the designer brands also have a deodorant range. Often, they have the same scent as their popular aftershaves.
Our list features a range of the best men’s deodorants; expect a mix of products from designer brands, specific beauty brands and some that you may never have come across before but are known in the industry to meet a requirement – whether it’s sensitivity or excessive sweating.
If you’re stuck between choosing a roll-on or spray can, roll-ons deliver the active ingredients straight to the pit, and are a common application method for treatment to excessive sweating.
Spray cans aren’t as direct in their application, which is great for all-around area protection and for quickly freshening up before the big presentation at work. In the end, it all comes down to personal choice.
American designer Tom Ford has created this fresh deodorant for that aftershave scent after every application- perfect if you’re conscious about the way you smell.
You should be able to distinguish a blend of citrus, floral and amber notes, which give it that fresh but masculine scent and if you love the scent that much, there’s a wider bath and body collection that you can dip into. For the pure luxury, we give this deodorant our number one spot.
The most trendy new deodorant brand around – meet Wild. The deodorant is delivered direct to your door in recyclable packaging, Wild is 100% eco-friendly, vegan and free from nasties such as aluminium salts, parabens and phthalates.
You buy one of Wild's reusable aluminium cases, then get refills as a one-off purchase or part of a subscription service. Refills start from £5 each. We love the basic scents, but Wild also launch new limited editions, such as Sandalwood & Patchouli.
It's worth noting that it can take up to 30 days for your body to get used to the natural deodorant.
A strong alternative to our first pick, this deodorant from beauty brand L'Occitane is recognised for its woody, aromatic scent, which does a good job of masking pongy pits.
Aluminium, alcohol and paraben free, it’s kinder to skin than other deodorants, and should be considered if you’re worried about the effects of aluminium on your underarm area.
Proverb’s Natural Refillable Deodorant is here and has been tested on lots of sweaty pits (including ours). The results is a natural amazingly scented deodorant that lasts all day long. The Proverb Refillable Deodorant harnesses natural, plant powered ingredients to keep your underarms dry, fresh and sweetly scented without any aluminium – it’s good your skin and the planet, contained in 100% compostable paper wrapped refills.
We’ve had citrus, wood and now we have musk with this men’s deodorant from Chanel. If you’re a fan of the cologne, this could be a great alternative for everyday where, as it’s lighter and slightly less heady than a full dinner date-worthy spritz.
If you’re new to the scent, you can expect a hit of mandarin followed by woody cedar and heady musk – a scent that reviewers find masculine but not too overpowering. You can purchase it as a stick or a spray, depending on your preferred method of application.
Clarins is a skincare specialist so you’d expect the greatest underarm care from them. The creamy stick is kind to sensitive skin whilst managing underarm sweat. It’s very subtly scented which makes it the perfect option to accompany your aftershave, though be careful as it can stain!
Triumph and Disaster's latest launch is the Natural Deodorant - Spice. The brand believes it’s good to sweat, saying sweat is one of the signs of a normal, healthy functioning system. So T&D's ethos is to work with the body’s natural flow by working with it to limit excess moisture and control the aromas created through the excretion of sweat. With the deodorant ‘Spice’ the goal is to limit body odour by impairing the bacteria that produce it, dousing them with hypnotic, fragrant notes to create an intoxicating mix of exotic moolah.
If you;'re looking for a natural deodorant that still offers 24 hours of protection, then this range of roll-ons from Bulldog has you covered. It's specially formulated to deliver 24-hour protection while using 100% natural fragrances. You can pick up one of four scents from the Bulldog website (opens in new tab): Original, Peppermint And Eucalyptus, Lemon And Bergamot and Vetiver And Black Pepper. Although it still uses plastic rather than glass or metal, it's entirely made from a single type of plastic, PP, which makes it much easier to recycle than using a mix of materials.
This deodorant from Dove is perfect if you really hate white marks on clothing - a common issue with some deodorants. It also protects you against sweat and body odour for up to 48 hours to keep you smelling great all day.
The Men+Care Invisible Dry aerosol has a clean, subtle scent to keep you feeling fresher for longer and also uses a 1/4 moisturising technology to shield skin from irritation, so it's suited to sensitive skin as well.
Mr Baxter Finley founded Baxter of California in 1965 after moving from New York City to Los Angeles and noticing the effect the heat and sun had on his skin. This deodorant is aluminium and alcohol-free, and is enriched with soothing Tea Tree oil and moisturising Chamomile.
The clear, solid gel won't stain or discolour clothes.
Fast drying and nice smelling, this roll-on is formulated with plenty of antioxidants (Caffeine and vitamin C) to keep your underarms in good nick. Great protection for those who sweat minimally, offering up to 48 hours odour-free, however, if you’re a heavy sweater then you’ll need something more substantial.
Clinique For Men's high-performance non-staining formula provides all-day protection from wetness and odour caused by perspiration. It rolls on easily and dries quickly for instant protection.
Use it after every morning after showering and allow it to dry before dressing for a solid sweat barrier. The Antiperspirant Deodorant is allergy tested and 100-percent free of perfumes.
Based in London's St James district, D. R. Harris is a brand that British royalty and aristocracy depend on. Yes, this just might be the deodorant Prince Charles uses.
Perhaps the most gentlemanly on this list, it's alcohol free, and therefore befits most sensitive skin types. The deodorant is scented with the brand's 'Windsor' fragrance, a handsome mix of Citrus, Black Pepper and Vetiver.
When you’ve only got space for one nice-smelling product in your gym bag, this one is fragrant enough you won’t need aftershave. Molton Brown’s smells so good pull want to rub it all over. It doesn’t leave a sticky residue and it works well to keep you dry and smelling fresh, though it can cause irritation to sensitive skin.
If you want a deodorant that really packs a punch, try Lynx Gold Anti White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant. It's scented with oud wood and dark vanilla which creates a masculine woody fragrance.
Lynx is no-longer the preserve of teenage boys after a recent re-brand, and a new formula means you won't be left with white marks or yellow stains.
This aluminium-free deodorant spray perfectly exemplifies Aesop's all-natural approach to products. It contains 11 essential oils designed to neutralise odor and refresh skin.
Which oils exactly? Rosemary, sage & Eucalyptus to help eliminate unpleasant body odors, and subtly scented with a fresh, herbaceous aroma. There also Eucalyptus and Tea Tree to sooth your skin.
L'Occitane deodorant is pleasantly fragrant, with a fresh citrus scent that leaves you feeling and smelling clean. We were pleased to find it didn’t stain but this one will need a reapplication in the afternoon as it’s potency only extends a few hours.
This lightly scented CK One deodorant stick will keep you fresh and dry all day with a "youthful fragrance that inspires you to be yourself". Their words, not ours.
A green tea accord travels through the scent, with bright notes of mandarin orange, papaya, bergamot, and lemon. The heart comes to life with an aromatic harmony of nutmeg, violet, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and rose. The drydown is a sensual combination of musk and amber.
Designed for both men and women to share, it has universally appealing fragrance which is designed to complement the CK One Eau de Toilette.
If you’re paranoid about what products you put on your pits, we don’t think you’ll have much to fret about with this product. For starters, it’s paraben, sulphate, aluminium and alcohol-free, so it should be fine for sensitive skin.
It also contains plenty of naturally occurring ingredients, including Acai Fruit Oil, peppermint and lime, which produce a fresh scent that should keep you stink-free all day. All natural ingredients are derived from plants, too, which means it’s fine for vegans.
Sure Men Advanced Protection combats sweat and odour for up to a massive 72 hours, and is, according to Sure, the "most effective anti-perspirant".
It contains Sure’s Motionsense technology which covers your skin with microcapsules. When you move, friction breaks those microcapsules and they release more fragrance. So every time you move, Motionsense keeps you fresh and free from odour.
Whether you’re working hard in the office, playing hard out on the pitch, Sure should keep you smelling fresh.
If you’re looking to stop sweat, this Vichy anti-perspirant should do a good job. Although it’s anti-perspirant, it’s still kind to the pits, with the inclusion of oligo-zinc, which is known to soothe the skin from discomfort.
Another upside, no white marks means you won’t be reaching for a flannel to wipe the anti-perspirant stain off of your clothes just before you head out the door. This product doesn’t have much of a fragrance, so if you’re looking to emit a fresh scent wherever you go, something more powerful may be on the cards.
If you’re sick and tired of soaking wet pits, this product could be the solution. Be warned – it means business – so don’t use it if your underarm skin is sensitive or broken otherwise it’ll sting like hell.
It takes 1-2 weeks to do it’s thing, then if you want, you can use intermittently with a regular deodorant or anti-perspirant. If you’re tempted to over apply, don't. Reviewers report of armpits becoming sore if overused. And of course, this isn’t about smelling flowery, this is about preventing sweat.
Excessively sweaty armpits are a nightmare so if Driclor looks a little too harsh for you, this one has a softer approach. It’s alcohol-free for starters, which takes away some of the chemical impact, and it contains anti-irritating allantoin and shea butter instead of harsh chemicals to control bacteria.
Driclor doesn’t have a scent, either, so there’s no whiff of freshness. However, the Recipe for Men deodorant has a light scent to help you feel fresh throughout the day, as well as sweat-free.
