Introduction

Deodorant and antiperspirant have different functions

Most deodorant reviews are based on personal preference, but we found ConsumerReports.org to be the most reliable professional review. Although editors there do not consider the efficacy of deodorants, their report on antiperspirants, in which they compare the stain factor of several brands, is objective and thorough. Beauty magazines such as Allure, Shape and Better Nutrition test products to identify the best deodorant brands for their annual beauty awards, although their methods are not as clearly explained. Slate.com performs an interesting efficacy test of deodorants, but is very outdated (although most of the products are still available). User reviews at MakeupAlley.com, Buzzillions.com and TotalBeauty.com are plentiful and provide good insight into various factors such as fragrance, irritation and efficacy of the best deodorant brands and types.

The terms deodorant and antiperspirant are often used interchangeably, although they actually describe two different products. Antiperspirants use aluminum-based ingredients to create temporary plugs in the sweat ducts, reducing overall sweating. Antiperspirants don't, however, reduce odor in and of themselves. Deodorants, on the other hand, make it difficult for odor-causing bacteria to grow on the surface of the skin but have very little effect on overall sweat. Most, but not all, mass-produced products include both antiperspirant and deodorant ingredients for maximum odor and sweat-fighting efficiency.

Perspiration, a natural function, cools the body. Although it is blamed for foul body odor, sweat does not have much scent at all. Odor is actually produced by bacteria living on the surface of the skin, which feeds on sweat. Sweat also releases some toxins, though not very many.

People have been formulating products for centuries to control odor and wetness, but deodorant is a fairly new concept. Hundreds of years ago, before bathing became commonplace, people used heavy colognes to mask bodily odors, according to an article at MadeHow.com. It wasn't until the early 1800's that chemists began making products that could prevent these odors. The earliest antiperspirants, though, were pastes and creams that were extremely messy and difficult to apply. Modern products using aluminum were first mass-produced about a hundred years later. These products were sold as creams, solids, pads, dabbers, roll-ons and powders. Over time, the popularity of some of the application types waned. Today, the majority of antiperspirants and deodorants are sold as solids, gels, roll-ons and deodorant sprays, with solid sticks being the most popular of all.

Sweat and the odor that goes with it tend to be cultural taboos in Western society, but many natural health advocates point out that sweat is natural and should not be wiped out completely with the use of antiperspirants. Some point to dangers associated with aluminum, the active ingredient used in antiperspirants. Rumors have linked it to Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer, but both the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say there is nothing to substantiate these claims. Even advocates for natural products, such as the TheGreenGuide.com and TruthInAging.com, say that there are no inherent dangers in using antiperspirant products, though they advocate natural deodorant because they are not as potentially irritating and don't contain harsh chemical ingredients. Natural deodorant products, however, do not prevent sweat and only provide deodorizing benefits.