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 source. Although editors there do not consider the efficacy of deodorants, their report on antiperspirants objectively compares the stain factor -- how likely the deodorant is to stain clothing or leave behind white residue -- of several brands. Beauty magazines such as Esquire, 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. In an older review, Slate.com performs an interesting efficacy test of deodorants (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 describe two different products. Antiperspirants use aluminum-based ingredients to create temporary plugs in the sweat ducts, reducing overall sweating. Antiperspirants don't reduce odor, however. 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, perspiration itself does not have much scent at all. Odor is actually produced by bacteria living on the surface of the skin, which feeds on sweat. People have been formulating products for centuries to control odor and wetness, but deodorant is a fairly new concept. Hundreds of years ago, before regular bathing became commonplace, people used heavy colognes to mask bodily odors. It wasn't until the early 1800s that chemists began making products that could prevent body odor. The earliest antiperspirants were pastes and creams that were extremely messy and difficult to apply. Modern products using aluminum were first mass-produced about 100 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.

Although some people think that aluminum, the active ingredient used in antiperspirants, is linked to Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer, both the National Cancer Institute and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) say there is nothing to substantiate these claims. Editors at the environmental website TheGreenGuide.com note that there are no inherent dangers in using antiperspirant products, though they advocate using 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.

Some products promise to do more than just eliminate sweat and odor. For example, Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth (*Est. $5 for 2.6 oz.) contains conditioning ingredients, namely silicone and sunflower seed oil, that are supposed to smooth and condition underarm hair making it less noticeable, according to Dove's website. We found several user reviews in which consumers confuse Dove's marketing to mean that the deodorant slows down hair growth (it doesn't).

Cosmetics chemists at TheBeautyBrains.com point out that the claims behind Visibly Smooth are mostly a marketing ploy and that any product capable of reducing hair growth must be classified as a drug and approved by the FDA, neither of which is true of Visibly Smooth. Most users at MakeupAlley.com, where the deodorant gets an average overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars from about 40 reviewers, say that it has no real effect on hair growth or appearance. Secret's Smooth Effects (*Est. $5 for 2.6 oz.) is similar to Dove's Visibly Smooth in that it makes similar claims and is formulated in the same manner. There are very few user reviews for it, however, and none of them comment about hair growth or appearance.