The 10 Very Best Men’s Deodorants and Anti-perspirants (2024)

Anti-perspirant or deodorant

Application format

$7

Protection type: Anti-perspirant | Application type: Roll-on

For excessive sweating, Certain Dri is a prescription-strength roll-on that has tobe applied at night. This allows the aluminum to really settle in the sweat glands, which is harder to do during the day when you’re actively producing sweat. Because it’s so strong, you should work it into your routine slowly — every other night at first — to avoid irritation. “There’s a cumulative effect as it settles into the pores,” Fenton notes, so using it every 48 to 72 hours may be all you need.

$16

Protection type: Anti-perspirant | Application type: Wipes

If you want something equally powerful that requires even less frequent usage, try these anti-perspirant wipes. Endorsed by the International Hyperhidrosis Society, one SweatBlock wipe can be effective for up to seven days. Like Certain Dri, SweatBlock is supposed to be applied at night. I’ve used these consistently for six years and they’re my holy grail in my battle against heavy sweating. But if leaving the house in the morning without applying anything feels strange to you, Fenton says you can use a non-anti-perspirant deodorant in the morning for added odor protection. Strategist contributor Carlo Dellaverson, a self-proclaimed “card-carrying member of the excessive-sweating community,” says SweatBlock wipes “have taken on a sort of cult status among excessive sweaters, for when nothing else works.”

$20

Protection type: Anti-perspirant | Application type: Wipes

If you’re a face sweater, I can’t recommend SweatBlock’s face wipes enough. They’re formulated with a gentler aluminum chlorohydrate, along with soothing witch hazel and vitamin E. Like the SweatBlock wipes above, you can apply them at night or 30 minutes before applying morning skin care, though I personally prefer to do it at night so I wake up nice and dry. And if you’re worried about a breakout, I’m pleased to report that after months of weekly application, my skin has never looked better.

$24 for 4

Protection type: Anti-perspirant deodorant | Application type: Stick

Dove’s Men+Care line is a favorite of my brothers (and is also one I’ve reached for as my daily deodorant of choice in the past). Personal trainer Andrew Flores — who “likes to sweat” while working out — is another fan of Dove’s anti-perspirant deodorants. He says they’re stronger than the Right Guard anti-perspirants he used to use, which would never last him a full gym session. This particular stick smells great (“like laundry”) even after a heavy workout, according to Flores, who adds that it leaves no marks and causes him no irritation. He also appreciates its value, noting that a four-pack breaks down to just $3.50 per stick.

$10

Protection type: Anti-perspirant deodorant | Application type: Stick

If you have particularly sensitive skin but still need a strong antiperspirant, Vanicream has a high concentration of aluminum to prevent sweating, but it’s free of all fragrances, dyes, lanolin, parabens, and pretty much any other potentially irritating ingredients. “If someone has eczema or contact dermatitis, I recommend this,” says Hartman.

$4

Protection type: Anti-perspirant deodorant | Application type: Stick

For guys who don’t need the most powerful anti-perspirant or who find it irritating to their skin, Fenton says Mitchum is “one step down” in intensity from the strongest stuff and very effective for controlling wetness and odor.

$6

Protection type: Anti-perspirant deodorant | Application type: Stick

Unscented products are generally the best for sensitive skin, since chemical fragrances and even essential oils can be irritating for some people. For those folks, a fragrance-free Dove stick is a good bet, because it is also alcohol-free and contains moisturizing ingredients. This stick is also one of our top-recommended deodorants for women. (Four experts told us the active ingredient in Dove, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex, is less irritating on the skin than some of the harsher chemicals in other deodorants.) Dove’s line for men currently lacks an unscented anti-perspirant deodorant, but those who would prefer something from that line can find a lightly scented one above on this list.

$9 for 2

Protection type: Anti-perspirant deodorant | Application type: Roll-on

Ban is another brand known for making gentle products. Its fragrance-free roll-on deodorant comes recommended by celebrity groomer Ronnie Peterson, who says he has been using it for the past eight years. Unlike the traditional stick deodorants above, the roller ball dispenses a thin layer of clear liquid with each application, so the product should absorb quickly without leaving any white residue behind.

$18

Protection type: Natural deodorant | Application type: Stick

In my guide to the best natural deodorants, I crowned Ursa Major’s to be the best overall. While some natural deodorants can have a gritty feel, this one has a smooth, gel-like consistency that glides on the skin like a conventional deodorant. After testing more than a dozen in the past few years, Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa always recommends this one from Ursa Major first because it smells super fresh and doesn’t stain his clothes. It’s also made with the same mint and eucalyptus that’s in my favorite bar soap (which is also made by Ursa Major), so it pairs well with my overall scent. Chad Beightol told us that, after trying out a bunch of natural deodorants, this eucalyptus-scented stick is the one that works best for him. “I swear by it,” he says. The deodorant contains hops, which, “while great for making beer, is also effective at fighting bacteria and microbes,” he adds.

$13

Protection type: Natural deodorant | Application type: Stick

Even though these are billed as “natural” deodorants, if you have sensitive skin, you should still opt for a fragrance-free optionbecause the chemicals that may compose their fragrances can be irritating. For those reasons, Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon and Rellosa both use this aluminum-free deodorant daily. “I wanted something with a light or no smell and something that didn’t feel like it left residue,” he says. “Native’s deodorant doesn’t really have much scent. The smell is there, but it’s not as potent as something from Old Spice or Right Guard.” Former associate editor Louis Cheslaw uses Native’s deodorant, too. According to him, one stick lasts for months, “goes on dry, and is irritation-free.”