Unscented antiperspirant/deodorant
October 11, 2014 4:56 PM Subscribe
Do you have a recommendation for an unscented antiperspirant/deodorant?
So, I was using the Dove brand unscented sensitive skin stuff reliably for a few years there and it was fine. Then they changed the formula and it now has a subtle but perceptible perfume fragrance. (I assume to mask the smell of straight antiperspirant which doesn't smell "good" on its own.) I tried the Tom's unscented stuff, but it smells like olive oil. I tried the Almay clear gel unscented, and it's fine scent wise but didn't work well as an antiperspirant. Then, god help me, I tried the Secret unscented formulation and it has an even stronger masking perfume fragrance. Gross. I am tired of randomly buying stuff. What should I try next? I'm open to indie brands but drugstore is good, too.
So, I was using the Dove brand unscented sensitive skin stuff reliably for a few years there and it was fine. Then they changed the formula and it now has a subtle but perceptible perfume fragrance. (I assume to mask the smell of straight antiperspirant which doesn't smell "good" on its own.) I tried the Tom's unscented stuff, but it smells like olive oil. I tried the Almay clear gel unscented, and it's fine scent wise but didn't work well as an antiperspirant. Then, god help me, I tried the Secret unscented formulation and it has an even stronger masking perfume fragrance. Gross. I am tired of randomly buying stuff. What should I try next? I'm open to indie brands but drugstore is good, too.
Best answer: I use this brand: Crystal deodorant and they have an unscented kind. I like the chamomile and lavender ones personally.
posted by lunastellasol at 5:04 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by lunastellasol at 5:04 PM on October 11, 2014
I like Trader Joe's unscented deodorant with cotton, but it might not work well as an antiperspirant.
posted by dhens at 5:21 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by dhens at 5:21 PM on October 11, 2014
Ban. It doesn't have a clear gel unscented, but it does have a solid and a roll-on, and they're genuinely "smell of nothing" unscented.
posted by holgate at 6:01 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by holgate at 6:01 PM on October 11, 2014
I use Sure Unscented for this exact reason. I have a hard time finding it In the stores so I buy it from Amazon.
posted by rsclark at 6:10 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rsclark at 6:10 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
I'm going to play a counterspell card on the Ban Unscented. I recently moved away from that, simply because it seemed to be unable to truly deoderize. I'm a fairly sweaty guy, and Ban unscented was unable to counteract the typical, acrid, gamey sweat smell in my armpits :(
I went to Old Spice "Swagger", which, despite it's dumb name, isn't at all overpowering and is actually quite pleasant. If you're trying for a truly unscented deoderant, I would say the Ban Unscented is worth trying, but I found it lacking.
posted by jpolchlopek at 6:20 PM on October 11, 2014
I went to Old Spice "Swagger", which, despite it's dumb name, isn't at all overpowering and is actually quite pleasant. If you're trying for a truly unscented deoderant, I would say the Ban Unscented is worth trying, but I found it lacking.
posted by jpolchlopek at 6:20 PM on October 11, 2014
Arrid XX unscented has done a fine job of keeping me dry and smelling like nothing.
posted by zsazsa at 6:46 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by zsazsa at 6:46 PM on October 11, 2014
I use the Dove Fragrance Free, which is different from the unscented one. I don't like the smell of the unscented one, either.
Not everyone carries it, but more and more places do. I think I saw it at Target the last time I was there.
posted by small_ruminant at 6:52 PM on October 11, 2014
Not everyone carries it, but more and more places do. I think I saw it at Target the last time I was there.
posted by small_ruminant at 6:52 PM on October 11, 2014
I like the Dry Idea Unscented gel https://dryidea.com/clear-gel. I really don't like any fragrance in these products and this one doesn't have any discernible--to me--fragrance. Walgreens and maybe others often has this as BOGO.
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 7:10 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 7:10 PM on October 11, 2014
Response by poster: Small_ruminant, could you link directly to the product you use? I wonder if I accidentally picked up one for the other ...
posted by stowaway at 7:14 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by stowaway at 7:14 PM on October 11, 2014
Best answer: Here it is.
Go sniff it- see if you like it.
posted by small_ruminant at 7:16 PM on October 11, 2014
Go sniff it- see if you like it.
posted by small_ruminant at 7:16 PM on October 11, 2014
Heh. I just noticed it promises vitamins E & F. I have no idea what vitamin F is supposed to be.
posted by small_ruminant at 7:16 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by small_ruminant at 7:16 PM on October 11, 2014
Almay. I prefer the solid, which they seem to have stopped making, but the gel is good enough. It's the only thing that doesn't make me break out in a rash.
posted by mollweide at 7:19 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by mollweide at 7:19 PM on October 11, 2014
I make my own with a recipe I found online, and I couldn't be happier with it. Saves on cost, packaging, and it is by far the most effective deodorant I have ever used.
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil
1/8 cup arrowroot powder
1/8 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
Mix the powders together in a jar and slowly add the coconut oil until you have a "pomade" consistency and powders are mostly dissolved.
No scent, unless you add a few drops of essential oil.
posted by detritivore at 7:27 PM on October 11, 2014
5-6 tablespoons coconut oil
1/8 cup arrowroot powder
1/8 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
Mix the powders together in a jar and slowly add the coconut oil until you have a "pomade" consistency and powders are mostly dissolved.
No scent, unless you add a few drops of essential oil.
posted by detritivore at 7:27 PM on October 11, 2014
I use DERMAdoctor Total NonScents ultra-gentle antiperspirant. Not cheap, but it lasts a long time.
posted by gudrun at 7:36 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by gudrun at 7:36 PM on October 11, 2014
Yeah, Unscented is a misnomer. Mitchum has an Unscented, as thylacinthine mentions, but I find its scent to be very apparent! What you need is Mitchum Fragrance Free, which has no scent at all, but is hardly seen on store shelves. It feels just like the Almay Clear Gel that you tried. Looks like they have it on Amazon.
posted by oxisos at 8:12 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by oxisos at 8:12 PM on October 11, 2014
I've been using Almay roll on for over a decade and swear by it. It's unscented and hypoallergenic and, unlike gels/solid, doesn't leave stains on my clothes.
posted by DoubleLune at 8:39 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by DoubleLune at 8:39 PM on October 11, 2014
I used to use Mitchum sensitive skin because it literally had no smell and had no fragrance in it. I was *very* smell averse and I highly recommend the Mitchum sensitive skin. Don't just get their unscented, it still has a scent -- specifically get the sensitive skin kind. They make both a men's and women's version, I believe. And I believe there is a gel, roll-on and a stick.
However, if you are open-minded, I was very anti deodorant fragrances, but a friend of mine used Secret brand "completely clean" gel and after smelling it I switched. It has a very faint smell that does not smell like perfume or anything heavy. It just has a very light hint of what sort of smells like a soap or body lotion -- I don't know how to describe it, but it smells like you just stepped out of the shower. I really like it and it was enough to get me to switch from the totally smell-free Mitchum I had been using, if you're willing to try it. No one else can smell it, and you can't either unless you put your nose in your armpit. Great for reassurance when I worry I forgot to put it on.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:08 PM on October 11, 2014
However, if you are open-minded, I was very anti deodorant fragrances, but a friend of mine used Secret brand "completely clean" gel and after smelling it I switched. It has a very faint smell that does not smell like perfume or anything heavy. It just has a very light hint of what sort of smells like a soap or body lotion -- I don't know how to describe it, but it smells like you just stepped out of the shower. I really like it and it was enough to get me to switch from the totally smell-free Mitchum I had been using, if you're willing to try it. No one else can smell it, and you can't either unless you put your nose in your armpit. Great for reassurance when I worry I forgot to put it on.
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:08 PM on October 11, 2014
Also, it's clear from your question you are trying "unscented" perfumes. That label is a lie as they do have fragrances in them, just not a specific "scent." You need to look for sensitive skin/fragrance free perfumes. In the past I had also used a version of Dry Idea that had no smell too. I think they are just harder to find in stores, which was part of my reason for me being willing to use Secret's "Completely Clean."
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:16 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by AppleTurnover at 9:16 PM on October 11, 2014
Just to add to the confusion, fragrance-free is more of a legal label. It means it doesn't have the chemical soup that is labelled "fragrance" or "parfum" in the ingredients list. It can still have a scent. For instance, something with lavender essential oil in it will still be labelled "fragrance free."
posted by small_ruminant at 9:32 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by small_ruminant at 9:32 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Yeah, I was using a sensitive skin, fragrance-free formula and they changed it. So I don't necessarily believe that "sensitive", "fragrance-free", or "unscented" are meaningful labels on cosmetic products. I, for better or worse, have a terribly keen sense of smell and I'd really rather not have a particular fragrance emanating from my pits and giving me headaches. I am really looking for suggestions of antiperspirants that don't have a particular smell to them, other than the underlying antiperspirant chemical smell. I should have made clear in my original question that I am not looking to try out perfumed items to see if I like them.
posted by stowaway at 9:55 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by stowaway at 9:55 PM on October 11, 2014
Best answer: That fragrance free one does have a smell. It's just (to me) super light.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:07 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by small_ruminant at 10:07 PM on October 11, 2014
it might be too strong in this instance, but certain dri has no discernible scent to me. You put it on at night, rather than in the morning, and it soaks in overnight. If you're not super-sweaty, you don't need to use it every day (or night, in this case).
posted by Francies at 10:33 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Francies at 10:33 PM on October 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Re: Your follow up, I stand by my Mitchum sensitive skin suggestion. No smell at all.
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:30 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by AppleTurnover at 11:30 PM on October 11, 2014
Pit Rok mineral deodorant stick has a terrible brand name but is genuinely scent-free - it works by inhibiting stink-bacteria growth when you apply it to clean skin. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone, but as far as I'm concerned it's a miracle.
posted by Ted Maul at 11:49 PM on October 11, 2014
posted by Ted Maul at 11:49 PM on October 11, 2014
another vote for the dove fragrance free, which is confusingly different from the dove unscented.
posted by poffin boffin at 12:15 AM on October 12, 2014
posted by poffin boffin at 12:15 AM on October 12, 2014
I stick with the Trader Joe's stuff, because it is unscented and aluminum free. It works for me, but since it is just a deodorant and not an antiperspirant it may not work for everyone. It's the antiperspirant bit that seems to get me - anything that blocks sweat seems to give me a rash in seconds flat. Tom's of Maine works fairly well, and there is another brand I used to buy that is pretty much identical to the TJ's stuff, Herbal Clear, that also was my go- to until Target stopped stocking it (could still find it at WalMart but I won't shop there unless I quite literally have no other options). Works, even though the name sounds like something designed to help you pass a drug test.
posted by caution live frogs at 8:45 AM on October 12, 2014
posted by caution live frogs at 8:45 AM on October 12, 2014
Arm and Hammer Unscented. Cheap, long-lasting, effective.
posted by mmf at 9:23 AM on October 12, 2014
posted by mmf at 9:23 AM on October 12, 2014
Ha, I'm pretty sure I asked this question before! I actually ended up just buying a bunch and doing trial and error. I ended up liking Sure Unscented Invisible Solid. If your store splits up "mens" and "womens" it might be in the mens section. It's also super cheap which is a bonus.
posted by radioamy at 6:23 PM on October 12, 2014
posted by radioamy at 6:23 PM on October 12, 2014
Response by poster: If you saw a pregnant lady huffing deodorants in a Seattle area Bartell's yesterday, that was me. I was able to sniff several of the ones y'all recommended. I also took a closer look at the ingredients list of all the products. About half of the ones labeled "unscented" or "sensitive skin" had fragrance listed! And curiously there were some that didn't have fragrance listed that still had a definite perfume odor, without having other ingredients that one could attribute the perfume too. (Mitchum in particular.) It didn't seem to matter whether it was a product marketed to women or men.
So, I got to compare the two different Dove ones side-by-side. The one that I bought the last time (invisible solid sensitive skin) had perfume listed as an ingredient. The Dove go sleeveless "fragrance free", which small ruminant recommended, also had fragrance listed! It had much less odor than the sensitive skin solid. But it had that non-smell I was looking for. Curious, curious. Also, the labels/design of both Doves seemed different from whichever one I had used before with success, which was maybe purchased a year ago?
Ban and Sure both lacked a perfume smell, but still smelled strongly of the underlying ingredients. Maybe those are a good choice for people with a true fragrance allergy.
I narrowed it down to the Crystal and Dove go sleeveless. I went with the cheaper Dove, we'll see how it goes. I think I will always test-sniff going forward and assume that the companies are tinkering with their formulas.
posted by stowaway at 8:55 AM on October 13, 2014
So, I got to compare the two different Dove ones side-by-side. The one that I bought the last time (invisible solid sensitive skin) had perfume listed as an ingredient. The Dove go sleeveless "fragrance free", which small ruminant recommended, also had fragrance listed! It had much less odor than the sensitive skin solid. But it had that non-smell I was looking for. Curious, curious. Also, the labels/design of both Doves seemed different from whichever one I had used before with success, which was maybe purchased a year ago?
Ban and Sure both lacked a perfume smell, but still smelled strongly of the underlying ingredients. Maybe those are a good choice for people with a true fragrance allergy.
I narrowed it down to the Crystal and Dove go sleeveless. I went with the cheaper Dove, we'll see how it goes. I think I will always test-sniff going forward and assume that the companies are tinkering with their formulas.
posted by stowaway at 8:55 AM on October 13, 2014
Thank you for the update! Funny- my Dove Fragrance-free doesn't have fragrance listed- I just double checked. Do they have different formulas around the country?
If the Crystal one is the one I think it is, I think it lasts longer than the Dove so the cost might even out.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:30 AM on October 13, 2014
If the Crystal one is the one I think it is, I think it lasts longer than the Dove so the cost might even out.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:30 AM on October 13, 2014
I know you've found a solution but in case anyone is still looking, I sniffed my Arm & Hammer Ultra Max Unscented this morning and to my nose, it truly smells like nothing. There is no fragrance listed on the label and it's frequently on sale for a buck at Safeway/Walgreens/Rite Aid. Also I am a gross sweaty mess and it works pretty well for me.
posted by jabes at 9:38 AM on October 16, 2014
posted by jabes at 9:38 AM on October 16, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by thylacinthine at 5:00 PM on October 11, 2014 [4 favorites]