Antiperspirant (+ deodorant?) recommendations?

August 24, 2021 11:06 PM

I'm looking for an antiperspirant or combo antiperspirant + deodorant but I'm not in the mood to pick through reviews online. Any recommendations?

For general use. I don't have any feelings one way or the other about aluminum. It must be unscented. Price is not likely to be an issue.

Partially inspired by this question.

posted by unus sum to Shopping (17 answers total)

Mitchum.

Not to be confused with Mitchell.
posted by vrakatar at 11:31 PM on August 24, 2021 [9 favorites]

Was also coming to recommend Mitchum. I use it because my parents did. Works so well I see no reason to try other stuff.
posted by commander_fancypants at 12:26 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

3 for Mitchum. I only have to use it every other day.
posted by BoscosMom at 12:34 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Dove Invisible Dry is my go-to spray antiperspirant+deodorant.
posted by neushoorn at 1:05 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Yup, Mitchum. I prefer the roll-on to the stick or gel version but both work.
posted by needs more cowbell at 2:01 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

I also use Mitchum, but if you need something even stronger, go for Certain Dri or the store brand that corresponds to it.
posted by 8603 at 3:26 AM on August 25, 2021

I like the Secret Unscented. I've found that many that claim to be unscented or for sensitive skin still have some kind of fragrance, but the Secret one doesn't. (It is in the "women's deodorant" section, if that is an issue for you)
posted by hydropsyche at 5:03 AM on August 25, 2021 [2 favorites]

I like arm and hammer's ultramax unscented antiperspirant deodorant because it's cheap and works well.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 5:04 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Yes, totally Mitchum. In the UK, the unscented roll-on now has a vague weird scent, so I've switched to the stick, which is really unperfumed.
posted by essexjan at 5:25 AM on August 25, 2021

Another Mitchum anti-antiperspirant fan chiming in.

Pro Tip: apply it at night before bed. This ups the drying effect dramatically. You can still shower & wash your pits the next day.
posted by i_mean_come_on_now at 6:05 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

By way of highlighting some other options - my favourite is marketed as Rexona cotton dry where I live. In the US, it seems to be marketed as either Degree Shower Clean Antitranspirant Deodorant (clinical stick) or Shower Clean Dry Protection Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick (basic stick). I can't see ingredients for the clinical stick but the basic stick shares the first 9 ingredients in the exact same order. It lists mild perfume and I can't smell any.
posted by koahiatamadl at 6:43 AM on August 25, 2021

Certain-Dri is the only brand that holds up enough for me in an LA late-summer.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 8:54 AM on August 25, 2021

Unless Mitchum gel changed their formulation in the past few years, even their Unscented version has a scent. You want Fragrance Free, and I highly recommend Almay Fragrance Free Gel for sensitive skin.
posted by oxisos at 10:51 AM on August 25, 2021 [1 favorite]

Unless Mitchum gel changed their formulation in the past few years, even their Unscented version has a scent.

Out of curiosity I just looked at the packaging of unscented Mitchum gel and unscented Mitchum roll-on that I have at home (in the US.) Both include "Parfum (fragrance)" in their ingredient list. Per this fact sheet from the EPA, "Fragrance-free means that fragrance materials or masking scents are not used in the product. Unscented generally means that the product may contain chemicals that neutralize or mask the odors of other ingredients."

I don't notice a scent from either product --they're likely fine for people who just prefer no scent, but if the concern is a chemical sensitivity to fragrance, the masking/neutralizing chemicals could be a problem. (Anecdotally, when I tried Almay last year I did not find it as good as Mitchum.)
posted by needs more cowbell at 2:15 PM on August 25, 2021

I use the Alamay that oxisos mentions. No scent. No color. Just a gel. Dries pretty quickly.
posted by kathrynm at 4:03 PM on August 25, 2021

I'm very fond of the nivea brand (I get it less expensive at a local import grocery store or pre-covid would stock up in EU)...a bottle lasts me quite a long time and I consider myself to have overactive sweat glands, especially when I am working out. Some of the iterations have scent, but it's generally very, very mild.
posted by AnneShirley at 10:09 PM on August 25, 2021

I like Vanicream.
posted by Dansaman at 10:36 PM on August 28, 2021