What is the benefit of using a "solid" deodorant vs a "gel" based one?

April 3, 2004 9:27 AM

What is the benefit of using a "solid" deodorant vs a "gel" based one?
posted by thebwit to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (19 answers total)

Here in europe I've only seen spray-on and roll on (both fluid, for the most part just denaturalised alcohol), and sticks, which I assume is what you mean by solid. Haven't seen gels, but don't really pay much attention to that sort of stuff. Most "innovations" in this area are just marketing ploys though. Still, if you have the money to spare, try and compare.
posted by fvw at 9:35 AM on April 3, 2004

Usually solids can leave white residue on your clothes. Gels are typically clear and will not leave white residue on your clothes.

Personally, I feel that solids work best, and with the invention of the "invisible solid" there's no reason to resort to gels. Gels also smell funny to me.
posted by catfood at 9:57 AM on April 3, 2004

Solids probably last longer, but I switched to gels when I was a kid because I never felt like I could feel the deodorant adhering to my underarm with solids, I was never sure it was working. If you switch to gels though, you have to get used to that cold feeling at first.
posted by banished at 10:12 AM on April 3, 2004

Don't gels take a few seconds to dry, so that you have to walk around arms akimbo or bear a few seconds of sticky feeling? Solids are silky and smooth. At least to shaved underarms they feel much better.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:17 AM on April 3, 2004

I should clarify (my original statement had dual meaning)... solids probably last longer as in you don't need to buy more deodorant as often because you use less of it.
posted by banished at 11:46 AM on April 3, 2004

gels are sticky and gross.
posted by rhyax at 12:02 PM on April 3, 2004

Gels are possibly for those who are unshaven of pit, as solid tends to clump up in little balls on the hair.

Also, what rhyax said. Yech.
posted by precocious at 12:42 PM on April 3, 2004

Here's a plug: Nature's Gate (gel) deoderants work really well and seem to last me at least two years (using it once daily). You can find them in your local natural foods markets.
posted by squirrel at 1:15 PM on April 3, 2004

A related question is: are sprays outdated, inferior, 80's technology or do they just look like it?
posted by abcde at 3:08 PM on April 3, 2004

Just a wee suggestion...
(On preview, it's similar to Nature's Gate; neither have aluminum, which is a good thing.)
posted by Shane at 3:25 PM on April 3, 2004

Not sure if it's just me and my freakishly sensitive skin, but gels (or clear solids) make me break out something awful within hours. Solids will also give me a rash, but only after I use the product several days in a row. The solution is Tom's of Maine, which is a liquid roll-on and yucky, but effective and gentle.

So, in a roundabout way, it is my experience that solids are easier on the skin than gels.
posted by ferociouskitty at 3:28 PM on April 3, 2004

Ferociouskitty, I've got the same problem, and I'm pretty sure it's the perfumes used in deodorants, because if I buy the Unscented variety, I'm fine.

It's always been my belief that gel deodorants were marketed to people who just wanted something high-tech sounding to slather under their armpits.
posted by Hildago at 5:11 PM on April 3, 2004

gels might seem better if you don't shave, but actually they are gross then too.

i have never tried spray on, that seems like it wouldn't work.
posted by rhyax at 5:50 PM on April 3, 2004

gels (or clear solids) make me break out something awful within hours. Solids will also give me a rash, but only after I use the product several days in a row. The solution is Tom's of Maine, which is a liquid roll-on and yucky, but effective and gentle.

it might not be the form but the ingredients - Tom's of Maine is not an anti-perspirant - it doesn't have that aluminum zirconium ingredient that actually stops you from sweating. It's a deodorant. Most brands are both; it has been alleged by organic types that the aluminum ingredient is toxic and dangerous over time. I use tom's, but I have an emergency solid around for really hot days or when I just feel gross or something.
posted by mdn at 8:26 AM on April 4, 2004

Huh. I love the gel. I wear a lot of black and have had too many shirts ruined by that nasty white gunk. Even the clear solid seems to leave a residue that hardens in the laundry.
I use the one that's advertized as allowing you to "skip a day" and I actually think it's true.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:47 AM on April 4, 2004

What's the advantage of a roll-on?
posted by Evstar at 10:14 AM on April 4, 2004

Bah.

I'm a big fan of going Roman. I'll not be putting all of these ridiculous chemicals on my skin, thank you very much. You ever actually read what's in that stuff? Yech.

Of course, I'm really thin and don't sweat much, unless I go out and do some heavy exercise, so I can get away with it. Oh, and I hear that being vegetarian (or at least low-meat) helps a lot, too.
posted by kaibutsu at 4:37 PM on April 4, 2004

I also go Roman (tho I had never heard it called that). I find I really don't need any unless I know I will be in very stressful situations during the day, such as interviews or teaching (I used to be a corprate trainer).

As a bonus to this, my T-shirts last longer since they don't get those armpit stains.

I am also thin and don't sweat much. YMMV.
posted by jopreacher at 11:45 AM on April 5, 2004

Evstar: Roll-ons disperse liquid without using an aerosol, which is mighty unpleasant when overnight temperature is below 65F, thus bypassing the gel-vs-solid debate.

Living in a high-heat environment (summers regularly see days of 114F) I tend to obsessively keep deoderant a number of places on the off-hand that I need "freshening up". Under low-use circumstances I've found that clear sticks tends to dessicate somewhat unpleasantly. Not that gels are much better, but they never face the heartbreak of content breakage either...
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:20 PM on April 5, 2004