GQ: The Best Deodorant for Men Stifles Stink and Sweat

12 top-shelf sticks, balms, and sprays formulated to prevent your particular type of body odor.


By Adam Hurly

Frankly, the best deodorant for men sells itself. It stinks to stink: Body odor is right up there with bad breath as a totally avoidable misfortune—but it can sully an otherwise good date, workplace reputation, or elevator ride with a stranger just as easily. The right men's deodorant gets ahead of B.O. by stopping the primary offenders behind the problem (spoiler alert: it’s bacteria and sweat).

Homing in on the best men’s deodorant for you, though, can be a journey, and it's important to consider the ingredients, price point, and application method you prefer—along with your personal sweat and odor levels (and sensitivities.) So we factored in all those variables and went deep on our favorites, and culled some advice—and a couple of picks—on how you can do the same from the dermatologists we trust most.

The Best Deodorant for Men, by Preference:

The Best All-Around (and All-Natural Deodorant for Men: Baxter of California Deodorant

Baxter Of California

Deodorant for Men

$17

AMAZON

$21

NORDSTROM

$22

BAXTER OF CALIFORNIA

Key ingredients: Witch hazel calms skin and balances sweat levels; tea tree oil neutralizes odorous bacteria; chamomile soothes skin

Why it's the best: I'm a bit sentimental about this deodorant—it's one of the first I ever tested in my grooming career, over a decade ago, and it remains one of my favorite all-time products to this day. And anecdotally, when I recommend it to friends, I hear about more repeat buys than almost any other grooming product.

Compared to other natural deodorants that pack in tons of active ingredients, Baxter's can feel like it's lacking. But I think its simplicity is a point in its favor. From a performance perspectve, it adequately neutralizes armpit funk through a day. Baxter has formulated an extremely gentle product, too, perfect for any overly sensitive pits. It won't last multiple days, and it's not going to fight extreme sweating, but it has just the right amount of odor-neutralizing and moisture-mitigating properties to satisfy the above-average user. Plus, it just smells great: crisp refreshing, rather than cloying or overpowering. (I don't want my deodorant out-shining my cologne.) Each time I use this product, I'm reminded of why it's still my favorite, for 10 years plus.

The Best Deodorant Balm for Men: AKT Deodorant Balm

AKT

Deodorant Balm

Key ingredients: Baking soda and zinc oxide eliminate funk-forming bacteria; diatomaceous earth and arrowroot powder absorb moisture; calendula and shea butter cradle skin

Our experience: Finally, finally, finally, AKT will be known across the US. This is a much beloved product overseas in its native UK, and has won numerous British GQ awards. And the only things I smell when I apply it are A) it's potential to get GQ US accolades, and the various delicious scents offered in its collection (aside from the newly-launched unscented one).

Admittedly, there's a bit of a mental hurdle when it comes to squeezing your deodorant out like a toothpaste and applying it like a moisturizer. (A pea-sized amount will suffice for each pit, btw.) After a few applications, you'll be used to the process, and will understand why this is one of the best deodorants of all time. It's got a high concentration of active deodorizing and moisture-absorbing ingredients, largely due to the fact that its co-founders were professional dancers in London's West End theater community, so they know a thing or two about fighting discomfort while staying active. And if you think that having hair pits disqualifies you from using AKT, think again: You're actually giving the product more surface area to cling to, and more ability to work its wonders.

The Best Spray Deodorant for Men: Ursa Major Sublime Sage Deodorant Spray

Ursa Major

Sublime Sage Deodorant Spray

Key ingredients: Lemon myrtle and probiotics stifle odorous bacteria while balancing skin; geranium and sage oils soothe skin

Our experience: This is hands-down my partner's favorite deodorant, largely for textural reasons. For one, it's the lightest wear of everything on this list; no surprise there, given its a simple spritz. However, what he loves best is the fact that it doesn't physically linger on skin, in that its recipe leaves no residue behind while maintaining a stronghold over bacteria. (You know how you can usually "feel" the product on your skin even a day after application? Not here, and certainly no impact on your clothes.

While Ursa Major's probiotic formula works effectively from day one, you'll notice its powers improve over time as you build up that "good bacteria" army in the skin. And with that, you enjoy harmonious, soothes pits day in and day out, with a fresh sage scent that only you will perceive. (It's a nice one for fragrance lovers to wear, since it will never compete against or alter the state of your signature scent.)

The Best Extra Strength Deodorant for Men: Salt & Stone Extra Strength Deodorant

Salt & Stone

Extra Strength Deodorant

Key ingredients: Magnesium hydroxide and tapioca starch absorb moisture; baking soda fights stank; probiotics balance skin and neutralize "bad" odorous bacteria; spirulina soothes skin; coconut oil nourishes

The doctor says: Dr. Mian takes an ingredient-focused approach to Salt & Stone's clinical-strength pick, which is one of her top recommendations for her own patients who need a stepping-up in the B.O.-reduction department: "Besides propylene glycol, which some can be allergic to, this deodorant does not have the common potentially harmful ingredients like aluminum, paraffins, or BHT," she starts. "Meanwhile, it has a blend of probiotics, plant-based extracts, antioxidants, starch for moisture absorption, and soothing ingredients to prevent irritation. It's highly effective at decreasing moisture, reducing odor, hydrating the skin, and improving skin's microbiome."

The Best Antiperspirant Deodorant for Men: Miles Antiperspirant

Miles

Miles Antiperspirant

Key ingredients: Aluminum zirconium blocks pores from releasing sweat; tapioca and corn starches absorb moisture; aloe soothes skin

Our experience: I respect Miles' choice to primarily target foul-smelling teenagers with this antiperspirant, but don't ignore them if you're an adult. Rather, think of it this way: If this is targeted at the stinkiest humans (hey, we've all been high schoolers in gym class at one point), then it's damn well effective for the rest of us. I, a late-30s male, have been using these deodorizing antiperspirants for the past few months, with benefits that often extend into a second full day (meaning, I apply at night, stay dry all the next day, occasionally forget to reapply that next night, but with few consequences the following day yet). It's the one brand that has steered me away from my usual antiperspirant pick (which is Dove, see below), and I have to acknowledge some good branding when I see it. Miles has the endurance you want in a sweat stopper, and basically doubles as a deodorant as a result. It wears gently on skin, and looks nice on the sink ledge, too.

The Best Antiperspirant Spray for Men: Dove Men+Care Antiperspirant and Deodorant Spray

Dove Men+Care

72-Hour Dry Comfort Antiperspirant and Deodorant Spray

Key ingredients: Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate prevents sweat; sunflower seed oil hydrates skin

Our experience: I am a sweaty person. I wouldn't call it hyperhidrosis, but it's certainly above average, and it's everywhere. I'm also not too shy when it comes to using aluminum products—hey, it's a personal choice, because I am a miserable human being when I'm sweaty. And Dove's aerosol antiperspirant is a life saver for me. First, there's the fact that it lasts as long as three days (can vouch for this), and secondly, it's got the brand's signature 1/4-concentration of moisturizing ingredients, to keep the synthetic formula soothing on all skin types. This one spares my clothes of any stains and, if I may confess, I even use it on my thighs, feet, and back whenever I know i'll be in a poorly ventilated or overly warm situation. And I repeat: It is a life saver for this reason.

The Best Clinical Antiperspirant Deodorant for Men: Duradry AM Deodorant & Antiperspirant

Duradry

AM Deodorant & Antiperspirant

Key ingredient: Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine in a high-grade 20% concentration to stop sweat; arrowroot powder to absorb any additional moisture that might accumulate (and prevent proliferation of bacteria)

The doctor says: I asked dermatologist Heather Rogers (of Doctor Rogers Skincare) for a pick here, knowing that she's quicker to endorse regular deodorant over antiperspirant. (While studies remain inconclusive about aluminum use in antiperspirants, many remain skeptical about the ingredient absorbing into the body and potentially irritating skin.) However, anyone who is supremely sweaty might also choose their battles and opt into daily comfort over potential (and uncertain) long-term risks. So, what would a reticent doctor with the highest defenses choose for her super-sweaty patients?

First, Rogers notes that of all the different aluminum formulas you can find in antiperspirants, people with clinical needs will want to seek out one of the following: aluminum chloride ("Highly effective at reducing sweat production, but it commonly causes irritation of the skin.") or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine ("A newer generation of aluminum compounds that is thought to provide effective sweat control with less potential for skin irritation."). And so that leads us to her pick: Duradry's formula calls on that probably-less-risky ingredient of the two primary options, while remaining strong enough for anyone suffering from hyperhidrosis.

The Best Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: Geologie Natural Deodorant

Geologie

Natural Deodorant

Key ingredients: Aloe vera and sage oil soothe skin; probiotics fortify "good" bacteria, in turn neutralizing odorous "bad" ones; tea tree oil thwarts odorous microbes and balances skin

Our experience: My partner has much more sensitive skin than I do, and this is his go-to deo stick for many reasons. For one, its baking soda-free formula is agreeable with sensitivities, plus it is chock full of soothing ingredients that act like a hybrid deodorant-moisturizer. It plays tough in the anti-odor game, too: the probiotic formula steadily trains skin to produce less odor each day, and he has yet to notice the slightest funk after a long day's work + workout combo.

Tested and Reviewed by Adam Hurly

The Best Drugstore Deodorant for Men: Axe 48-Hour Deodorant

Axe

48-Hour Deodorant

Key ingredients: Synthetic ingredients and fragrance combine to mask odor; glycerin nourishes and hydrates skin

Our experience: A proliferation of deodorant brands has stolen the spotlight from staple brands like Axe. But don't underestimate a synthetic recipe: There's some significant staying power in this deodorant stick, and how nice that it doesn't cost you a cool $20 just to keep your B.O. restrained?

And I have to call out this specific scent, Cool Ocean, for its choice to be supremely subtle—meaning you won't smell like the deodorant itself. Hey, I'll admit, one hangup I have with some of these everyday drugstore brands is how recognizable their scents are; I don't want people to know what deodorant I'm wearing. I want them to know that I don't stink, and that I instead smell like my go-to cologne. Anyway, good work here, Axe. I haven't forgotten you, all these years later!

The Best Deodorant Wipes for Men: Hiki Body Wipes

HIKI

Body Wipes

Key ingredients: Baking soda and citric acid inhibit bacteria proliferation

Our experience: These refreshing (and biodegradable!) towelettes have saved me more times than I can count. I tote two or three in my "personal item" bag on the airplane, and they're especially refreshing on those long-haul flights if you can sneak into the bathroom for a quick wipedown. (A makeshift shower, let's call it.) I also like to take them to the gym, which is close enough to home that I never shower there—but sometimes I also like to run a quick errand between the workout and shower, so I want a solution like these wipes to prevent me from offending anyone at the grocery store. (And to just feel more clean in my own skin—do I need a greater reason than that?)

The Best Probiotic Deodorant for Men: Hume Supernatural Deodorant

Hume

Supernatural Deodorant

Key ingredients: Probiotics overpower bad odorous bacteria; diatomaceous earth, tapioca starch, and kaolin clay absorb moisture; aloe soothes skin

Our experience: In different iterations of this roundup, Hume's deodorant is much higher on this list (keep in mind, this roster isn't in any order, aside from my #1 pick being at the top). But this one comes close to winning multiple categories (Best Natural Mens Deodorant, Best Baking Soda-Free Deodorant, Best Natural Alternative to Antiperspirants, etc). And in particular, I think this unscented option is perhaps the best fragrance-free deodorant in the biz, too. But all of the brand's excellent sticks go on clean, persist into the next day, and most importantly, keep your pits supremely dry and funk-free, with a very short window of adjustment needed (if you're transitioning away from synthetics to naturals).

The Best Baking Soda Deodorant for Men: Native Charcoal Deodorant

Native

Charcoal Deodorant

Key ingredients: Baking soda nixes odorous bacteria; charcoal and magnesium hydroxide absorb moisture; coconut oil and shea butter cushion skin

Our experience: Baking soda deodorants are a terrific choice for anyone who insists on a natural odor solution, but a polarizing choice too: The highly alkaline ingredient can leave some sensitive skin irritated, which emphasizes the importance of finding a baking soda-packed deodorant that is carefully balanced for the most sensitive among us. Native has made a huge name for itself in the deo world (to the tune of a $100 million acquisition by Procter and Gamble), and this stick is my absolute favorite in the brand's roster. It's not because of the baking soda, though: I love it for the charcoal, which works with magnesium to absorb excess moisture in the pits, and to prevent a buildup of odorous bacteria. And then the baking soda handles anything that does proliferate from there. This one prioritizes balance, too, hence its use of nourishing base ingredients (shea oil and coconut oil), and I have yet to meet any naysayers, despite a frequent endorsement of this one to friends and family.

How We Tested

GQ writers on the grooming beat are sent just about every product on the market, but we don't crown winners lightly while. Instead, we wait to see which ones outlast the others in the long haul—which products are the ones we use over and over, despite the mounting pile of replacements on the way?

This ode to deos is a testament to years and years of that process. We didn’t just set a bunch of deodorants out for three or four unacquainted people to test for a couple weeks; these are the products I’ve loved most in the past decade (along with insight from my resident guinea pig, my partner, who enjoys the perks of my gig). In the instances where I’m unable to speak to a category of products (like the best deodorant for clinical-grade sweating or extra-strength odor protection), I kick it over to the doctors I trust best, since they’re basically prescribing these solutions on a daily basis.

What to Look for in Deodorant, According to Dermatologists

Here is some dermatologist advice on deodorants—the best ingredients to look for, plus some controversial ones, too—with insights from board-certified dermatologists Kiran Mian, Ryan B. Turner, and Heather Rogers.

The Ingredients

The primary cause of body odor is “bad” bacteria pairing up with sweat. There are two ways to prevent the stink: Reduce perspiration in the area, and/or create an inhospitable environment for the bacteria.

For Bacteria Control

These are the most common ingredients to seek out if you want to temper the proliferation of bacteria in your pits (and anywhere you’re particularly pungent).

Zinc oxide: This antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory mineral safely and effectively kills bacteria without irritating skin, says Mian.

  1. Magnesium hydroxide: Dr. Mian also endorses the non-irritating magnesium hydroxide, a naturally occurring compound that neutralizes bacteria without absorbing into the skin.

  2. Tea tree oil: “The terpenes in tea tree oil make this ingredient naturally antibacterial and antifungal, helping to reduce body odor,” says Turner. “In its pure, concentrated form, it can be very irritating. It’s best to use a product that’s formulated with tea tree oil at low percentages. It’s still effective when diluted, and a little bit goes a very long way.”

  3. Baking soda: This one is controversial to some. Most skin types will tolerate baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) just fine, but only trust reputable, well-reviewed brands who use it. “Baking soda has a very alkaline pH level, while that of the skin is more acidic,” explains Turner. “This disrupts the skin’s natural barrier, harming the good bacteria in our microbiome, and leaving our skin more susceptible to irritation and inflammation.” (We’ve included a few deodorants with baking soda below, plus many natural picks that explicitly exclude it.)

  4. Prebiotics and probiotics: It’s easy to get these two confused, but they share a principle. “Prebiotics feed the good bacteria on our skin (bacteria that does not break down sweat releasing a foils odor), which then overpopulates those odor-producing bacteria,” explains Mian. “Probiotics are the good bacteria that will ideally populate the skin and overtake odor causing bacteria.” The names of these might be strange to you, like lactobacillus acidophilus or saccharomyces ferment. Chances are, a brand will proudly tout their pre- and probiotics, so look for that indication instead.

  5. Alpha hydroxy acids: “These chemical exfoliating ingredients help resurface the skin, which also strips away bacteria as well as removes the dead skin that bacteria break down, which causes body odor,” says Turner. And Dr. Rogers echoes the love: “Using acids to exfoliate the skin in our armpits helps rebuild the acidic mantle [which is compromised with age], leading to better control of bacterial growth and odor. Many acids work great; glycolic, lactic acid and mandelic acid are my favorites. Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid, has a higher chance of irritation.”

For Moisture Mitigation

  1. Tapioca starch: “This non-irritating starch won’t clog sweat ducts like aluminum which can cause breakouts,” notes Mian. (It’s terrific in anti-chafe products for the same reason.)

  2. Corn starch: “Like tapioca starch, corn starch pulls moisture from the skin to leave a powdery feeling behind. Unless you have an allergy to these specific plants, they are safer to use,” says Turner. This includes arrowroot powder, too.

  3. Arrowroot powder: Both docs tout arrowroot powder, another starch, as a non-irritating favorite for natural-based moisture absorption.

  4. Charcoal: “Activated charcoal can help to absorb sweat and help to neutralize odors,” says Turner.

  5. Aluminum: You knew this one would be on the list. Anything labeled “antiperspirant” will use one of many aluminum compounds to effectively plug up the sweat ducts, thus preventing moisture accumulation on the skin. “Obviously, deodorant isn't inherently antiperspirant, but the opposite can largely be true,” says Mian. For some, it’s a necessary way to stay comfortable, even if there is controversy around the use of aluminum. “There has been a concern about the absorption of aluminum through the skin and its potential link to health issues, including Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer. The evidence on this is inconclusive, and FDA have not found sufficient evidence to support these claims,” explains Rogers. And don’t get too in the weeds regarding the type of aluminum in your antiperspirant: Chances are, the one they’ve chosen aligns to the mode of delivery (stick, roll-on, aerosol, etc), and addresses the intensity of the task at hand (clinical-grade, longevity of protection, sensitivities, etc).

How to Choose the Right Deodorant

Approach your deodorant purchase with the following considerations.

Natural vs. Synthetic: While it’s easy and obvious to celebrate a fully natural recipe, keep in mind that not all natural formulas are inherently good for your skin. Some natural ingredients, like baking soda and tea tree oil, might disagree with lots of sensitive skinned individuals. “What’s most important is to consider the manufacturer of the products—are they reputable? Do they perform extensive testing? What are the ingredients used and from where are they sourced?” says Turner. Use this for both natural and non-natural options, with a fair consideration of both. Look, there’s a reason dermatologists love Dove, as a non-natural example: It may be synthetic, but the brand has the muscle to safely formulate, test, and manufacture in mass quantities, which also brings their consumer prices down significantly compared to the more niche and natural options. Ditto for a large-scale natural-forward brand like Native.

Sensitivities: If your skin is finicky, then you need to consider ingredients that mitigate moisture and bacteria without any compromise to your comfort. Avoid baking soda, tea tree oil, and acids, for example. You’ll also want to look for gentler antiperspirants, if that’s a product you’d prefer to use. Of all the aluminum compounds, try to prioritize aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine, says Rogers. It should be effective against sweat and much gentler on skin compared to other aluminums.

Personal comforts: Some people just can’t live with their sweat—especially folks with hyperhidrosis, or clinical-grade sweating. These people will rightfully want to cut to the fastest and most effective solution. We won’t judge you for choosing an aluminum-based antiperspirant. And while we need not remind you of its potential risks, we also say this: Use your god-given right to make an educated decision. If tests remain inconclusive about these risks, but usage is proven to change your happiness every day, well…maybe it’s worth the risk.

The means: You can choose from solids, sprays, roll-ons, and even deodorant pastes. Not all can board a flight (aerosol sprays are often tossed at TSA, even if they’re under 3.4 fl. oz.), and you also need to consider your own preferred delivery method. We think you should reconsider pastes, in particular, which takes some getting used to (since you rub it in with your finger tips), but just use a product that works with your tastes and lifestyle.