The 13 Very Best Women’s Deodorants and Antiperspirants

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Antiperspirant | Scent: Cucumber melon | Price: 2.6 ounces (Approx. $2/ounce)

If you don’t need a super-strong antiperspirant like the Dove Clinical Protection, the standard Dove is a classic and solid option. Tamara Pridgett, founder of fitness creative agency Extended Day Studios and host of The First podcast, has been wearing it since middle school and counts it among the products she can’t live without. “It’s my go-to and I need to have it at all times,” she says. “I like it because it doesn’t get clumpy underneath my armpits, and it lasts for an eternity.” The classic option offers 48 hours of antiperspirant protection and has moisturizing ingredients for the skin. Strategist writer Emma Wartzman is also a fan: “I have tried a lot and nothing works better for me than this one.”

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Antiperspirant | Scent: Cucumber | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $5/ounce)

“This is my longtime favorite antiperspirant, I’ve used it for many years,” says Dr. Jessica Krant of Art of Dermatology. “It does the trick for wetness and odor and never irritates my skin.” Krant recommends the entire Dove Clinical Protection line for heavy sweaters but likes the Cool Essentials scent in particular because of the green tea, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help to safeguard against irritation.

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Antiperspirant | Scent: Lavender | Price: 2.6 ounces (Approx. $2/ounce)

Strategist writer Ambar Pardilla likes this deodorant from Secret, which dries down completely clear and doesn’t transfer onto clothing. It’s also long-lasting: “It survived eight-hour shifts when I worked in retail and got me through hourlong job interviews when I was ridiculously nervous,” she says. Then there’s the scent, which Pardilla describes as “heavenly.” She opts for the lavender scent (though it also comes in other scents like rose, coconut, and water lily), which she describes as “subtle but sweet.”

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Deodorant | Scent: Rose, vanilla | Price: 3.25 ounces (Approx. $3/ounce)

Schmidt’s is a big player in the natural-deodorant space, beloved by celebrities, Strat staffers, and dermatologists like Binder, who uses it daily and opts for the rose and vanilla scent. Schmidt’s, like many natural deodorants, uses baking soda to absorb and neutralize odor along with arrowroot powder, which helps to soak up sweat. If you’re particularly sensitive to fragrance, Binder says you might want to skip it because Schmidt’s uses essential oils to scent their products.

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Deodorant | Scent: Cotton and lily | Price: 2.65 ounces (Approx. $5.28/ounce)

Lots of natural deodorants use baking soda in their formulas, and while effective at absorbing odors (similar to the way it eliminates smells in your fridge), it’s more alkaline than your skin, which can throw off your pH balance and cause irritation. I happen to be one of those people who can’t tolerate baking soda, so I use Native’s sensitive line, which is baking-soda free and uses tapioca starch to absorb sweat. It also contains oils and moisturizers like shea butter and coconut oil to help it go on smooth, and it comes in a bevy of different scents. It isn’t incredibly long-lasting, so I need to reapply every few hours, but as someone with sensitive skin, I’ve adapted to a life of toting it around with me wherever I go. Plus, the scents are nice — they remind me of Dove scents, but without the aluminum.

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Deodorant | Scent: Lemon, sage, vetiver, sandalwood | Price: 2 ounces (Approx. $9/ounce)

While Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo isn’t a particularly heavy sweater, she does sweat when she’s stressed. “My body odor tends to follow my moods,” she explains. Her deodorant of choice is this natural deodorant from Mind Alt, which she says both calms her nerves and covers any body odor. The roll-on format applies in thin, quick-drying layers, minimizing transfer and that wet, goopy feeling. The most calming scent, she says, is the sage, vetiver, and sandalwood, which, according to the brand, supposedly gives you more energy.

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Deodorant | Scent: Citrus, ylang ylang | Price: 2.4 ounces (Approx. $7/ounce)

AHAs have become the popular new ingredient in deodorants, supposedly making armpits inhospitable to bacteria and thus eliminating the funk. It’s pretty successful — I’ve noticed a significant reduction in stink with this one in particular — and comes recommended by the Zoe Report deputy beauty editor Hannah Baxter, who has been using this formula for over a year. The main ingredient in this deodorant is shikimic acid, a natural deodorizer that helps to fight acne. It also contains an assortment of other acids, like lactic and mandelic acids, which help with brightening and exfoliating. AHA deodorants can be particularly helpful for people who struggle with ingrown hairs, as the acids help to keep pores unclogged.

Antiperspirant or deodorant: Deodorant | Scent: Lemon, patchouli, sage, and cedarwood | Price: 1.7 ounces (Approx. $12/ounce)

Corsillo is also a fan of this deodorant from Evolvetogether, which makes some of our favorite disposable masks. “It goes on more like a body balm than a deodorant and makes my armpits feel really soft,” says Corsillo. “It keeps me dry, knocks out any body odor even on the hottest days, and it’s clear, so it doesn’t leave any white marks.” And while the formula’s great, Corsillo says the best part is the scent. She likes the scent “Tulum,” which has notes of lemon, patchouli, sage, and cedarwood. “It’s a bit Topanga canyon and a bit fresh lemon water at the spa.”