What is the Difference Between Deodorant and Antiperspirant?

What is Antiperspirant?

If you remember your prefixes from English class, “anti” means “opposed to” or “against.” An antiperspirant fights against perspiration – a fancier word for sweat. The purpose of antiperspirant is to stop or reduce sweating and wetness.

Antiperspirant works by temporarily blocking the pores on your skin’s outer layer, reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the surface. The US Food & Drug Administration considers antiperspirant to be an over-the-counter drug since it affects a process of the body, namely perspiration.

Antiperspirant helps control sweat and combat wetness by using aluminum salts that absorb into your skin and block pores. If you are bothered by wetness that feels sticky, slick or soaks into your clothes, an antiperspirant will help reduce sweat and decrease wetness.

You can also choose a combination antiperspirant and deodorant, which means the product contains ingredients to help reduce sweat as well as ingredients to help neutralize and mask odor.

What is Deodorant without Antiperspirant?

There are deodorants without antiperspirant, and these do not contain any aluminum salts to control sweat. Deodorants are considered a cosmetic by the FDA since they are a product that helps cleanse or beautify the body.

Deodorants work by using specific ingredients that make your skin less hospitable to bacteria – the source of underarm odor, not sweat itself. Deodorants also contain fragrances and ingredients to help mask odor and keep you feeling and smelling fresh. They may include moisturizers to help improve your skin or other ingredients like baking soda to help absorb wetness.

Since deodorants do not block pores, they do not reduce sweating. Some people may feel underarm wetness when using a deodorant, especially if you sweat heavily.

Basic Differences Between Antiperspirant and Deodorant

To sum up, here are the basic differences between antiperspirant and deodorant:

• Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts to block pores and control sweat and wetness.
• Deodorants do not control sweat but help with odor by reducing bacteria on the skin and using fragrance.
• A combination antiperspirant deodorant does both: controls sweat with aluminum salt and uses other ingredients to reduce bacteria and mask odor.

Antiperspirant vs. Deodorant: Which is Better When?

If there is one thing you can count on, it’s sweat, even if you live in cold climates. Between exercise, working out and just existing, underarm sweat ­– and often the unpleasant odor along with it – is a fact of life. With two products you can use to deal with underarm sweat, antiperspirant and deodorant, which should you choose?

Now that you understand the basic difference between antiperspirant and deodorant, you’ll be able to make a better decision about which to use – and when.

If you’re headed outside on a summer day or to the gym for an intense workout, you may prefer an antiperspirant to help control sweat. If you’re wearing a shirt, dress or outfit and don’t want to risk getting underarm sweat circles or armpit stains, an antiperspirant may be the better option for you.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for an aluminum-free way to help with underarm odor, a deodorant may be your preferred option especially if you don’t mind some wetness under your arms. A deodorant can be part of your daily hygiene routine to control bacteria and odor, and you may enjoy the fresh feeling you get from the scent.

Many people have both an antiperspirant and a deodorant in their medicine chest or toiletry kit, depending on what they are planning for the day. If you’re a person who sweats a lot, you may enjoy the reduced wetness an antiperspirant brings. If you don’t perspire much, live in a colder climate or are just planning to have a low-key day, deodorant may be what you prefer.

An antiperspirant and a deodorant can also be combined into a single product in one container. An antiperspirant-deodorant takes the sweat control of the antiperspirant and adds the odor control of a deodorant. This combo is the best of both worlds for many people. Just remember that an antiperspirant-deodorant does contain aluminum to block sweat – that’s what the “antiperspirant” part means.

Arm & Hammer™ Deodorant and Antiperspirant with Baking Soda

Baking soda is a natural mineral sourced from the earth that has odor-neutralizing and absorption properties. You may use it in your refrigerator or freezer to control odor or to deodorize your shoes, trash can, closet or gym bag. You can also use an antiperspirant or deodorant with baking soda to enjoy more odor fighting and wetness absorption.

Try one of these ARM & HAMMER™ deodorants or antiperspirants to see how the power of baking soda can help combat underarm odor and sweat. They’re available in several unique fragrances to help keep you feeling and smelling fresh.

• ARM & HAMMER™ Essentials™ Fresh Rosemary Lavender Solid Deodorant: Enjoy 24-hour odor protection from plant-based ingredients free of parabens, aluminum or colorants.
• ARM & HAMMER™ Ultramax™ Fresh Scent Solid Antiperspirant and Deodorant: Decreases underarm perspiration and reduces sweat from stress with a fresh clean scent. Works as hard as you do!
• ARM & HAMMER™ Essentials™ Coconut Geranium Solid Deodorant: Contains no aluminums, parabens or phthalates but fights odor with plant-based extracts and baking soda.
• ARM & HAMMER™ Ultramax™ Solid Antiperspirant Deodorant Unscented: Free of overwhelming fragrances that could compete with other beauty products and reduces underarm perspiration and sweating due to stress.

You May Also Enjoy:

• Tips for Exercising Outdoors All Year Long
• When Should You Apply Antiperspirant or Deodorant?
• What is Aluminum-Free Deodorant?