The 10 best deodorants and antiperspirants for women of 2024, according to dermatologists and testers

Cost: $7 | Type: Solid | Key ingredient: Aluminum zirconium | Scents available: Hygienic Fresh, Completely Clean, Protecting Powder | Features: Invisible, PETA-certified, pH-balancing minerals | Longevity: 48 hours

When it comes to women's deodorants and antiperspirants, Secret is one of the most well-known names, and for a good reason: It works. Its Outlast sweat and odor protection stick formulation boasts a whopping 19% aluminum zirconium. Dr. Amy Forman Taub, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Advanced Dermatology, says, "When treating excessive sweating, a higher aluminum concentration (12% to 30%) in antiperspirant is required."  

Secret's Outlast offers 48 hours of sweat-blocking protection and comes in three scents: Hygienic Fresh, Completely Clean and Protecting Powder. The stick deodorant swipes on clear and has yet to transfer or leave marks on my clothes or our testers. It stands up to long days, and even though I sweat at the gym, I don't come out smelling like BO, which is my signature scent. It's also a PETA-certified cruelty-free deodorant and is paraben-free; however, it contains alcohol and synthetic fragrances, so this one may not be a great fit for those with sensitive skin.

Cost: $5 - $6 | Type: Gel | Key ingredient: Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate | Scents available: Powder Fresh, Pure Fresh, Shower Fresh, Unscented | Features: Alcohol-free, quick-drying formula, triple odor defense: heat, motion, stress | Longevity: 48 hours

If perspiration protection at an affordable price is at the top of your deodorant wish list, then Mitchum Triple Odor Defense Antiperspirant is well worth your consideration. It’s designed to block odor caused by heat, motion and stress for 48 hours. Although the scent options are pretty limited with only three scents for women and four for men – this antiperspirant's 25% Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate compound will leave you dry and smelling fresh and clean for up to two days without breaking the bank. In fact, at less than $y for a pack of two, this one will be hard to beat when it comes to getting the most bang for your budgeted buck. 

Even though Mitchum may come to mind as a men's deodorant, as mentioned in the intro, it all comes down to ingredients and both the men's and women's versions of this have the same 25% Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate compound but differ in added fragrances. While putting the Triple Oder Defense to the test, I found that the high level of aluminum was not irritating, and by the end of the day, I did not have any sweat stains and still could pick up wafts of the powder fresh scent.

If gel is not for you, a solid stick version is also available.

Cost: $6 | Type: roll-on | Key ingredient: 12% aluminum chloride | Scents available: Unscented | Features: Unscented, near prescription strength | Longevity: 72 hours

Certain Dri Clinical Strength Antiperspirant prioritizes keeping you sweat-free over all else. Its formula uses aluminum chloride, the most powerful aluminum salt found in most prescription antiperspirants. Unlike other antiperspirants, you apply Certain Dri at night rather than in the morning to allow the aluminum time to absorb into the skin and sweat ducts. Certain Dri also sells stick and aerosol antiperspirants, but its roll-on is one of its strongest products featuring aluminum chloride. I have long used Certain Dri and reach for this when I wear a shirt that can easily show sweat or I'm facing a long day of meetings and high-stress situations, and it never lets me down. If you struggle with sweating through your clothes, this is well worth a try.

We do want to warn you that it can cause skin irritation for those with sensitive skin, or if it is used on damaged or otherwise irritated skin. Avoid use immediately after shaving. It's also important to speak to your doctor if you are concerned about excessive sweat.

Cost: $14 | Type: Solid | Key ingredients: Corn starch, saccharomyces ferment filtrate, willow bark extract, botanicals | Scents available: Rosy Pits | Features: Aluminum-free, water-based with skin nourishing ingredients, dermatologist-approved | Longevity: 8-12 hours before needing to reapply

Megababe's Rosy Pits Deodorant deserves an all-star spot for sensitive skin. It’s loaded with gentle yet effective ingredients like saccharomyces ferment filtrate (a soothing type of fermented yeast) for odor protection, willow bark for wetness protection, and skin-nourishing colloidal oatmeal. One of my favorite aspects of this deodorant is that the water-based stick glides on smoothly without tugging and irritating the skin. It contains vitamin E to protect against razor burn and irritation, so like many antiperspirants you can't use on broken or freshly shaved skin, there's no need to worry when swiping this on after a shower. Best of all, it's been clinically tested for sensitive skin and is dermatologist-approved. As for keeping me dry and smelling fresh, the combination of corn starch and saccharomyces ferment does a great job of absorbing both my sweat and odors.

If you need sweat protection, this may not be the best option as it does not contain aluminum. 

Cost: $15 | Type: Solid | Key ingredients: Coconut oil and sage oil | Scents available: Original, Driftwood and Beach | Features: Made without aluminum, parabens, sulfates and baking soda | Longevity: 8-12 hours before needing to reapply

Kopari Aluminum-Free Coconut Deodorant is an organic, nontoxic, plant-based and all-around skin-friendly deodorant. The all-natural formula is free from aluminum, parabens, sulfates and baking soda, making it safe, clean and gentle enough for children's skin. The deodorant contains coconut water, coconut oil and sage oil to keep you smelling fresh. Additionally, the coconut and sage oils are antimicrobial and antibacterial, eliminating and neutralizing body odor while simultaneously moisturizing and soothing the skin. This was the first deodorant my preteen tried, and he was great about using it. That was partly because he loved feeling like a big guy who used deodorant like his dad, but also because he noticed the difference between his body odor when using it and that of his friends who were still depending on showers to keep them from smelling.

Kopari also makes a Performance Plus 24-hour deodorant that, while not a top pick for ultra-sensitive skin, is an excellent option for those needing more odor protection and moisture absorption.

Cost: $10 | Type: Aerosol spray | Key ingredient: Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate | Scents available: Clean, Fresh, Marine, Bold and Neutral | Features: 96 hours of sweat protection, SmartAdapt technology, unisex | Longevity: up to 96 hours

Aerosol deodorants are easy to apply and don't leave a thick smear on your skin or clothes. Unlimited by Degree is a new dry spray antiperspirant-deodorant that keeps you sweat- and stink-free for up to 96 hours. That’s four days! It features the brand’s exclusive SmartAdapt technology, which adapts and responds to your body to create a barrier against sweat and odor. Essentially, the spray creates a micro-barrier to provide extra protection when you need it the most — at the gym, running errands or during marathon meetings. And for those who don't love how sprays can be cold and run down your sides, this sprays on almost like a powder, so while it is still cool when it hits your skin, it covers well and stays put.

As for how well it performs, it certainly works, but our testers were only capable of going the whole four days with a shower. However, one did not reapply during the four days and said they felt it was iffy, but they couldn't tell if it was due to showering away the spray. Our experts say aluminum will build up over time, and it usually takes a week to three weeks to detox the aluminum from your sweat glands. With enough use, four days of protection is certainly possible.

If you’re not up for a dry spray, it also comes in a solid stick.

Cost: $14 | Type: Roll-on | Key ingredients: Aluminum chlorohydrate and bisabolol | Scent available: Fresh | Features: Thermal Water and bisabolol to nourish skin and reduce irritation | Longevity: 24 hours

The Uriage Power 3 Deodorant is a clinical strength, roll-on antiperspirant that’s designed to block sweat for 24 hours while nourishing the skin to reduce irritation. It's made with aluminum chlorohydrate to block sweat, while Uriage's proprietary thermal water nourishes and moisturizes underarm skin, along with bisabolol — a plant-based ingredient that can reduce redness and irritation. 

It only comes in a roll-on form, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: a roll-on's liquid consistency absorbs more easily into the skin than a solid stick or aerosol. The downside, though, is the wet feeling upon application can be off-putting and take longer to dry. This has all the makings to be a great, non-irritating antiperspirant, but the roll-on did feel wet and you need to give it about three to four minutes to dry. That said, the thermal water and bisabolol are worth the wait, according to one tester.

Cost: $20 for 3oz tube or $30 for 5 .05oz sampler pack | Type: Cream | Key ingredients: Mandelic acid, maranta arundinacea root powder, cacao (cocoa) seed butter, tapioca starch | Scents available: Minted Cucumber, Soft Powder, Lavender Sage, Toasted Coconut, Peony Rose, Clean Tangerine, Unscented, Fresh Alpine | Features: Aluminum-free whole body deodorant, nourishing, all-natural | Longevity: 72 hours

Lume's whole body cream deodorant rubs in like a lotion and works to keep you dry and smelling fresh for a full 72 hours. The cream formula is a doctor-developed aluminum-free deodorant safe for external use. It's also fortified with cocoa seed butter, so you get the moisturizing benefits of a lotion and odor control in all your hard-to-reach and sensitive areas. And for those with sensitive skin, Lume's whole body cream is aluminum-free, baking soda-free and paraben-free, as well as hypoallergenic and safe for use anywhere and everywhere. 

Our tester loved the option to put this absolutely anywhere and said at first, the smell of each was a little off-putting, but once it dried, small wafts of lavender or coconut came through. She also said it always seemed to work well since, at the end of the day, she could still smell light hints of the fragrance. We all agreed, though, that we weren't sure this, or any other cream deodorant, was something you would want to slather over your body daily.

If you need serious sweat-blocking power, Lume also offers a cream that contains aluminum, but it may be irritating to sensitive skin and sensitive areas,

Cost: $7 | Type: Wipes | Key ingredient: Coconut milk, witch hazel, shea butter | Scents available: Fragrance-free with a hint of coconut | Features: 30-wipes per pack, free from aluminum, mineral oil, parabens, petrolatum, phthalates and sulfate | Longevity: 8 hours

If the idea of a deodorant wipe is new to you, prepare to be enlightened! Pacifica Beauty's underarm deodorant wipes can be used to wipe away existing odors or after showering to stop future smells from seeping through. Formulated with coconut milk, witch hazel and shea butter to both nourish and prevent odor, the wipes are free from aluminum, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, petrolatum or sulfates. The only downfall is that the wipes do contain a little natural grain alcohol, so they may not suit those with ultra-sensitive skin. Each pack comes with 30 wipes.

I have used these wipes to eliminate existing odors after a workout and post shower, and loved the results in both situations. These deodorant wipes are an official staple in my summer bag.

Cost: $32 | Type: Solid | Key ingredient: Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly | Scents available: Cashmere Mist | Features: Antiperspirant and deodorant that smells like Donna Karan Cashmere Mist perfume | Longevity: 24 hours

Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Anti-Perspirant works to reduce both odor and sweat. Formulated with aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly — a gentler aluminum compound than what's used in many drugstore brands — it works to stop sweat before it starts while keeping you smelling like the beloved Cashmere Mist fragrance: light and fresh with hints of jasmine, bergamot and sandalwood.

I have long been a fan of both the Cashmere scent and this deodorant. It is my guilty pleasure, and I reach for it before going out for a date night, to dinner with friends or when I want to feel fancy and pretty. It works to keep me dry and smelling like Cashmere all day and night. It is definitely not cheap, but one tube will last me about three to four months with regular use.

There’s also an aluminum-free version available that uses cornstarch, coconut oil, and magnesium hydroxide, but it’s worth noting that the reviews aren’t nearly as good. Many fans of the original antiperspirant find that the aluminum-free deodorant just doesn’t work as well in terms of staying dry.