As a category, deodorant is pretty sleepy. Nothing exciting has happened since everyone abandoned aluminum (even that is back in). But in the past six months, I’ve noticed an onslaught of body deodorant (in an email to my editor last October, I declared it a “big trend”). Before body deodorant, using a regular deodorant stick all over your sweaty bits was a beauty hack, practiced but not promoted by dermatologists or serious skin-care people. About a year ago, I started seeing body deodorants on TikTok from shower and body-care enthusiasts. At the time, the brand to watch was Lume, which became popular after its body deodorant cream and body wash made the rounds for eliminating stink for hours on end. When I visited my local Target a few months later, I saw the brand’s products lining the shelves. Around the same time, I noticed heritage brands launching body deodorant, too. Native has one, as do Secret and Dove. Shea Moisture launched deodorant for the first time a few months ago, and in addition to a standard stick, the brand launched a body deodorant alongside it.
But what is body deodorant? And who is it good for? And where exactly can you put it? I asked one of my most trusted dermatologist sources, Dr. Melanie Palm, to find out.
What is whole-body deodorant?
Whole-body deodorant is deodorant designed to use all over, not just on the pits. It’s designed to mask odor and can be used anywhere you have apocrine glands. These glands, says Dr. Palm, are what produce pheromones. These glands produce a mix of oils and fatty acids, which are breeding grounds for bacteria. As bacteria builds up, it produces a smell. These are found in the armpit, in the belly button, under the breast, and in the groin area. Any of these areas can benefit from whole-body deodorant, which helps with the scent. You shouldn’t, however, use it inside the body.
Does it stop sweating?
No. Similarly to underarm deodorant, whole-body deodorant is designed to mask odor, not stop sweating.
So how does it work?
As I said before, body deodorant doesn’t stop sweat, so you won’t find aluminum in the formula. It works by altering the pH using ingredients like potassium dioxide and magnesium along with AHAs and BHAs. “It’s like postbiotics; it’s changing the environment,” says Palm. “You’re breeding for good bacteria and less of the not-great bacteria.” Even though it doesn’t contain aluminum, it’s common to see other sweat-absorbing ingredients like cornstarch or arrowroot powder, which can help keep the area dry.
What’s the difference between whole-body deodorant and regular deodorant?
In some cases, the differentiation is mostly helpful marketing. Whole-body deodorants tend to contain more product and may have a slightly different feel or composition. I’ve also noticed that whole-body deodorants tend to contain (and advertise) gentler ingredients than the typical underarm deodorant. Palm says this is because of the broad use on the body, “You’re getting higher absorption. These are areas of moisture and skin-on-skin contact, and that is just asking for trouble if you have something that you’re sensitized to.”
Is it good for sensitive skin?
It depends. I’d generally recommend staying away from anything with fragrance, which is known to be sensitizing, especially if you have a history of atopic dermatitis. Palm recommends looking closely at the labeling. All of the deodorants are generally safe for external use, but some, says Palm, can also be used on external genitalia. That area is incredibly sensitive, so if you have a vagina, never use it on the inside of the vaginal fold, and stick to unscented formulas that don’t contain irritants like baking soda or essential oils. And if you have a condition like eczema or psoriasis or are prone to rashes, it’s a good idea to patch-test before spreading it all over.
Okay, but do I need body deodorant?
Maybe. Armpits, says Palm, are different from other areas of the body, and so while you may be looking for odor control for your pits, with another area like the pannus, the fold beneath the stomach, or a deep crease between the groin and thigh, a body deodorant might be helpful because of ingredients that help with skin friction and slip.
This is the deodorant that started it all and continues to be a solid option. I haven’t personally used the deodorant, but I recently got my hands on the unscented body wash and was impressed by how neutral my armpits smelled. It comes in a stick and spray and promises odor control for up to 72 hours. The main active is mandelic acid, which helps with hyperpigmentation and also fights odor-causing bacteria. As for which one to use, people tend to prefer the cream (it rubs in like a lotion) in areas where they want to help with friction or inside of folds and the sticks for areas that rub, like underarms and between thighs.
Palm is a fan of AKT body deodorant, which was developed by performance artists and dancers. It goes on as a balm and then dries down to a powder. It offers a little slip thanks to the glycerin, which Palm says offers hydration and helps with chafing. It contains moisturizing oils along with absorbing ingredients like arrowroot powder and diatomaceous earth. AKT has lots of formulas and interesting scent options like After Thunder (cedar, eucalyptus, orange) and Orange Grove (petitgrain, mandarin, and neroli), along with an unscented option for a blank slate.
Native makes a whole-body deodorant stick and spray. Between the two, Palm prefers the spray because it makes it easy to get to hard-to-reach areas. “If you’re someone that’s trying to get to your butt and they’re trying to turn around, having that applicator I think is a little bit better,” she says. As I’ve written about before, I’m a big fan of Native and have been using the sensitive formula for many years and can attest that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. It’s formulated without aluminum, talc, and baking soda and comes in three of the brand’s classic scents.
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