Deodorant. Something most people don’t often think of for more than five seconds a day. Pick it up, put it on and get on with your life. But stop and think for a second – what would life be like if deodorant were never invented. I can only venture to speculate but I’d have to say people would really avoid each other in the summer.

The Basics

How Does It Work?

There are two different types of “deodorants” anti-perspirant and your standard deodorant. An anti-perspirant is a product that eliminates perspiration by closing the pores or reducing the size of them. The wonder ingredient that makes it all happen – or in this case – not happen is Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex. To break it down – it acts like a goalie in a hockey game – it blocks the perspiration and bacteria from leaving the body. The perspiration is what carries the odor and bacteria through the pores and out of the layers of skin.

Deodorants, on the other hand, do not contain Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex. It allows the body to sweat but masks the odors. Some people have allergic reactions to anti-perspirant products so they use deodorant to eliminate the rash, itching or tenderness that can occur from some of the extracts commonly found in anti-perspirant

Many of the products on the market today are promoted to be both a deodorant as well as an anti-perspirant. Now that you see the definitions of both you can see it’s a little bit of “product pimping” going on. In effect the choice is simple – anti-perspirant will eliminate the smell [on most people] while deodorants simply cover the odor but don’t provide the protection you will need if you are exercising or sweating for long [4 hours or more] periods of time.


[Henceforth in the review I will refer to anti-perspirant and deodorants only as “deodorants” to keep from repeating the same phrase over and over again]


All The Choices

If you have been in any type of grocery store you’ll see literally shelves and shelves of deodorants and anti-perspirant. Packaged in a multitude of forms - the choices can be a bit confusing. Aerosol, stick, roll-on, rub-on, powder … and the list goes on. What it all boils down to is your own personal preferences. I am an aerosol user myself. I hate having to wait for a roll on or stick deodorant to dry – and if you are wearing dark clothes chances are you will have a nice white mark proclaiming to the world “Look, I don’t stink today”.

99% of the aerosol deodorants on the market today are made with products that do not deplete the ozone layer. That’s why they cost almost twice as much as their stick, roll-on and powder brothers and sisters. The aerosol cans come in a variety of sizes, the smaller travel sized ones are prefect for gym bags and weekend trips but be careful not to leave them in the trunk – especially on extremely hot days or there could be a change of an explosion [this is not a joke – read the can].

Roll-on and stick products are small, easy to use and relatively inexpensive. You have a wide variety of scents to choose from as well as levels of protection. But along with that extra protection comes a price – a higher level of Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex, which could result in in-grown hairs and infections from clogged pores. Use the higher levels of protection from time to time but not on a daily basis.

Powders and deodorant stones are less intrusive but offer the least amount of “anti stink power”. The stones are rubbed over the under arm area and are supposed to provide a natural shield without chemicals. Powders can be used for total body control of sweat and odor or just the under arm area. This is probably the messiest type of product for odor control and a definite no-no if you are wearing dark clothes. However, some of the products are simply awesome to rub over your body after a shower if you will be wearing light clothing such as cotton for the rest of the day.

Since summer is upon us I’d like to pass on a little helpful hint. As I mentioned with the aerosol cans – heat is a real killer for stick products as well. I recently left a stick of deodorant in my vehicle – resting on the backseat. The next day I was in a hurry and remembered I had my trusty Lady Speed Stick in the Montero – no need to pack a bag for the gym. I hopped in, reached back and – without thinking – popped off the lid.

What happened next could be a skit on Saturday Night Live. The deodorant was liquid and extremely hot. As soon as I popped the lid off it was everywhere and oh - did it burn. It never entered my mind that this stuff could melt. I did some research and found that deodorants are at least half as ineffective at stopping odor if they have been exposed to high heat. The chemicals break down and lose some strength – and can be a down right bloody mess to clean up. Once the white goo was everywhere it returned to solid form in about one minute. It left a residue on my clothing as well as the carpeting in my vehicle. I’m just glad it wasn’t an aerosol can or I might not be here writing this review and educating the masses at Epinions.

The Bottom Line

It doesn’t matter if you roll it on, spray it or rub it in – deodorants are a necessity in the modern world. But still, I can’t help wondering what the people who live deep in the jungle do to eliminate or even control the odor. During my research I found that some people use a mix of cornstarch and dried herbs [such as sage or any from the mint family] and apply it with a cosmetics brush or large puffer. As with any modern advancement by man [mankind as a whole] there are drawbacks. There are people who have severe medical conditions that cause them to produce more bacteria and subsequently more odor are looked down upon and deemed “dirty”. While they do have options to contain some of the odor it doesn’t completely remedy the situation.

There are numerous products on the market that claim “this works for weeks, eliminates underarm wetness and you’ll never have body odor again. After reading some of the medical and social articles on the internet I would have to be crazy to want to clog up the pores under my arms for a week – or even weeks – at a time. I’ve had a few in-grown hairs and they are neither pretty nor pleasant.

While I am on a rant – during my online quest for information I came across a site that will send a personalized email to someone that has an issue with body odor or personal hygiene in general. For a fee [around $12.00 within the United States] the recipient will receive a ‘gentle’ note and a product [mouthwash or tooth paste for bad breath, tweezers for feminine facial hair etc]. While this might sound like an ingenuous idea the after effect could be mentally devastating. Imagine you are at work and you receive a small package and open it in view of co-workers – one of which may have sent it in the first place. In any event, the site is www.gentlehints.com but I hope that if you share a workplace, domicile or recreations area with someone who many have odor issues that you will handle it face to face. As I have mentioned – there may be medical reasons that should be factored into the situation.

As always, thanks for staying awake through another review…


^V^ Freak ^V^



Dry Idea Clear Gel Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant
Axe Deodorant Bodyspray For Men, Phoenix
Old Spice High Endurance Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Pure Sport


Recommended: Yes