The Best Men's Deodorants For Women

Because gender is a construct and everybody sweats, the best men’s deodorants for women are really just the best deodorants in general, often with a particular (read: stereotypically masculine) scent profile — they’ll typically lean spicier and citrusy-er, and less powdery and floral. That said, researchers have found that cis men sweat more than cis women, so some find that antiperspirants marketed towards men are more effective than those marketed toward women.

The Difference Between Deodorants & Antiperspirants

Quick semantics lesson: Though they’re sometimes used interchangeably, “deodorants” and “antiperspirants” are not the same. As the name literally says, deodorants contain antibacterial ingredients that help neutralize body odor (i.e., de-odorize). They typically contain ingredients that absorb excess sweat, too, but they’re probably not powerful enough to control excessive sweating. For that, you need an antiperspirant: They contain aluminum, which “forms a plug that blocks sweat output,” according to the International Hyperhidrosis Society (aka the final word on sweating).

With that in mind, all the antiperspirants featured ahead contain deodorizing ingredients (barring a clinical-strength antiperspirant), so they’ll stop you from both sweating and smelling. But if you’re looking for an aluminum-free option, go for the “natural” picks, which can be less irritating on sensitive skin.

Scroll on to shop the best men’s deodorant for women, or anyone of any gender identity or sweatiness quotient.

Shop The Best Men’s Deodorant For Women

In a hurry? Here are the top deodorant and antiperspirant picks for anyone who sweats.

1. The Classic: Old Spice Classic Deodorant
2. The Updated Classic: Old Spice High Endurance Pure Sport Deodorant
3. The Best Natural Deodorant: Native Deodorant in Citrus & Herbal Musk
4. The Editor's Natural Pick: Every Man Jack Aluminum-Free Deodorant in Cedarwood
5. The Best Gel: Gillette Clear Gel Power Rush
6. The Best Spray: Degree Men UltraClear Black + White Antiperspirant Deodorant Dry Spray
7. The Best For Heavy Sweaters: Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant
8. The Best Antiperspirant For Sensitive Skin: Dove Men+Care Extra Fresh Antiperspirant Stick
9. The Fan Favorite: Mitchum Advanced Control 48 Hr Strength + Protection Deodorant
10. The Luxury Pick: Jack Black Pit Boss Antiperspirant & Deodorant

1. The Classic

• Also available on Walmart, $31

The spicy-clean scent of Old Spice deodorant reminds me of all the boys I (thought I) loved before, and I’m confident the scent memory will remain for the rest of my natural-born life. I also used to wear it myself — a testament to my obsession with certain boys, but more importantly to the scent’s wearability, thanks to its layering of classically “masculine” fragrances (musk, cedar, ambergris) and “feminine” notes (like jasmine and vanilla). This order of six costs just under $18 on Amazon, and will likely last you for the next few years, depending on how much you sweat.

One reviewer wrote: “I used to use some ‘woman's’ deodorant, but in the end I started using my husband's Old Spice one day when mine ran out and kept doing it out of convenience. No aluminum, no triclosan, it works well, and it comes automatically with subscribe and save. Nothing not to like.”

2. The Updated Classic

• Also available on Walmart, $21

Bustle's very own Commerce Editor, Amy Biggart, is also loyal to the 83-year-old brand, though she prefers this Pure Sport version over the original. "I’ve been using Old Spice for over a decade. I’ve tried a few of their deodorants over the years, and while their classic deodorant can have an overpowering scent, Pure Sport is my tried-and-true favorite. It does an incredible job of minimizing sweat and odor (I’ve worn it all day and through intense workouts and it gets the job done), and has a faint scent that’s clean and slightly sweet,” she says. Get this three-pack for just under $10; likely enough to last you a year.

One reviewer wrote: “Great even for women. [...] I prefer deodorants only but finding that in a solid stick form is difficult for some reason. I hate the white powdery mess that gets everywhere, why is that even a thing?? An ex of mine used this stuff and I had forgotten mine at one point and had to borrow his and have been using it ever since. It works well, the scent is not overwhelming, and it works very well at combating odor.”

3. The Best Natural Deodorant

• Also available on Native, $13

Most natural deodorants are powerless in the face of excessive sweating, in my anxious sweat-filled experience, but Native deodorant is by far the most effective one I’ve tried. It won’t truly curb sweating — an important caveat — but it does make me smell a billion times better, and for much longer, than other natural deodorants out there. The aluminum-free formula contains things like tapioca starch to help absorb sweat, baking soda to neutralize odor, and coconut oil and shea butter to soothe and moisturize your skin, so you can feel good about reapplying a few times throughout the day. All their scents are lovely (and unisex), but Citrus & Herbal Musk strikes the right balance between traditionally masculine and feminine fragrances.

One reviewer wrote: “I wanted to switch to a natural deodorant when I became pregnant. [...] I do exercise daily - weights, HIIT, etc, and this works for me.”

4. The Editor's Natural Pick

• Also available on Every Man Jack, $18

This Every Man deodorant is aluminum-free, vegan, made of 99% naturally derived ingredients, and actually does what it’s supposed to, according to Bustle editor Carina Finn. "I love that they're plant-based, and the witch hazel is great for sensitive skin,” she says. “The cedarwood and sandalwood scents are very clean and woodsy, not overwhelming like a lot of natural deodorants with more floral scents.” She also likes that these sticks don’t leave stains on dark clothes, and she confirms that it withstands serious physical activities, like long hikes and intense workouts — a rarity for natural deodorants.

One reviewer wrote: “The Cedarwood version smells really nice. Every man Jack deodorant is great for the environment and cruelty free, and lasts the entire day. What more could you want?”

5. The Best Gel

• Also available on Walgreens, $13

The gel vs. solid stick debate is really a matter of preference, since they both do the same thing (e.g. suppress sweating for a few hours); but in their favor, gels don’t leave behind a white residue on your clothes or skin, they don’t clump, and they typically feel lighter than solids. If you’re on team gel, try Gillette Power Rush Clear Gel. It gets universally good reviews from people of all genders, who confirm that both its fresh scent and antiperspirant powers last through hours of intense activity, including jobs that involve manual labor.

One reviewer wrote: “I’m a woman and I love this deodorant. Works amazing and doesn’t leave that chalky residue.”

6. The Best Spray

• Also available on Walmart, $35

Among all the antiperspirant conduits, sprays are probably the least likely to stain your clothes. This Degree spray promises not only to prevent white marks from showing up on dark clothes, but also to protect your white tops from yellow sweat marks. Feedback is mixed on the anti-yellow-staining front, but Amazon reviewers say it’s much more powerful than other sprays, which can be a little weak. Not so with this one: One person with hyperhidrosis reported that it holds its own through intense workouts, while a female reviewer who has sweat through other deodorants confirms that it “lasted all day and well into the next one.”

One reviewer wrote: “The only deodorant I will ever use and I’m a female. [...] The women’s deodorant I have tried do not mask the smell of odor like this deodorant does. I’ve noticed men’s deodorant have a higher % of the ingredients than women’s.”

7. The Best For Heavy Sweaters

• Also available on Walgreens, $9

This Certain Dri clinical strength antiperspirant is the most effective over-the-counter treatment for excessive underarm sweating, including diagnosed hyperhidrosis (something people of all genders can experience, as should be clear by now) — it’s the only prescription-strength antiperspirant you can get without actually having a prescription. It contains 12% aluminum chloride, which researchers find to be the strongest active ingredient in treating axillary sweating. This doesn't contain any deodorizing ingredients, so you'll still need to apply a true-blue deodorant if preventing odor is a concern. For best results, apply a small amount to dry skin at night, which allows the aluminum chloride to thoroughly penetrate your pores. And do a patch test first, especially if you have sensitive skin.

One reviewer wrote: “I've been a heavy and nervous sweat-er all my life, no matter what antiperspirant I used. [...] I decided to try CertainDri and it worked from the first day. I haven't had one drop of armpit sweat since I started using this over a month ago. I put it on at night and shower in the morning. No sweat AT ALL!”

8. The Best Antiperspirant For Sensitive Skin

• Also available on Walmart, $29

This dermatologist-approved Dove antiperspirant is a good choice if you need a fairly intense antiperspirant, but find the really heavy-duty stuff too irritating for your skin. This contains aluminum as the active ingredient, which makes it so effective, but the moisturizing formula is gentler than most other antiperspirants out there. Castor oil and sunflower oil help neutralize dryness and irritation, and dimethicone and silica provide even more gentle sweat protection. This Extra Fresh scent does, in fact, smell very fresh, but it’s not sickly or overpowering.

One reviewer wrote: “This deodorant smells great and doesn’t burn my sensitive armpits like others have before, even after they’ve been freshly waxed.”

9. The Fan Favorite

• Also available on Walgreens, $5

Of all the men’s deodorants on Amazon, Mitchum deodorant seems to boast an especially large (or at least vocal) contingent of female fans, one of whom has been happily using this classic brand since she was “a teenager in the 60s.” Another said this actually worked better for controlling sweat than clinical-strength antiperspirants, and others like the brand’s light, clean scents. Plus, unlike most other deodorants that are sold online in value packs, you can buy a single tube of Mitchum, if you're not looking to stock up.

One reviewer wrote: “I am not quite sure why this product is specified for men. I am a woman and really liked it. I used this while traveling abroad for several weeks. It lasted a very long time and smelled good. It did not leave white residue on my clothing. Of course, last but not least, it worked quite well as an antiperspirant and deodorant in the very hot Middle East.”

10. The Luxury Pick

• Also available on Jack Black, $21

Jack Black deodorant: Because your armpits deserve to feel fancy, too. I used to steal this deodorant from my dad when I was in high school, and I still use it (and acquire it through legitimate means) for its spicy-citrusy-woody scent and super-smooth glide, courtesy of vitamin E and aloe. Pit Boss has aluminum in it, which helps with sweat protection, but you can opt for Pit CTRL if you’re looking for an aluminum-free deodorant with the same irresistible scent.

One reviewer wrote: “It’s a little pricey but worth it! As a female, most women’s deodorant just don’t control the sweat. It’s a men’s deodorant, but doesn’t have the strong smell that most have. Smells good and works great.”