Finding the best unscented deodorant is far from easy. There are hundreds of deodorant products on the market and they are all different, not to mention that many of them just aren’t worth buying. I have bought, tested, and researched more deodorants than I care to admit so I could recommend the best ones to my friends and family. After reviewing more than 30 different types of deodorants in this article, I was able to choose 10 that are truly worth your time and money!
Best Unscented Deodorant Reviews
1. Speed Stick Power Antiperspirant Deodorant for Men
Brand | Speed Stick |
Item Form | Stick |
Scent | Unscented |
Material Type Free | Unscented |
Special Feature | Not-Applicable |
It’s time to be your own man in a world where the old patterns, rules, and stages of progression are being redefined. Achieving your dreams takes courage when it counts. Speed Stick, Antiperspirant & Deodorant for Men leaves you feeling cool, clean, and refreshed all day long. Provides 24 hour odor and wetness protection. Includes comfort guard applicator for comfort and control.
2. Native Deodorant | Natural Deodorant for Women and Men
Brand | Native |
Item Form | Stick |
Scent | Unscented |
Special Feature | Not Tested On Animals, Travel Size, Organic, Hypoallergenic, Unscented, Natural Ingredients |
Material Feature | Aluminum Free |
Native deodorant is a naturally safe, aluminum free, and vegan deodorant made with all natural ingredients including certified organic extracts and minerals. The secret is our proprietary blend of Pure Saponifiables of Sage, Bergamot Oil, and Rosemary Leaf, which has anti-bacterial properties and helps eliminate odor-causing bacteria. Made with coconut oil based sodium bicarbonate instead of aluminum to provide protection against body odor by neutralizing odor causing acids on the skin.
3. Secret Invisible Solid Antiperspirant Deodorant
Brand | Secret |
Scent | Unscented |
Material Type Free | Unscented |
Item Volume | 2.6 Fluid Ounces |
Number of Items | 2 |
This Secret Invisible Solid Antiperspirant Deodorant uses a gel formula to provide all-day protection from wetness and odor. This non-irritating deodorant is ideal for daily use, leaving skin feeling dry with a fresh scent. The spray can is ideal for touch ups throughout the day or for reapplying after a shower.
4. Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant
Brand | Arm & Hammer |
Scent | Unscented |
Material Type Free | Unscented |
Item Volume | 2.5 Fluid Ounces |
Material Feature | Natural |
Beat tough odor with essential, natural ingredients. ARM & HAMMER Essentials Solid Deodorant combines the odor-fighting power of pure ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda with natural plant extracts. Free of aluminum, parabens, colorants, or animal-derived ingredients, it’s the natural way to keep you smelling clean.
Powered by Baking Soda
Trust the brand that’s been fighting tough odors for over 170 years: ARM & HAMMER.
Natural Ingredients
Stay fresh all day, naturally, without aluminum, parabens, colorants or animal-derived ingredients. Also available in Unscented.
Stain Shield
Get long-lasting odor protection without sacrificing your clothes. Essentials won’t leave yellow underarm stains on your favorite shirt or blouse.
24-hour Protection
Choose the antiperspirant that doesn’t quit. Get long-lasting, 24-hour protection.
5. Speed Stick Antiperspirant & Deodorant Solid
Brand | Speed Stick |
Item Form | Stick |
Scent | Unscented |
Material Type Free | Unscented |
Item Volume | 3 Fluid Ounces |
It’s time to be your own man in a world where the old patterns, rules, and stages of progression are being redefined. Achieving your dreams takes courage when it counts. Speed Stick Power unscented, Antiperspirant & Deodorant for Men leave you feeling cool, clean, and refreshed all day long. Provides 24 hour odor and wetness protection. Includes comfort Guard applicator for comfort and control.
6. Arm & Hammer Essentials Natural Deodorant
Brand | Arm & Hammer |
Item Form | Solid |
Scent | Unscented |
Material Type Free | Unscented |
Item Volume | 2.5 Fluid Ounces |
Beat tough odor with essential, natural ingredients. ARM & HAMMER Essentials Solid Deodorant combines the odor-fighting power of pure ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda with natural plant extracts. Free of aluminum, parabens, colorants, or animal-derived ingredients, it’s the natural way to keep you smelling clean.
Powered by Baking Soda
Trust the brand that’s been fighting tough odors for over 170 years: ARM & HAMMER.
Natural Ingredients
Stay fresh all day, naturally, without aluminum, parabens, colorants, or animal-derived ingredients. Also available in Unscented.
Stain Shield
Get long-lasting odor protection without sacrificing your clothes. Essentials won’t leave yellow underarm stains on your favorite shirt or blouse.
24-hour Protection
Choose the antiperspirant that doesn’t quit. Get long-lasting, 24-hour protection.
Deodorant and skin irritation
Parabens are preservatives that can mimic the effects of estrogen in our bodies, King said, which has made them one of the more controversial ingredients in personal care products. She and Alan both suggested avoiding parabens if possible due to the potential for endocrine disruption, which Alan said also applies to phthalates.
However, products that are free of parabens and aluminum may raise other concerns.
A review of product disclaimers by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) found that an increase in the use of alternative preservatives (most notably methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone), which are more allergenic than parabens, may have caused an “epidemic” of allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that can be caused by jewelry, skin care products, or other irritants.
People with sensitive skin or who are prone to allergic reactions may need to look more carefully into products with paraben-free disclaimers to consider whether replacement preservatives could be a greater risk. The same could be said for aluminum-free options, according to the JAAD study authors.
Natural or antiperspirant-free deodorants (sans aluminum) may also irritate the skin. Those products often contain botanicals and essential oils to mask the odor, which are common triggers for allergic reactions. Allergic contact dermatitis often improves when people go back to using traditional, fragrance-free antiperspirants, according to the authors of the JAAD study.
Those with easily irritated or allergic reaction–prone skin should avoid deodorants with fragrances. Although most people will be OK with fragrance formulas, they may be a problem for those with eczema or an allergy to certain essential oils, Alan said.
Some natural deodorants use baking soda to absorb moisture and neutralize odor, but “too much baking soda can cause skin irritation in some people,” King said. While manufacturers may put “hypoallergenic” on a label, it only means that the product may exclude some common allergens, but the risk depends on what you’re allergic to, King said.
Should you use a natural deodorant?
There are many antiperspirants and deodorants on the market that are free of parabens, phthalates, or other ingredients besides aluminum that you might be looking to avoid. But for most people, any deodorant is probably going to be safe to use.
“You’d be amazed at the amount of insults your body receives every day from the environment,” Alan said. “A deodorant is a very small bit of this, and generally your traditional deodorants are very safe. If it’s going to ease your mind or if you like [natural deodorants], go for it, but I wouldn’t worry.”
This list has a little bit of everything to meet your needs, whether you want to go fully natural, traditional, or somewhere in between.
What about parabens and sulfates?
There has also been concern over ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and triclosan.
Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor that has been removed from many personal hygiene products due to safety concerns, according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King.
Triclosan was banned from antibacterial soaps and hand washes by the FDA in 2017 because it was ineffective and may have encouraged antimicrobial-resistant germs. The ban doesn’t extend to deodorants, but it’s not likely that they’ll contain the ingredient, said Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
Conclusion
After going through all of the deodorants listed above, we decided that the best unscented deodorant was Dove Men+Care Extra Fresh Extra Strong. It was the most effective product, according to our research and testing, for tackling odor and wetness for over 14 hours a day. It didn’t roll on smoothly (very important), absorbed quickly, kept us smelling fresh all day long and its scent was light enough that you didn’t have to worry about offending your coworkers.