How to Pick The Right Deodorants and Antiperspirants: Buying Guide

Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant

How does deodorant work?

By the time your body has reached puberty, personal care is not just a passing thought. It's a necessity. You've probably thought about how to improve the strong body odor emitting from your underarms. Maybe you don't have strong body order, but perhaps your underarms are always damp and the wetness is visible on your clothes.

Strong smells and body odor happen when bacteria forms on your skin. Deodorant is a substance that once applied in solid, spray, or liquid can help kill the bacteria and leave you smelling fresh.

Deodorant cannot keep your underarms from sweating, but antiperspirant deodorants can.

How do antiperspirants work?

Antiperspirants contain tiny bits of aluminum, which help control the wetness that forms under your arms. It can also mask odors. So while deodorant can only help control odor, an antiperspirant can help control odor and underarm wetness. Much like deodorant, antiperspirants can also be applied in liquid, dry spray, and solid form. Aluminum-free deodorants are simply not antiperspirants.

What is the difference between deodorants and antiperspirants?

The big difference between deodorants and antiperspirants is that they both have different, but both equally important jobs when it comes to personal care. A deodorant will help to make sure you smell your best by killing the bacteria forming in your underarm. An antiperspirant will help control underarm wetness and provide odor protection.

Where can I buy deodorants and antiperspirants at bulk?

If you need to buy deodorants and antiperspirants in bulk for your business or personal needs, we have everything you're looking for. You can get deodorant or antiperspirant by visiting the personal care aisle at your local Sam's Club or at SamsClub.com.

What Different Types of Deodorants & Antiperspirants Are There?

Just as you can choose between deodorants and antiperspirants, you can also choose how you want to apply them to your underarms. It's important to make sure that your underarms are clean and dry when you're ready to apply your deodorant or antiperspirant. That will give you the best results.

Gel/Roll-On

If you like a cool sensation when applying your deodorant or antiperspirant, you might want to consider a gel or roll-on. Both offer the same protection, but a gel or roll on won't cake up in your underarms. This might be a concern if you have hair in your armpits. One thing to remember is that a gel or roll-on could stain your shirt if it hasn't fully dried. It can also leave a white residue on dark colored clothing.

Spray

A deodorant spray is another way to apply a deodorant or antiperspirant that is quick and easy. It can still provide the right amount of odor or wetness protection. You do have to remember when spraying that it could stain nearby items. 

Stick

Applying your deodorant stick or antiperspirant deodorant stick is what many people use. As with all of the different types whether it's spray, roll on, gel, or cream, you can control how much or how little you want to apply. The difference with the stick is that it will be possible to detect the deodorant or antiperspirant due to the residue it can leave behind. It's also not uncommon for it to stain dark colored clothing.

Cream

Deodorant cream is more common than you would think. Unfortunately antiperspirant cream isn't as common. If you're looking for another way to block odor and to sooth your underarms using a cream based deodorant could be best for you. Cream deodorants are typically all-natural, which means they don't include any chemicals. The cream will not only help you control odor, but it also allows you to decide how much you would like to apply.

What to Consider When Buying Deodorants & Antiperspirants?

Are you very active in sports or other physical activities? Do you want others to smell your deodorant or antiperspirant or would you rather the smell to just blend in? When considering what type of deodorant or antiperspirant is right for you, it's very important to consider your lifestyle. The more active you are, you might want to purchase an extra-strength deodorant or antiperspirant to manage your body odor or underarm wetness.

While some deodorants and antiperspirants promise to give you 24-hour protection, many without 24-hour protection can still do the same job.

If you want to smell like a bed of roses or baby powder or like a spruce tree, there are more than enough different fragrances to keep you satisfied. You can also smell just like you if you'd prefer, natural and unscented.

What Brands of Deodorants & Antiperspirants Does Sam's Club Sell?

With so many tried and true brands like Dove, Secret, Old Spice, Degree, Axe, and Gillette, we can help you find what you want at members-only prices by visiting your local Sam's Club or online at SamsClub.com.

FAQ - Deodorants & Antiperspirants

Is there a difference between men's and women's deodorant?

No. When it comes to men and women's deodorant, they are both the same. Neither provides any different coverage. A deodorant is to help minimize odor it both men and women. The differences can be found when it's time to market it to its audience. It's easy to spot the difference in the deodorants because packaging will state for men or women and the coloring of the packaging will vary. The fragrances that are added to the deodorant will also be vastly different for men than they are for women. The fragrances for women can include baby powder or fruit fragrances. For men's deodorant, the fragrances tend to include musks or nature smells.

When it's time to purchase a men's or women's deodorant, you will find them both in the personal care aisle only they will be separated according to men's or women's deodorant.

Are spray deodorants bad for the environment?

Spray deodorants can be bad for the environment if the spray deodorant is in an aerosol can. Because an aerosol can uses a series of ignitable gases, if the spray deodorant can isn't completely emptied when the user is ready to throw the deodorant away it can be considered hazardous waste. Meaning, it's a hazard to the environment as it could possibly start a fire or be a threat to the environment. Its impact could affect air quality, the land, or water supply. As long as the spray deodorant can is completely empty, it can be recycled.

Why does sweat smell?

Sweat smells as it's the human bodies reaction to sweat. It is natural for everyone to sweat; however, some may feel that they sweat more or their sweat has a stronger odor. To help with combating the smell of sweat, it's important to shower or bath regularly and keep areas prone to sweating as dry as possible. Then one can apply deodorant to help manage the smell that sweat produces, that naturally cleaning the body can't control.

Why do we sweat?

Our bodies sweat as a way to cool ourselves down. Our bodies may sweet due to physical activity like exercising, sweating, walking fast, or dancing. Our bodies also sweat when our bodies are overheated due to too many clothes or change in our body temperature or temperature in the air.

What factors into body odor?

A clean and dry body can help to control body odor. As long as you bathe your body as often as you can and manage the moisture on your body, you can help control body odor and use deodorant for another level of protection.

Do women or men sweat more?

While both men and women have the same amount of sweat glands, men tend to sweat more. Generally speaking, men tend to sweat more due to the size of their bodies.

Are deodorants and antiperspirants safe?

Yes, deodorants and antiperspirants are safe to use. Of course, if you tend to have allergic reactions when anything is applied to your skin you should always consult your medical professional.

How much deodorant should I apply?

When your underarm is clean and dry, you can spritz or roll on as much as your comfortable with and reapply throughout the day when you believe you need more. People typically reapply if they're about to engage in some sort of physical activity or after their eight hour day has ended and they feel the need to apply more. How much you apply is up to you.