Looking for a new antiperspirant or deodorant?
When it comes to personal hygiene, one of the most used products for any guy is going to be the body spray he uses; Whether that’s deodorant or antiperspirant. It’s something we all use, or I hope we do, because nobody likes to smell of sweat, or in fact be sweaty.
There’s a huge choice when it comes to what to use, from roll-ons to sprays and sticks, along with different types for different results, along with scented or unscented variants.
They are an essential part of any male grooming kit, and something you should be wearing as part of your every day routine.
If you’re confused about something which is actually pretty simple, I’m going to go into everything about body sprays and the best ones on the market right now.
Deodorant vs Antiperspirant
It’s a question which gets asked quite a lot, what is the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? The answer is quite a simple one.
Deodorant is all about making sure you smell good, it’s the scent. Antiperspirant is about stopping you sweat, and smelling bad.
So if you’re already clean from the shower or a bath, deodorant is there to keep you smelling your best. It will do it’s job in normal situations, but if you start to sweat, it won’t stop it.
Antiperspirant is there to help you stop sweating, and some will also have a fragrance. The idea is to wear this if you’re likely to sweat. With that said, it’s better to use this when you’re active, in the Summer or heat, or whenever you think you’re likely to sweat.
As a personal preference, I’d always choose antiperspirant over a simple body spray deodorant, because I get my scent from a cologne, which I’ll go into below.
Dove+Men Care Clean Comfort Spray
My number 1 go to antiperspirant has to be Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort. For one thing, it just works. Next is the scent, and it’s that clean, crisp fresh scent, which can basically be thought of as unscented. You get that straight out of the shower soapy smell, and the spray works well too.
You can find this at Boots for £1.50 here.
Dove+Men Care Clean Comfort Stick
If you like Men+Care from Dove but don’t like a spray, they have it in a stick too. The same great 48 hour protection and scent, you can get a 50ml stick at Tesco for £2.50 here.
NIVEA Men Antiperspirant Black And White
Black and white invisible from Nivea Men offers 48 hour protection, along with white mark protection and anti-yellow staining properties, ensuring you stay fresh and make sure those horrible marks don’t happen on your clothes.
This one is currently £2.29 at Superdrug here.
Sure Men Invisible Ice
Sure Men Invisible Ice offers protection against white marks, along with 48 hours freshness too. The compressed can means a smaller can but the same number of sprays. It’s yours for only £1.57 at Boots here.
Lynx Africa
If you want to smell like your teenage self in the 90’s, Lynx Africa is going to do it. It’s just a body spray, so not going to stop you sweat, but that old nostalgic scent is something to be loved. I preferred Lynx Atlantis myself, but this one was a favourite of so many people back in the day.
It was relaunched several years ago, and can be yours for £2 at Ocado here.
FCUK Body Spray
A really nice scented body spray, there’s a couple of choices in the FCUK body spray range, and in all honesty, they’re all pretty good. If you want to smell good for a couple of hours and just want something casual rather than your favourite aftershave, this will work.
They’re £4 each, or grab a trio of them for only £10 at Boots here.
Rituals Samurai Cool Deo Spray
When it comes to the best smelling spray, I’ve left the best until last. Rituals Samurai Cool Deo is incredible. The scent is like nothing else, it’s something you have to experience for yourself. It’s so fresh and unique, and best of all, it’s also an antiperspirant too.
It quoted to last 24 hours, so not as long as many, but the scent alone is worth it.
This one is more expensive, so if you want to treat yourself, spend £9 on this, you won’t regret it. It’s available at Amazon here.
Spray, Stick Or Roll On
When it comes to your product, there’s different types of products you can go for. They come in three main styles, these are a roll on, spray or stick. Here’s a breakdown of the three, with a couple of advantages and disadvantages of each.
Advantages Of A Spray
- You get good coverage
- Really easy and quick to apply
- A large range available
Disadvantages Of A Spray
- It’s easy to over-spray
- Less control than a roll on or stick
- Can leave white marks
Advantages Of A Roll On
- Easy To Apply
- You Can Zone In On Your Pits
- Doesn’t stink up your whole room with a scent
Disadvantages Of A Roll On
- Not As Widely Available As A Spray
- Takes Longer To Apply
- Typically only available as a deodorant and not antiperspirant
Advantages Of A Stick
- Easy to apply
- Hit target areas easily
- Small and great for travel
Disadvantages Of A Stick
- Can leave white marks
- Takes longer to apply
- Can feel sticky
Scented vs Unscented
Should you go scented or unscented? Well, a body spray/deodorant is scented, there’s no 2 ways about it. Antiperspirant on the other hand, can be both. Just like a body wash, it very much depends on your own personal preferences, the occasion and what you’re wearing with them.
You don’t want a mish-mash of scents, so if you’re going to wear an aftershave, then go for an unscented antiperspirant, or if you just don’t want a scent, the same applies. If you just want an easy one product solution, then a scented option may be the one to go for.
As mentioned above, I usually prefer the unscented, unless I know i’m not going to be wearing a cologne, if for example I am just having a chill out day.
Can You Wear Both Deodorant And Antiperspirant Together?
You may be thinking, you have a body spray which you really like the smell of, but can you combine it with an antiperspirant?
The answer is yes. A body spray can be used on your whole body, the chest and all around, whereas the antiperspirant is solely for the sweat areas, usually under the arms.
If you have a body spray which has an epic scent you love but you also want maximum protection from perspiring, use both.
How Often Do You Need To Apply Deodorant?
Body sprays tend to fade after a few hours, but antiperspirants last longer.
Different brands offer different amounts of protection, and their marketing speaks volumes about how long they last. Some will claim all day protection, some 24 hours, and some will even say 48 hours.
These are however averages, as people’s bodies are different, and we’re all subject to different amounts of activities, which can increase or decrease the need to sweat.
How To Avoid Stains And Marks Under Arm
The biggest hate of many is stains, patches and white marks under the arms. It happens to the best of us, and there’s a couple of things you can do. First of all, if you can, there’s the option of wearing a T-shirt under your shirt, if that’s what you’re wearing.
Since this isn’t always the most practical option, you might want to consider what you use, and when you apply it.
Antiperspirant takes time to work it’s magic, so using it asap is preferable. In fact, some even go as far as saying you should apply it before you go to bed, rather than first thing on a morning.
Another thing to consider is the distance you spray from. You don’t want to be too close to your arms. Finally go for a spray or roll-on. Sticks leave the arm pits sticky, and you can get that flaky white residue on your clothing.
Conclusion
And there you have it. Everything you need to know about antiperspirants, deodorants and body spray, including the best ones your money can buy at the moment.
As with most things in men’s grooming, there’s now a huge range and variety available, so you should experiment and take a look around.
Test out all the products, and see which one you find works best for you.
About Michael
Michael Adams is the founder and editor of Michael 84, blogger from Newcastle, UK. Sharing men's fashion tips, style advice and lifestyle information for all guys.
