I do not want to be miserable, nor do I want to make anyone miserable. And for these two reasons, I generally wear conventional deodorant, with antiperspirant. 

These days there’s a stigma around antiperspirants in particular, which is not hard to understand. They work by plugging your sweat ducts with aluminum compounds. You'll often hear that these trace amounts of aluminum, when applied to the underarms over time, can potentially cause breast cancer and other maladies. The evidence is, frankly, not quite there. (From the American Cancer Society: “No scientific evidence links the use of these products to the development of breast cancer.”)  But I completely understand wanting to avoid even potentially harmful ingredients if possible. And aluminum absolutely does cause yellow pit stains on your white shirts, which is reason enough to steer clear. 

So it’s not like I want to apply aluminum to my body. But I would argue that I need antiperspirant because I am a sponge boy, and at any given moment, at any time of year, it’s as if someone is wringing me out. Sweat pours out of me, from the brow, across my back, and especially under my arms. I will do whatever I can to make it stop. I’ll happily rock some aluminum under my arms. 

We each pick and choose the verifiably bad things that are still reasonable compromises—spending time in the sun, eating ice cream, carrying around an addictive device to stare into the moment we begin to feel even a little bored. I’m not here to carry water for big aluminum, but sometimes you need one less-than-ideal thing to overthrow a definitely-not-great thing. (Profuse sweating.) 

Now, I also love natural deodorants, and I’ll happily wear them if I’m sitting calmly at dinner, or walking, slowly, on an errand on a temperate day. But if it’s a first dinner date, or if I’m rushing out the door for a long day, it’s not even a question. Because in that moment, and the tens of thousands of similar moments I’ll have in my life, I’d rather not percolate from my pits. I’m far more confident when my sweat glands are neutralized—and the pursuit of confidence, I know, is why we groom ourselves in the first place.

If you’re convinced, here are three heavy-hitters that will keep you dry. 

Jack Black antiperspirant roll-on$15

Amazon

This one smells amazing and locks down sweat hard. (It's also available in an aluminum free version if you're not convinced.) 

Old Spice antiperspirant 2-pack$5

Walmart

The classic! 

Kiehl's antiperspirant deodorant cream$22

Macy's

Instead of a stick, this one is a cream you spread under your arms. Unorthodox but extremely effective. Read MoreThe Best Deodorants for Every Type of Musty Dude

12 top-shelf sticks, balms, and sprays formulated to prevent your particular body odor.

By Adam Hurly



Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQDeodorant