Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant: What’s the difference?

By Darren Hong

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Picture this: you’ve finally scored the perfect date with your crush from school. After all these years, you’ll finally be able to spend some quality time together. You’ve picked out the perfect restaurant. The perfect balance of class and elegance. As you lean over for a kiss, their face scrunches up in disgust. Looking down, you notice a large stain underneath your armpit. Excusing yourself to the restroom, your first sniff hits you like a suckerpunch, blasting your nose with the pungent musk of your last hiking trip.

Fortunately for our maidenless readers, we’ll be looking at the two most powerful tools from preventing the above scenario today. Namely, deodorant and antiperspirant.

First off, what is the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? Simply put, deodorant prevents the odor from emitting from one’s armpits, while antiperspirant is designed to prevent pools of sweat from exertion.

The usage of these hygiene products is essential, especially for teens. According to a poll by YouGov, 39% of young adults did not use deodorant or antiperspirant. Not only is this a poor social choice personally, but it also harms any unfortunate teacher caught in a fog of stench.

Now that you’ve decided to apply these products frequently, it’s important to remember that like any product, deodorant and antiperspirant can expire. When these products expire, it can lead to a lowered effectiveness, leading to a larger stink. A typical deodorant expires within a year of the initial usage, so make sure you check the expiration date. To extend your products shelf life, keep them in a cool place and away from hot sunlight, especially for stick deodorant or antiperspirant, as it can lead to melting.

Hopefully, this information will help convince you to consider using personal hygiene products to help improve your body odor. Happy Hiking!