***Poll*** on Deodorants / Anti-Perspirants

[darkoshi]

For the last several years, I've been using Queen Helene Mint Julep deodorant. I generally have to reapply it during the day or evening, especially if I've been sweating. Sometimes it leaves foam on my armpits, which takes a little while to dry and disappear after application. But other than that, I've been quite pleased with it.

It meets all my criteria:
- the scent doesn't bother me
- it prevents body odor
- it doesn't make me itch or give me a rash (even after reapplying it several times)
- it doesn't leave a sticky residue (even after reapplying it several times)

But now The Hain Celestial Group, the maker of this deodorant, has changed the formula. The new version, while it doesn't foam much, is slightly less good at preventing body odor, and it leaves a sticky feeling of residue on my armpits. In short, I don't like it.

I've been looking for a new brand. So far I've tried 7 different ones, but haven't found any that meet all my criteria. Therefore, this poll. Please leave a comment, answering the below questions. I'll mightily appreciate it!

It doesn't matter whether the deodorants or antiperspirants which you use are marketed towards men, women, or whether they are gender-neutral - I'm interested in information on all of them.

Oh, and feel free to point other people towards this poll too!

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1. Do you use a deodorant or anti-perspirant? If so, what brand and scent do you currently use?

2. What type is it: stick, roll-on, spray (etc.) ?

3. Does your deo/anti-perspirant contain an alum and/or aluminum compound?

4. Do you only need to apply it once per day, or do you usually need to re-apply it one or more times, in order to prevent body odor?

5. Do you notice any sticky residue feeling from the deodorant/anti-perspirant, when you wash yourself?

6. Would you consider your armpits to be sensitive - have you ever gotten a rash or itchiness from using certain deodorants or anti-perspirants?

7. Overall, how pleased are you with your current deodorant / anti-perspirant?

8. Do you tend to stick with the same brand, or do you often switch brands? Do you have any comments (good or bad) regarding other brands that you've used in the past?

Comments

[dalglir]

Wandered over here via andrewducker. I use Suremen Active '48hour protection' (!)... Errr... 'Purple' (no scent title or description on it) as it has a nice fragrance that reminds me ever so slightly of patchouli, which I have always been fond of. It's an aerosol spray. No adverse reaction.

http://www.suremen.co.uk/product-range.aspx?p=8

Sure is known as Rexona outside of the UK and Ireland, if that's applicable.

I hate sticks and roll-ons. Too 'sticky' (Badum-tish).

[fjm]

I use Simple, scentless. A roll on.

(I only discovered I was sensitive the summer I went away from my cats, so stopped taking the antihistamine. Ouch.)

[nmg]

Ditto - Simple FTW.

I use an unscented anti-perspirant rather than a deodorant; I prefer not to smell, but if I do smell, I'd prefer to smell of me than of a cheap fragrance.

Also, I don't often wear cologne, but when I do I'd prefer that it wasn't competing with whatever I've stuck in my armpits.

(also here from andrewducker

[marrog]

I don't have sensitive armpits as far as I know and I have no friggin' clue what my deodorant has in it, per se, so you'll need to check that in a shop or look it up (I'm at work), but I used to swear by Vaseline Intensive Care unscented deodorant. It's a spray and it smells rotten (well, weird anyway, and not like anything like 'flowers' or 'vanilla' or whatever) in its own right, but on you I find that it basically smells like nothing at all; it really just cancels out sweatiness and the smell of unwashed (or washed-this-morning-but-been-doing-stuff-all-day) person. I would assume from it being Vaseline Intensive Care that it's reasonably hypoallergenic but I'll leave you to look that up for yourself!

However, my wife hates spray deodorant, hates the smell of aerosol and REALLY hates VIC deodorant smell, so I've started using hers instead which is the original unscented Dove stick deoderant. It does not offend me, it does its job, and I've never noticed it leave a residue particularly. What it does do that I hate is make my armpits feel damp whereas I like to feel dry (hence spray deodorant), but I got used to it in time.

[marrog]

Oh, you're a dude! Well, I would consider Vaseline Intensive Care (and Dove tbh) to be pretty unisex in smell since they're both unscented (I'm pretty sure Vaseline actually IS unisex, or at least has a male-marketed analog), but in case you care about such things I'll also observe that I find original Right Guard to basically be a man-smell version of the same thing - smells gross when you spray it but like nothing after you've been wearing it a few minutes.

[darkoshi]

I'm actually genderqueer. I'll use men's, women's, or unisex things, as long as I like the scent, etc.

I didn't realize there was a Vaseline brand deo. It may not be sold over here, or may be under a different name. But anyway, I'll look up the ingredients of the brands everyone has mentioned to get an idea of what they are like.

[marrog]

Oh, fair enough - I was guessing by others' recommendations, didn't go poking around!

I mean, I use 'man-smell' deodorant and showery stuff pretty liberally myself if it's what's to hand - cis but unpicky! Sorry for making assumptions!

[darkoshi]

No problem; I like being called a dude once in a while!

I think I'll update my post... I should've clarified that I was interested in info on products regardless of which gender they are marketed towards.

[azurelunatic]

1: My current is Old Spice Pure Sport, past brands included Arm & Hammer unscented.
2: Sticks.
3: Yes.
4: Once per day.
5: Old Spice: yes. Arm & Hammer: no.
6: The deodorant-only formulation of the Old Spice Pure Sport bothered me.
7: Very pleased except for item 5. I may switch back to Arm & Hammer.
8: If I happen to be broke about when I need a new stick, I try the brand that's on sale; I've gone through a decent number of things that way. I found Dove to be a bit on the flaky side when applying, and the "you just washed your underpants in a mountain stream and now they're fresh enough to curl your hair" scent of the Arm & Hammer to be distasteful and a bit overpowering.

Also here via andrewducker.

[darkoshi]

LOL at the last sentence! :-D

[azurelunatic]

It's very, very "fresh".

[passionrlsusall.livejournal.com]

1) Yup. Tom's of Maine. I love their stuff. I use lemongrass and peach scents (2 diff ones, I switch off)
2) solid stick
3) nope, aluminum free
4) I only do once a day usually
5) nope!
6) I don't think so...they used to get irritated from shaving
7) Quite.
8) stick to Tom's of Maine.

[darkoshi]

I had tried a Tom's of Maine stick in the past; from what I recall the stick was rather dry and hard to apply. But I had read some other recommendations for it, so just today, I bought 2 different Tom's of Maine deodorants to try out. Plus an Old Spice Classic stick. Normally I avoid "regular" brands like Old Spice, as I don't want to support companies which are involved in animal testing. But well... I have fond childhood memories of the Old Spice scent. If I don't like it, I can give it to Qiao.

[passionrlsusall.livejournal.com]

I meant to say apricot, not peach, by the way. And I don't find them dry, and I think they've changed their formula a bit too over time.