To sweat or not to sweat? 💦 That is the question behind the great armpit war of deodorants versus antiperspirants. They are the same thing, right? Nope!
Let's start with the basics: sweat itself is virtually odourless to humans. Odours are caused by sweat being broken down by bacteria. The rate at which this occurs and your microbial ecosystem varies significantly from person to person (which is why some people may smell more than others). Sweating is completely natural, with its main purpose being to cool us down - not to excrete waste products or to clear toxic substances from the body.
As its name would suggest, a deodorant is formulated to deodorise - keeping you smelling fresh while still allowing your body to naturally sweat. Antiperspirants, on the other hand, are formulated to block your sweat glands to stop any sweat from being secreted whilst also deodorising.
Check out how our clever little bars of deodorant work above👆. Want to know more? Switch over to our IGTV to watch our video on deodorant myths, including the transition period and an in-depth explanation on how antiperspirants work 🎬