Finding the right deodorant can be a tricky enterprise (one we’ve tackled numerous times before), so we’ve decided to crowdsource the problem by tracking down the deodorants of various famous people, some of whom spoke directly to us and some of whom have talked about their favorites elsewhere. Below, 19 celebrities on their favorite stink repellers, from Erykah Badu on crystal deodorant to Jessica Alba on Alba Organics (no relation).
Eve
“I’m a sweater, which is not very attractive. I’ve tried so many natural deodorants and found that, while many smell nice, few work as antiperspirants. Schmidt’s keeps me dry. I notice no visible sweat, and even in warmer climates, I’m sure I am still dry when I wear it. Rose vanilla is my favorite scent: It smells nice, you know it’s there, but it’s not overpowering.” — The Strategist, May 2019
Ana Gasteyer
“A unicorn product. I’ve worn it for years. It’s just a non-aluminum based earthy, artsy-fartsy deodorant that fucking works. There’s nothing like the crystal reek you get after an hour and a half when you’re trying to avoid aluminum. That doesn’t happen with this. It used to be this annoyingly crunchy paste, but now they make it in stick form — the flavors are lovely and down to Earth. The rose one is just great because if you sweat in it, you smell like a rose instead of cat urine. I’ve worn it for 14 or 15 hours under hot lights, so I’m a believer.” — The Strategist, November 2017
Buzz Bissinger (and his wife, Lisa Smith)
“Tom’s felt light and applied smoothly. Lisa reported that it smelled pleasingly fruity, and ten hours later the scent was still strong. In the end, it was my favorite.” — The Strategist, April 2019
John Derian
“I’ve been using this unscented deodorant for a million years and I’ve never had any problems with it. I appreciate that it’s a roll-on. Somehow it works even though it doesn’t have aluminum that regular deodorants do. I have to say, though, I’m not a big sweater, so I don’t think I’m in need of something incredibly heavy-duty. Actually, my boyfriend sweats a lot, and he uses it, too — I mean, he uses his own, obviously.” — The Strategist, November 2016
John Cameron Mitchell
“The only natural unscented deodorant that really works. It’s made of lichen that can actually live at the North Pole (which never smells).” — The Strategist, July 2017
Aubrey Plaza
“When it comes to natural deodorant, I don’t use anything with aluminum, but I also find that the natural deodorants are never strong enough! With other natural deos, I always felt like my skin was dry, but Judy Greer recommended this to me (I guess she’s my deodorant guru). She told me it’s the only one that works, and it’s true. I don’t have to reapply. It’s all-natural. It’s light and smells good. I do everything Judy Greer tells me to do.” — The Strategist, February 2017
Olivia Culpo
“I also put on my deodorant, which now, I’m loving the Degree Ultraclear Black + White Dry Spray, because I can get ready from the gym and even sometimes in the car without worrying about any marks on my clothes.”
— The Cut, June 2017
Alexa Chung
“I definitely use deodorant every day—the Pomegranate Crystal Essence Natural Protection Mineral Deodorant. I think it works, but I’m also not very sweaty. You have to use it for about a week and then it starts working. That’s the only one I can use because I don’t want armpit cancer.” — Into the Gloss, March 2014 (Chung also told The Strategist about 8 other products she can’t live without.)
Ashley Graham
“I’m also a sucker for the Crystal Deodorant, but I prefer the spray because I don’t like to have to get the stick wet in the sink.” — Elle, January 2019
Emma Watson
“It took me a while, but I finally found some good natural deodorant. It’s not an easy search! The best one I’ve found is Agent Nateur—I use the No. 3. I also love the Weleda Sage Deodorant for the smell.” — Into the Gloss, December 2016
Gigi Hadid
“For deodorant I like the clear gel because I can’t have any of that white residue when I’m working. Secret Flawless Clear deodorant has really good scents, so I use that mostly.” — Into the Gloss, July 2014
Jessica Alba
“I won’t lie. If I have to walk a red carpet or give a big presentation, I’m reaching for that trustworthy but toxin-filled Big Name Super-Strong Antiperspirant. You can’t risk pit stains in those high-pressure situations, and the nontoxic deodorant formulas just aren’t there yet. For now, my strategy is to layer my conventional antiperspirant over a natural, nontoxic deodorant (Alba Organics—no relation!—is my current favorite.) I figure that way I’ve got a layer of from the aluminum and triclosan in most mainstream brands. On regular days, it’s natural all the way.” — The Honest Life: Living Naturally and True to You, March 2013
Michelle Lee, editor-in-chief, Allure
“My first foray into the world of natural deodorant several years ago left me seriously disappointed. It was stinky and sticky and pilled into little white balls. Needless to say, I was not eager to give it another go. To my surprise, however, I fell in love with two products: Soapwalla Citrus Deodorant Cream [Editor’s note: We have many fans of this one] and Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant in Lavender & Sage, which both smell lovely. Application is still not as roll-and-go as most people like. But they’re a great addition to my cabinet for days when I’m not, say, doing any public speaking or running three miles in balmy weather with a hangover.” — Allure, March 2017
Alicia Silverstone
“Both [Naturally Fresh and Schmidt’s] deodorants are the best ever. The Schmidt’s one is a miracle. Just a pea-sized amount of the cream takes care of everything. It’s so good with odor— even if you don’t have time to take a shower it helps. I do notice that it can stain white clothes yellow, so when I’m wearing white I use the Naturally Fresh deodorant.” — Allure, January 2016
Kristen Bell
“There is a natural deodorant I use called Fat and the Moon. It’s a really small company, but it’s wonderful. It’s a little pot of deodorant I keep with me — it’s like coconut oil and baking soda, so it moisturizes and stays on, but it also soaks all the bacteria and takes away the [odor], and then there are a couple of essential oils in there, which are amazing.” — Refinery29, April 2016
Hannah Bronfman
“Since I don’t wear perfume, I rely on Weleda to keep me smelling fresh. I love it because the scent isn’t overpowering, and it’s aluminum free.”
— Well+Good, November 2013
Karla Souza
“I use a men’s deodorant. Guys tend to sweat more, and I sweat a lot. Plus, I absolutely love the smell.” —Women’s Health, September 2016
Bradley Cooper
“I have Old Spice deodorant for work. I don’t want Jennifer Lawrence to faint. I wore cologne from when I was, like, 8. First it was Polo, like my father. Then Drakkar Noir. Then it was Banana Republic Classic. My first girlfriend loved the smell, so I wore it for her. Then I hosted this trek show, and we were gone for three weeks, and I started to smell myself. And I was like, ‘Whoa, that’s what I smell like? I kind of like it.’” — People, November 2011
Mindy Kaling
“I don’t understand this analogy, none of this applies to me, this is clearly made for not marketed to me, and yet I love this deodorant until I die. It’s the eastbound and down of deodorants.” — Facebook, January 2014 (Referring to the quote on the back of the Old Spice stick, “For the man who knows that when you make it to the end zone, you act like you’ve never been there before.”)
Cindy Crawford
“Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are my usual workout days. I have a trainer come in and we do stairs and weights. I’m kind of old-school with the workouts because that’s what works for my body. And I use Secret Deodorant. I know that’s really bad and I should be using some type of aluminum-free deodorant, but I don’t want to smell bad!” — Into the Gloss, February 2014
Cindy Crawford
“Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are my usual workout days. I have a trainer come in and we do stairs and weights. I’m kind of old-school with the workouts because that’s what works for my body. And I use Secret Deodorant. I know that’s really bad and I should be using some type of aluminum-free deodorant, but I don’t want to smell bad!” — Into the Gloss, February 2014
Jonathan Groff
“Crew forming cream for my hair, Old Spice Swagger deodorant, and Irish Spring soap.” — The New Potato, March 2015
Kourtney Kardashian
“I ditched deodorant and used nothing for a while, but have now found Lavanila Healthy Deodorant, which is great.” — Beauty World News, July 2014
Erykah Badu
“You have to stroke underarms 100 times on each times. But then you don’t have to put no more on for three days. If you don’t know how to use your rock deodorant do something different. It’s a crystal, it’s an actual crystal. It neutralizes the skin. It has to send a signal to the big brain so neurologically you can stop being musty.” — The Breakfast Club Power 105.1, November 2015
Taran Killam
“I wear Fresh Scent Old Spice.” — The New Potato, March 2017
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