Listen and follow The Wirecutter ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadioFinding the right deodorant or antiperspirant can feel weirdly difficult. Maybe your go-to product suddenly stops working, maybe you're tired of pit stains ruining your clothes, or maybe you're still not entirely sure what the difference is between deodorant and antiperspirant in the first place.In this episode, Wirecutter senior staff writer Abbie Kozolchyk explains why choosing an underarm product is so personal. She breaks down the science behind sweat and body odor, debunks common fears about aluminum, and shares what she learned from testing dozens of products with everyone from teenagers to older adults.Plus, we hear about one of the strangest jobs in the personal care industry: a professional armpit sniffer.This episode coversThe difference between deodorant and antiperspirant. Deodorant masks odor and antiperspirant reduces sweat. Understanding the difference can make it much easier to find the right product for you.Why finding your perfect deodorant or antiperspirant is mostly trial and error. Everyone's body chemistry is different, which means the product your friend swears by might do absolutely nothing for you.Why aluminum in antiperspirants probably isn't something to fear. Abbie breaks down why scientists aren’t concerned about antiperspirants causing breast cancer or Alzheimer's.How to get better results from the products you already use. From applying antiperspirant at bedtime to giving a new deodorant a full week before judging it, small tweaks can make a big difference.The best wide solid Degree UltraClear Black + White Antiperspirant DeodorantDegree UltraClear Black + White Antiperspirant DeodorantA streak- and stain-resistant solid, this antiperspirant holds up to soupy summer pickup basketball, cross-country meets, and stress.Buying options: $8 from Amazon, opens in a new tab(pack of two)$8 from Walmart, opens in a new tab(pack of two)Best narrow solid SheaMoisture Fresh Antiperspirant DeodorantSheaMoisture Fresh Antiperspirant DeodorantA light tropical scent and skin-softening formula impressed testers — as did the long-lasting sweat fighting. The fresh fragrance is fleeting, though.Buying options: $17 from Amazon, opens in a new tab(pack of two)$10 from Walmart, opens in a new tabBest narrow gel Mitchum Women Advanced Control Antiperspirant & Deodorant GelMitchum Women Advanced Control Antiperspirant & Deodorant GelAn ’80s throwback with a faintly powdery scent — no matter which of the two options you try — this gel routinely achieves 24 hours of dryness. Though clear, nonstaining, and residue-free, the formulation does go on thick.Buying options: $6 from Amazon, opens in a new tab$6 from Walmart, opens in a new tab(pack of two)A narrow, creamy solid that’s long-lasting Nécessaire The DeodorantNécessaire The DeodorantScented with notes such as frankincense and cypress, this collection offers spa vibes as well as oomphy BO protection that lasted testers up to 24 hours — but also produced the occasional white streak.Buying options: DEAL, original price $24, sale price $18 from Bluemercury, opens in a new tabFree Bluemercury account required, price reflected in cart$24 from Amazon, opens in a new tabBest roll-on Saltair 5% AHA Serum DeodorantSaltair 5% AHA Serum DeodorantA liquid that’s lightweight and powerful, this roll-on stood up to our testers’ everyday sweating, plus staircase sprints and long flights in stuffy airplanes. But irritation may be a risk for the AHA-sensitive.Buying options: $26 from Amazon, opens in a new tab(pack of two)$13 from Ulta, opens in a new tabBest narrow solid deodorant Dove Aluminum Free Deodorant StickDove Aluminum Free Deodorant StickA soothing standout, this moisturizing stick holds up to hot yoga and stress sweat. Though some of the scents are subtle, the fruity and floral options were a tad strong for our testers.Buying options: $7 from Walmart, opens in a new tab$7 from Target, opens in a new tabA controversial deodorant balm AKT The Deodorant BalmAKT The Deodorant BalmA cream-to-powder blend of moisturizers, diatomaceous earth, and arrowroot that requires applying with a fingertip.Buying options: $29 from Amazon, opens in a new tab