The business of perfumes, antiperspirants, and deodorants is a matter of great importance, as evident from the projected growth of the body mist market, set to reach $8.95 billion by 2032 from $6 billion in 2022. This impressive figure represents just one segment of the body fragrance market, showcasing the significance people attach to smelling pleasant. However, beyond these statistics, our focus today centers on selecting a healthier fragrance option.
Antiperspirants and deodorants have a common goal of getting rid of body odor. Nevertheless, they serve different functions. In this article, we will examine these two alternatives and determine which one offers a healthier choice for a delightful fragrance.
Antiperspirants Vs. Deodorants: Which is the Healthier Solution
Because we are not the type to jump to conclusions so quickly, let’s talk about these two types of body fragrances
1. Antiperspirants
They contain aluminum salts which act as a temporary sweat blocker and in turn, prevent sweat from reaching the surface of your skin. Aside from blocking sweat, they usually contain fragrance to help you reduce body odor. However, masking odors is obviously not their major function.
Antiperspirants actually come in different forms like creams, and powders, but the most popular ones are sprays and roll-ons.
Antiperspirants with stronger salts can treat excessive sweating. They usually contain a stronger variant of salts called aluminum hexahydrate. However, a medical professional should prescribe them, and should not be used by people with chronic sweating. This is why the US FDA classifies antiperspirants as a drug because they affect the production of sweat.
2. Deodorants
The major purpose of deodorants is to get rid of body odor. They don’t block sweat or prevent it from coming, but most deodorants do a good job of making sure we don’t smell bad because they contain perfume.
According to the FDA, deodorants are classified as a cosmetic. That is because their primary function is to eliminate body odor by making your skin turn acidic, which in turn makes it unattractive for bacteria. It is also worth noting that deodorants are mostly alcohol hence the sharp smell. If you are not a fan of alcohol-based deodorants, there are natural deodorants that you can try.
The Healthier Solution
The difference between antiperspirants and deodorants is what determines which one is healthier for you. Between the both of them, one thing is clear, they help to reduce moisture and body odor from sweat. There is also a possibility of experiencing skin reactions to these products like the formation of cysts or skin rash from the use of antiperspirants. It would be best to wash the area in contact with these products regularly to avoid clogged pores.
There have been suspicions as to whether the aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer, research about this is inconclusive. For deodorants, there have been concerns that triclosan, has been known to cause skin cancer and affect thyroid hormone levels. Studies have not been able to prove if this is true or not. It is also said that the level of triclosan in deodorants is not enough to cause a threat.
We can’t necessarily say which one is best overall, but we would advise you to go with the one you think is ideal for you. Antiperspirants have their benefits as do deodorants. But, if you want to opt for one with fewer chemicals, a natural one would be best for you.
To Conclude
The key goal here is to reduce body odor, which is the main concern. Regardless of your product choice, opting to avoid a bad smell is the healthier decision. It’s essential to avoid body odor, so pick a good fragrance and aim for a fresher scent today!