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What is Unscented Deodorant?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Unscented deodorant is a product that is used to control body odor, but does not include fragrance of any kind. Some people wear unscented deodorant because they prefer not to wear fragrances. This may be due to a sensitivity to fragrance or the sensitivity of a partner or family member. Other people wear unscented deodorant because of an allergy to the products that are used to add fragrance to deodorant.

Most unscented deodorant is just deodorant, not antiperspirant. Deodorant is a product that masks the smell of body odor. Antiperspirant, on the other hand, actually keeps the underarms from perspiring. As such, unscented deodorant will help to keep the wearer from smelling like body odor but will not keep him from sweating. Most antiperspirants include some kind of fragrance.

Spray deodorant.
Spray deodorant.

As fragrance is one of the elements that helps to cover up body odor, unscented deodorant may not be as effective as scented versions of the product. For this reason, people who use unscented deodorant may need to reapply it during the day to stave off body odor, especially if they regularly sweat during the course of a day. Alternatively, the deodorant can be worn along with a perfume or cologne that the wearer likes and to which he does not have an allergy or sensitivity.

A stick of unscented deodorant.
A stick of unscented deodorant.

Although most antiperspirants and deodorants are geared toward either men or women, unscented deodorant is generally considered to be a unisex product. This is because the key differences in antiperspirants and deodorants for men and women is their scent. Scents for women are more likely to be floral and clean while scents for men are more musky. As the unscented variety of deodorants does not skew one way or the other in terms of the gender for whom it is scented, it can be used by men or by women.

Unscented roll-on deodorant.
Unscented roll-on deodorant.

The term "unscented" may be a bit of a misnomer here. Most unscented deodorants do have at least a faint smell. This is because the ingredients that are used to make the product have a bit of a natural smell, even when they are formulated in such a manner that reduces the intensity of their scent. For this reason, people who are very picky about scent or who have a particular sensitivity to scents often have to try out a number of kinds of unscented deodorant in order to find one that has a natural scent that suits them.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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    • Spray deodorant.
      By: difught
      Spray deodorant.
    • A stick of unscented deodorant.
      By: karam miri
      A stick of unscented deodorant.
    • Unscented roll-on deodorant.
      By: Dmitry Vereshchagin
      Unscented roll-on deodorant.