10 Best Deodorants for Women in India (Dove, Nivea, and more)

Everybody has their own preference when it comes to picking up a deodorant. Some prefer strong scents, while others like mild fragrances, some are aligned towards spray bottles, but others like roll-on sticks. Whatever your choice of deodorant, you'll find your favourite one in the below-mentioned list of 10 best deodorants for women in India.

Picking the right deodorant is not that tricky. Consider two key things before you head out to buy a deodorant – how much you sweat and what’s your skin type. Then, the next step is to avoid deodorants with alcohol and a strong smell. To make your job easier, here is a buying guide for picking the best deodorant for women.

Deodorants can come in the form of spray, gels, sticks, or creams. Depending on sweating levels and skin conditions, you can opt for one of these types. You can get any of these deodorants at your local drugstore or e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart, or Nykaa.

People who have sweating problems can opt for gels. People with no major sweating or body odor can go for sticks. If you have sensitive skin, you can choose a deodorant cream that soothes your skin and prevents odor without drying your underarms. For hairy armpits, body spray works the best. 

Deo sprays are the most accessible and most convenient products to stop sweating and also mask the odor. The pure ‘deodorants’ mask body odor well, and deos with antiperspirant can even prevent sweating. Depending on how much you sweat, you can choose between body sprays and antiperspirants.

If you have a lot of hair in your armpits, you can also opt for sprays. Gels and creams may not work effectively due to all the hair. However, most deo sprays contain some amount of alcohol, which can irritate shaved or sensitive skin. So, be mindful of these ingredients before choosing a spray deodorant.

Gels have an immediate cooling effect on the skin. They have a light, watery texture and are mostly invisible. Their mild odor does not irritate the skin, making them fit for people who dislike dark smells. If you're someone who does not like deodorant sprays can opt for gels.

Gels can make your skin very dry. So, people who sweat a lot might find them more useful. It takes a few seconds for the gel to dry and get absorbed into the skin thoroughly. To prevent staining, you should wait till the gel is dry and then wear clothes. 

Many of us have already used fool-proof and hassle-free deodorant sticks. Most of these sticks have a substance called ‘dimethicone’ that calms irritation and prevents skin from further damage. Therefore, for women who shave or wax their underarms frequently, sticks can prove to be a great option.

If you do not sweat a lot and have nobody odor issues, then a deo stick should serve your purpose. Clumping of underarm hair due to stick is common as it has zinc and powder in it. To avoid clumping, you can apply the product lightly or try switching brands.

People with sensitive skin might want to try out deodorant creams. Unlike gels, creams do not dry out the skin in underarm areas. Instead, creams contain hydrating and moisturizing substances that help prevent sweating as well as skin irritation.

You can easily find creams at medical stores or on e-commerce websites. They often come in a tub or a tube so that you can choose one according to your usage/preference. For softer underarms, creams are beneficial due to their hydrating contents.

Many people are already aware that they should avoid deodorants with alcohol because alcohol irritates the skin. Over time, such deodorants can darken the underarm skin. Most deodorants that contain alcohol compounds have ‘ethanol’ present in them.

Ethanol in deodorants and antiperspirants eradicate some of the odor-causing bacteria and helps other ingredients in the products to get absorbed quickly. This often results in the underarm skin getting dry and sometimes irritated. So, it's a best practice to avoid getting deodorants with ethanol present in them.

People who are sensitive to dark and strong scents would like to stay away from deo sprays that have over the top smell. You don’t want to be masked in a cloud of perfume. Such deodorants might contain added fragrances, which translates into more chemicals. Sometimes, these sprays do a terrible job covering up the sweat and giving out a nasty stench.

Deodorants with such overwhelming perfume may not always prevent sweating; they might just mask the odor. Sometimes, such synthetic perfumes trigger allergic reactions. Further, it may be challenging to get rid of that scent from your clothes later. Try to choose a deodorant with a mild fragrance that is long-lasting.

If you have sensitive skin, look for mild deodorants crafted especially for people with sensitive skin. Usually, gels are perfect for people with sweating problems and those who have sensitive skin. Deodorant creams are meant for freshly shaved or irritated skin.

Ethanol, added perfumes, dyes, preservatives, aluminium, etc., can trigger allergic reactions. Check the ingredients list and see if the deo contains anything that you are allergic to. You can try applying the deo on a small patch of skin for more safety and see if you have any allergic reactions. 

If you sweat a lot, you might want to get deodorants with antiperspirant. Along with masking the body odor, antiperspirant sprays also prevent sweating. They block the sweat glands temporarily, kill the bacteria that create body odor, and keep your armpits from sweating altogether.

However, if you have freshly shaved, have some wounds in the underarms, or if your skin is irritated, avoid using antiperspirants. The aluminium salts in them can cause more irritation to your sensitive skin. Further, antiperspirants also leave white stains on dark fabrics or yellow marks on white fabric. So, be wary of these facts before getting a deodorant.

There are several personal care essentials that we cannot imagine a day without. Look for the best personal care products and buy them easily. Razors are an indispensable part of our routine and so are shower gels. And let's not forget that pearly white smile that needs extra care.

Do not blindly choose a product based on TV commercials. Always choose a deodorant that suits your skin well. If you shave often, get a deodorant that is gentle on irritated skin. Switch your deodorant every six months to destroy the odor-causing bacteria effectively. If you plan on carrying your deodorant around, remember to get a small, portable container with a tight lid. Hope our guide on the best deodorants for women helped. 

Author - Nitisha Upadhye