The basic difference between deodorant and antiperspirant is fairly easy to tell just by the words. A deodorant covers or eliminates body odor, while an antiperspirant is used to discourage the body from sweating.

To understand how these products work, it helps to first understand why bodies smell in the first place. It is a popular misunderstanding that sweat, itself, smells. In healthy people, this isn`t true. What causes body odor is when bacteria residing on the skin starts to feed on sweat, usually the fatty sweat that`s secreted by the apocrine glands. These glands usually become active after puberty (when teens start using deodorant/antiperspirant), and are especially triggered by feeling nervous or aroused.  

Deodorants use germ-killing chemicals, usually alcohol, which kill bacteria on contact to eliminate the resulting odor. Usually, deodorants also have fragrances in them to mask whatever smell they may have missed.

An antiperspirant uses aluminum compounds to close the ducts of sweat glands, keeping bacteria from digesting the sweat and producing foul odors. In this process, aluminum compounds can also commonly cause allergic reactions in some people. Aluminum has been identified as a neurotoxin, and has been linked to Alzheimer`s disease.  

There has additionally been some controversy about whether parabens, found in deodorant and antiperspirants, might play a role in breast cancer development. Traces of parabens, used as preservatives, have been found in tissue samples of breast tumors, but it hasn`t been shown yet if the use of parabens actually causes cancer.

Commenting on the completely product-free point of view, it may not be fair to expect a human body to not smell a little during the day. To be accepted in almost any social circle, a choice must be made between which weapon you want to use against body odor. Although deodorant easily seems the more natural way to go, antiperspirant has its benefits. Sweat can easily seep through light colored clothing and become an embarrassment people can see rather than smell. If you plan on being in an uneasy situation with light clothing (i.e. a business presentation in a white dress shirt), it might be better to opt for antiperspirant for the day if you normally prefer deodorant.

If parabens or aluminum compounds sound unappealing, they aren`t in every product. There are a few natural choices for odor control, including active ingredients like salt stick, baking soda, and coriander oil. Whatever you opt for, check consumer reviews for effectiveness before buying; you don`t want to get caught in a sweaty situation with snake-oil under your arms. It may also be necessary, just like any other hygiene product, to try a few out to find a brand that`s best suited for your body type.

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