I Tested Deodorants Throughout the Heatwave—These 12 Are Totally Sweat-Proof

Format: Roll-on

Fragrance Options: Eucalyptus, fragrance-free

Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, witch hazel, niacinamide, vitamin B5, chamomile

Aluminium-Free: Yes

I realised I'd finally found my perfect deodorant earlier this year when I used this during a trip to Australia. When you're hiking in the outback in 38°C and not feeling (or smelling) remotely sweaty, you know you've found a good one. I love that the light gel texture not only feels cooling and soothing, but is totally invisible and doesn't leave any unwanted residue or stain clothes. The eucalyptus scent is pleasantly fresh and not at all over-powering, but I also love the fragrance-free version, too.

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Neroli Basil, Santal Vetiver, Bergamot Hinoki, Saffron Cedar, Black Rose Oud

Key Ingredients: Seaweed extract, probiotics, hyaluronic acid, naturally derived oils

Aluminium-Free: Yes

Sand Stone's deodorant line up featured without a doubt the best-smelling options I tried. There are five scents to choose from (all incredibly potent and long-lasting) but my favourite was Santal Vetiver—it smells chic and seriously expensive. Although I typically prefer a roll-on, the stick format has a balm texture which feels thin and silky on the skin so doesn't leave residue or dry skin out. Oh, and if you want to smell great from head to toe, I'm also hooked on their body sprays and body lotions.

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Vanilla Skin, Father Figure

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, arrowroot powder, zinc ricinoleate, algae extract, tamanu oil

Aluminium-Free: Yes

It only made sense that Phlur would expand from perfume and body mists into deodorants and they did so with two of their most crowd-pleasing fragrances, Vanilla Skin and Father Figure. These stick deodorants also have a silky, balm-like texture, which melts onto skin, and I found both scents to be long-lasting and effective at neutralising odour.

"I was instantly hooked on Phlur's deodorant sticks. I've tried both the Vanilla Skin and Father Figure scents and they are both heavenly," says Who What Wear's beauty editor, Eleanor Vousden. "Vanilla Skin is a subtly creamy, skin-like take on vanilla, while Father Figure is a refreshing take on fig that leaves you feeling fresh all day. The packaging is so luxe, too. The twist-up stick means it's great to throw in your bag for top-ups and the texture itself is buttery soft, effortlessly gliding onto the skin."

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Otto, Eucalyptus, Bergamot

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, fatty acids

Aluminium-Free: Yes

I'm a huge fan of Malin+Goetz's candles and body care products, and the brand's deodorants tick a lot of boxes for me. I love the scents—Eucalyptus and Bergamot are both fresh and uplifting, while Otto is richer and more floral. What's more, the formulas are also really effective, thanks to odour-neutralising enzymes which offer long-lasting protection for up to 12 hours. Take it from me, these are heatwave-proof.

Format: Cream

Fragrance Options: Multiple fragrance options and a fragrance-free offering

Key Ingredients: Natural oils, shea butter

Aluminium-Free: Yes

Although the application takes a little bit of getting used to and is admittedly messy, AKT's deodorants are definitely one of the most effective formulas I tried when it came down to reducing sweat and odour. AKT initially designed their deodorant balms to be used by performers, so they've been formulated to stand up against intensely hot and humid conditions. You only have the read the reviews to be converted.

Vousden is also a fan. "I was initially hesitant to try the AKT deodorants. I've long been committed to my Dove or Mitchum ones, but when I heard how much the rest of theBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK team loved them, I knew I had to give it a try," she says. "And I'm so glad I did! While the cream formula takes a bit of getting used to, it dries down to a powdery finish and I was surprised by how well it kept my underarms feeling both dry and fresh throughout the day—even after a workout class. My favourite scent is After Thunder, which smells like the fresh air of a forest after a heavy downpour. I like that AKT designed these to be used all over the body, too."

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Glossier You, Sandstone, Orange Blossom Neroli, fragrance-free

Key Ingredients: Elderberry extract, coconut oil, magnesium hydroxide

Aluminium-Free: Yes

Although it's a thicker, creamier formula than the other stick deodorants on this list, I did find that Glossier's deodorants didn't quite perform in particularly hot and sweaty conditions, but they do smell amazing. Glossier You is one of my favourite scents of all time and I love layering this deodorant with the perfume and body cream. I also love that these are refillable—given it's a product we all use on a daily basis, buying and throwing away deodorants can feel incredibly wasteful.

Format: Roll-on

Fragrance Options: Rose, Sage Mint

Key Ingredients: Jojoba oil, zinc ricinoleate, sage extract, witch hazel, bentonite clay

Aluminium-Free: Yes

Another gel formula which feels incredibly cooling and soothing on the skin. I did find that this deodorant needed reapplying on particularly active days, but for daily wear it as perfectly fine. The Sage Mint scent was one of my favourites of all the ones I tried, it's subtle but a perfect mix of calming and refreshing.

Format: Aerosol spray

Fragrance Options: Vanilla Macadamia, Coconut Vanilla, Santal, Cool Fresh

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, shea butter, corn starch, willow bark, squalane, caffeine, oat extract

Aluminium-Free: Yes

If there's one thing I noted from writing this article it's that most of the innovation within deodorant NPD seems to be for stick and roll-on formulas. Aerosol sprays were much more old-school and tended to be quite irritating and prone to leaving residue and stains. The one exception I came across was this one from Gem, a new-to-the-UK Australian brand. Aside from the chic packaging and crowd-pleasing scents (try Santal!), it keeps me fresh and odour-free all day long and didn't leave marks on either my skin nor my clothes.

Format: Spray

Fragrance Options: Single botanical blend (vetiver, coriander seed, lemongrass)

Key Ingredients: Zinc ricinoleate, essential oils (vetiver, coriander, lemongrass, patchouli)

Aluminium-Free: Yes

If you prefer a spray but don't love an aerosol then this is a brilliant option. Not the most heavy-lifting deodorant if you are particularly sweaty or exercise frequently, but again a great everyday deodorant. It also basically doubles up as a body spray—I love the spicy, herbal scent.

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Cool Mint, Cucumber Sweet Mint, Sage Cucumber

Key Ingredients: Ginger root oil, aloe vera, saccharomyces ferment

Aluminium-Free: Yes

This was my go-to for years and is still a firm favourite. It's a stick format, but the balm melts into a silky, invisible gel so it doesn't leave any residue. The scents are very fresh and subtle and the formula itself is definitely workout and heatwave-proof.

Format: Stick

Fragrance Options: Rosy Pits, Santal, Coco, Peachy

Key Ingredients: Saccharomyces ferment, willow bark extract, caffeine, squalane, colloidal oatmeal, coconut, arginine

Aluminium-Free: Yes

I remember the excitement when Megababe first launched into the UK—they were the first brand to really make deodorants that actually look good on your shelf. Of course their popularity is also down to the fact that this is a really good and really effective formula—I keep one in my gym bag. Again, the balm texture is very light and truly does melt onto the skin so I've never experienced any issues with residue or irritation.

Format: Roll-on

Fragrance Options: Petal (rose peony), Wave (lavender patchouli), Leaf (citrus herbal notes)

Key Ingredients: Prebiotic noni fruit extract, aloe juice, squalane, glycerin, botanical oils

Aluminium-Free: No

This option ticks a lot of boxes for me, namely because I was really impressed to see that Estrid had achieved a way to make refillable roll-on deodorants. The scents are very very subtle, truly barely there at all, but as an antiperspirant (in fact the only one on this list) this is a great option for anyone who is particularly sweaty.