The 5 Best Antiperspirants of 2025

Early in my research, I sought product recommendations from various sources: particularly pungent family members (their words, not mine), old beauty-industry friends, and passionately opinionated Wirecutter colleagues. Meanwhile, I was reading any reputable editorial reviews and roundups I could find and diving deep into star ratings and reviews on Amazon, Walmart, Target, Sephora, CVS, and more.

I was also lurking on Reddit, TikTok, YouTube, where I learned that if you’re not careful, you can spend all day watching people track their pit stains and strategize about gray shirts — sartorially speaking, the ultimate test of an antiperspirant.

Additionally, I interviewed three dermatologists, two cosmetic chemists, one scent scientist, and experts from the Alzheimer’s Association and the American Cancer Society. As you may know, there are decades-old concerns about potential connections between the active ingredients in antiperspirants (aluminum compounds) and Alzheimer’s and breast cancer. Though doctors and scientists have long since dispelled that idea, I wanted to make sure the scientific consensus hadn’t shifted. The short answer: No.

Synthesizing the research, I created an initial list of 41 contenders: a mix of solids, gels, roll-ons, and creams. I didn’t include aerosol sprays because they may cause breathing difficulties for people with asthma or respiratory issues and are easy enough to avoid. After further evaluation, I narrowed the list down to 26 for preliminary testing among Wirecutter’s beauty and personal-care team.

The rules were pretty straightforward: Start with freshly washed pits, apply the antiperspirant per the packaging’s instructions, wear a clean shirt, engage in as many sweat-inducing activities as possible, and take note of how each product performed. After this initial testing, we narrowed the field to 14 finalists.

From there, I recruited 15 testers in their tweens, teens, 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. The group included scent enthusiasts and fragrance evasives, as well as a wide array of pit sizes, shapes, depths, and levels of hirsuteness.

This group also followed the same protocol of clean pits, fresh shirt, and sweaty activities, and they wore each product for at least two days, barring any sensitivity or early-onset sweat.

Testers judged each contender on the following:

• Application process: They considered how the product felt going on and how long the dry-down took.
• Effectiveness: How long did the product keep sweat and BO at bay and work effectively for different activities?
• Endurance: While many products tout lasting coverage — some up to 72 hours of dryness — we expected a contender to last only 24 hours (a reasonable time between applications, many of us felt) and were impressed when they lasted up to 48 hours. We therefore prioritized antiperspirants that lasted longest, no matter what kinds of activities testers took part in.
• Fragrance: We tested fragrance-free and scented options. If an antiperspirant was scented, we favored fresh aromas over those that were cloying or distracting.
• Streak and stain resistance: Mixing plenty of dark and light tops into our testing wardrobe, we noted which products left a trace and which did not.
• Additional benefits: Testers noted any ancillary benefits, such as smoother skin.