What to Do if Your Deodorant Suddenly Stops Working

Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten a ripe whiff of your armpits in the middle of the day and wondered, What is going on under there? Well, you can likely blame your deodorant. That’s right — dermatologists say it’s fully possible for your favorite old-faithful deodorant to betray you, even after years of use.

If that makes you feel personally victimized by the stick of antiperspirant sitting on your bathroom counter, it’s time to get down to business and figure out exactly what shattered the unbreakable bond you once shared. Keep reading for dermatologist insights on what’s affecting your deodorant’s effectiveness and how to make your pits smell fresh again.

Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant: What’s the Difference and What Makes Them Work?

“Antiperspirants refer to products that are designed to block the release of sweat, while deodorants are designed to mask odor and may also work to absorb excess moisture,” says Dr. Garshick. When either type of product is working properly, the result is a reduction in body odor. So if your deodorant suddenly seems to have stopped working, it may not technically be due to your deodorant choices, but other factors.

Why Your Deodorant Can Suddenly Stop Working

You’re experiencing a major deodorant failure — and it’s not because you forgot to put on deodorant. So why has your deodorant’s effectiveness (be it in preventing underarm odor or sweat control) gone down the drain? According to the experts, it could be less to do with the trusty deodorant you’ve been using and more to do with other factors you have less control over.

“Perceived differences in smell may have to do with how much the person is actually sweating,” says Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of LM Medical in New York City. Things like stress, hormonal changes, new medications, and different lifestyle factors (like harder workouts or shifts in the weather) can all impact how you sweat, and your go-to deodorant may not be able to stand up to the new situation. “There also can be changes in the natural bacterial flora that live on the skin, [as in] increased amounts, that lead to more bacteria interacting with the sweat and making the odor,” she adds.

Another common deodorant issue is too much product buildup under your armpits, which can lead to a lack of effectiveness. “Deodorants coat the underarm skin, layering a film on the armpit, and the residue stays on even after normal bathing,” says Alicia Zalka, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Surface Deep Anti-Odorant. If you’re using an antiperspirant, this could cause your skin to lose its response to the active ingredient (typically aluminum) that’s traditionally been able to keep sweat at bay. “When that happens, the sweat gland and its sweat duct will return to its normal function of delivering sweat to the surface of the skin,” she says.

What to Do When Your Deodorant Doesn’t Work

Whether you’re dealing with underarm odor or a lack of sweat control, your deodorant clearly isn’t doing its job anymore. Here are some things you can do to get your personal hygiene routine back on track. Keep in mind that before starting any new products, you may want to test them on a small patch of skin first, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Go Deodorant-Free for a Few Days

In order to fix the situation, Dr. Zalka first suggests pressing the “reset” button on your deodorant routine. Stop using deodorant on your armpits for three or four days to allow them to return to their natural state, then test your go-to product again. If you’re still experiencing sweat or body odor concerns after starting it again, it may be time to test out other deodorant choices.

Try a natural deodorant if you’ve been using an aluminum-based antiperspirant, or opt for magnesium deodorant. Experts say it’s a less irritating ingredient than baking soda, which is used in most natural options.

Use an Antibacterial Wash

There are other ways to stop armpits from smelling beyond using deodorant. If you’re experiencing deodorant failure, try using an antibacterial wash in the shower. Particularly one that incorporates benzoyl peroxide into the mix, which reduces odor-causing bacteria. “The bacteria and sweat on the skin interact to create body odor, so reducing sweat, bacteria, or both is the best way to combat body odor,” says Caren Campbell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in San Francisco.

If menopause caused your deodorant to stop working, Dr. Gersh says this method could be a great option. She recommends melting your antiperspirant troubles away by using a gentle body wash that contains shea butter and soothing essential oils.

Try Glycolic Acid

If deodorant isn’t doing the trick, Zalka recommends swiping a glycolic acid product onto your armpits. “It creates a more acidic skin environment to offset the alkaline pH often caused by soaps, which makes it inhospitable for bacteria related to odor-causing skin flora to take hold. It also reduces sebum oil deposits on the armpit skin, which further reduces the odor process, and works as a gentle exfoliator to remove dead skin cells and other clogging elements.”

Spritz on a Natural Fragrance

Another thing you can do if no deodorant works for you is spray on your best-smelling fragrance. Sure, this might not be the greatest option on a hot day or for a sweaty workout when your body odor concerns are at their peak. But if you pair a natural perfume with some of these other methods — like antibacterial washes or glycolic acid — you can keep your body odor in check.

How to Apply Deodorant and Antiperspirant Correctly

Your deodorant or antiperspirant’s effectiveness could come down to the application. When you’re swiping it on, Garshick says there are two things to keep in mind: how you’re applying it and when you’re applying it.

Start by getting rid of any old deodorant buildup under your armpits before applying new antiperspirant, which can prevent it from properly doing its job. Then to up its effectiveness and minimize any deodorant issues like irritation, Garshick says to only apply antiperspirant once your skin is completely dry. When all moisture is gone, apply a couple strokes up and a couple down to each armpit. It’s as easy as that.

The timing of your application might be even more important than the method. Instead of applying it first thing in the morning, consider adding it to your personal hygiene routine the night before. “It’s most effective to use an antiperspirant at night,” says Garshick. “Antiperspirant is designed to plug up the sweat glands, which is easiest to do at night when the sweat glands aren’t active or filled with sweat. The sweat ducts are able to absorb more of the aluminum and therefore be more effective.”

Find What’s Best for Your Body

Every individual’s body is unique, so it makes sense that not all deodorants will work well for everyone. You may need to experiment a bit to find what works best for you, and you may struggle before finding the perfect deodorant or antiperspirant. Here are a few tips to get started. If you continue to struggle with body odor after multiple attempts, speak with your doctor to rule out other medical conditions or to explore other options.

What to Do if Switching Products Doesn’t Work

Having odor troubles? Unfortunately, sometimes deodorant’s effectiveness has nothing to do with the actual deodorant and more to do with how it’s interacting with the bacteria that lives on your skin. If your deodorant choices aren’t working out and are leaving you with body odor concerns, you may need to try out alternative methods. First, give your armpits a chance to breathe for a few days — they may just need a reset. Then if you’re still experiencing deodorant failure, try a different type of deodorant from what your body is used to (natural versus aluminum, for example) or opt for one of the alternatives above, such as an antibacterial wash in the shower.

You can still experience body odor even when your personal hygiene is top-notch. According to Garshick, the reason comes down to skin science. “Body odor refers to the odor that results from the combination of sweat and normal bacteria that live on the skin, with bromhidrosis being the medical term for foul-smelling body odor,” she says. “More specifically, the apocrine sweat glands — which are located in the underarm and groin area — produce sweat that is generally odorless. But it’s when the normal bacteria that live on our skin break down the sweat that odor may result — and what’s generally responsible for what most people consider body odor. This is why someone may notice a smell even with good hygiene.”

The Most Effective Types of Deodorant and Antiperspirant

Dr. Campbell says an antiperspirant is most effective, as it contains ingredients (like aluminum) that can control both sweat and body odor. Beyond that, does the type you choose matter? “Some people prefer a spray, as it’s easy to use and absorbs quickly without leaving a residue behind, while others don’t like to breathe in the aerosol spray,” says Garshick. “On the other hand, a stick, roll-on, or gel deodorant often helps to deliver controlled and precise coverage, but can potentially leave [underarm] residue or stains on shirts.”

Then there’s deciding between “wet” and “dry” options: “Roll-ons (which are liquid-based) and gel-based deodorants often go on wet and then dry after a few seconds, while stick deodorants typically go on dry and don’t require significant drying time, which can be helpful for someone on the go,” she says. She notes that it all comes down to personal preference and whatever works best for you.

The Takeaway

• If your deodorant or antiperspirant has stopped working, it may be due to changes in your sweat or the bacteria on your skin, often influenced by factors like stress, medications, or hormones.
• While they both help prevent body odor, deodorants mask or neutralize odor, whereas antiperspirants block the sweat glands.
• For persistent issues with body odor or excessive sweating, try a deodorant reset by going deodorant-free for a few days and using alternative products like antibacterial washes or glycolic acid to manage the bacteria interacting with your sweat.
• Individual experiences with deodorants vary. A trial-and-error approach with different formulas and application techniques may be necessary to find the most effective product. If the problem doesn’t go away, visit a dermatologist to rule out underlying health conditions.