Lots of guys (and some women) commit smelly crimes left and right: mixing weird colognes and deodorants together, going too bold or too subtle, choosing the wrong product for their skin type. With the best unscented deodorants for men, you’re sure to dodge those problems without breaking a sweat.
Unscented products are wayyy underrated. So I rated them for you! Based on brand reliability, ingredients, user reviews, and, of course, smell (or should I say, lack thereof), here are the greatest deodorants with an invisible scent, keeping you fresh on the sly.
Table of Contents
Schmidt (Our Top Pick)
Schmidt really does the impossible with this stick. Unscented and all-natural. Now that’s a feat! But, with their reputation and solid ingredient list, it’s really no surprise. Shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E all make this a gentle, pit-friendly deodorant.
None of the ingredients scent the deodorant. They actually moisturize the pits while repairing skin damage. Best of all, the whole shebang is extremely skin-friendly, and still manages to block sweat quite nicely.
This all makes Schmidts an easy contender for best unscented deodorants for men.
The downside is that it’s an all-natural, plant-based deodorant. I know, that sounds like a big pro, doesn’t it? Well, if you haven’t used a natural deodorant before, it’s going to feel sticky and sweaty at first. Your pits might even need a two week detox period, so you probably won’t smell great initially.
Keep that in mind for all of the natural deodorants on this list. You’re going to have to get comfortable with new textures, a smelly initiation, and more sweat than you’re used to. I like to think it’s worth it in the long run. You’ll keep harmful synthetics off your skin.
Pros:
• All-natural ingredients that promote skin health.
• Unscented…yet fresh. You’ll smell clean without any identifiable scents.
• Repairs skin damage! If you’ve f*cked up your pits with other products, it can help ease that pain.
Cons:
• You’ll have to go through natural deodorant initiation. It’s basically light hazing, just like your college frat. Smells bad at first, might be uncomfortable for a while. It gets much better.
Sam’s Natural Deodorant
A little goes a long way with Sam’s Natural, and that’s one of my favorite things about their deodorant line. Just a few swipes and you’re set for the day.
I’m also a fan of the baking soda in this stick. For some reason, baking soda gets a bad rep in the hygiene world…but it’s one of the best skin-safe deodorizers out there. (It’s a whole lot better than alcohol and aluminum, I can tell you that much.) I wouldn’t call it a sensitive-skin friendly ingredient, but I would call it a do-it-all for the average guy ingredient.
True to its name, this stick is unscented, and it’ll ward off B.O. Do take note though: it’s NOT an antiperspirant, so it won’t stop you from sweating, but it will hold off the bad smells. As long as you understand that, then it’s easy to see why it’s one of the best unscented deodorants for men.
Pros:
• It’s long lasting, and you don’t need to use too much product.
• The baking soda is great for hardier skin that needs extra deodorizing.
Cons:
• Won’t stop you from sweating. You won’t smell bad, but you’ll still sweat.
Speed Stick
I have just a bit of beef with Speed Stick. It’s not all-natural…but it’s really, really effective. If you’re skimming this list for brand names, there’s a chance that this is the only one you recognize. Their deodorants are just so uniformly popular and reliable.
This is the deodorant I’d recommend for a solid workout. It doesn’t have much of a smell at all (not even that hint of “I applied something fresh this morning). So it lives up to the unscented name. And it has all my least favorite ingredients, like aluminum and alcohol…which means it’s really, really good at simultaneously clogging your pits, but also blocking sweat and B.O.
I get it. Natural deodorants are not for everyone. Speed stick is a good runner-up.
Pros:
• One of the best deodorants to apply pre-workout.
• Long-lasting, and highly effective at blocking sweat and B.O.
Cons:
• It’s nowhere close to all-natural. Quite the opposite, in fact. Sensitive skin beware.
Lume
Imagine rubbing lotion in your pits. That’s what Lume is like.
It’s gentle, feels good while applying, and lasts longer than most natural deodorants. But it’ll also leave you with a sort of sticky, slimy aftertaste. I recommend starting with a more “normal” natural deodorant, then working your way up to Lume.
My number one recommendation is to apply Lume’s unscented deodorant sparingly. You really don’t need that much for it to be highly effective. I won’t say that their “lasts 72 hours!” sales pitch is entirely accurate, but it will get you through the day, which most natural deodorants just can’t do.
It’s sort of my wild card when it comes to best unscented deodorants for men…if you’ve searched high and low, and just can’t find something that suits your pits, Lume might be your answer. You’ll just have to step out of your deodorant comfort zone.
Pros:
• It’s gentle and feels soft against the pits.
• Lasts considerably longer than most natural deodorants.
Cons:
• Weird after-taste. Kind of slimy and sticky. You’ll have to get used to the texture.
• Bit of a wild card, could turn out great. Could be a disaster.
Native Deodorant
If you’re looking for a really classic, middle-ground experience with natural deodorant, Native’s unscented stick is the way to go. You’ll have to go through the smelly detox process first, but oh the payoff once you make it through that week or two of suffering. No more pit irritation, and all-day odor and sweat protection (it’s so good at sweat protection, we even included it in our list of best sports deodorant for men).
It’s actually quite impressive how well Native works, especially when you’re looking for men’s deodorants that can handle sensitive skin. Natural deodorants are notorious for being an “individual scent journey” with lots of experimentation, but Native products are a safe bet for a wide majority of guys.
My one warning is that if you apply too much, it’ll stain your shirts. Be sparing, and don’t worry if going natural feels strange at first.
Pros:
• Native is an easy way to get into natural deodorant. It’s more “normal.”
• Has more uniformly positive results than other natural deodorants.
Cons:
• Stains your clothing if you’re not careful.
What Is Unscented Deodorant?
Unscented deodorants are exactly what they sound like. They have no scent!
They’re especially great if you like to experiment with bold colognes and soaps. Trying to scent-match across your hygiene product cabinet can be a headache (literally, if you’re sniffing as you go). Finding a deodorant with a neutral smell that simply blocks odor and sweat can ease that stress.
Lots of unscented deodorants also happen to fall in the all-natural, cruelty-free camp. They skip out on the synthetics, animal products, and animal testing that other sticks use. So you get ethical bonus points.
The only drawback is that very few unscented deodorants also act as antiperspirants. Antiperspirants contain harsher aluminum salts and parabens, but they do block sweat more effectively. If you’re looking for wetness and odor protection, you’ll need to go for a classic brand like Speed Stick’s unscented version instead.
Is Unscented Deodorant Better Than Scented?
Honestly, that’s up to you.
Unscented deodorants and antiperspirants give you the option to go bold with other scented products. Or, you can just smell clean without having to attach a label to that scent. The catch is that they’re bland.
Scented deodorants not only block odor, but they cover it up, so you’ve got two B.O. -defense systems. The downfall is that nobody ever enjoys being around the guy who tries to cover his sh*tty hygiene with a full can of body spray.
You should also consider whether you’re allergic to added fragrances. Artificial scents can be the culprits behind breakouts, allergic reactions, rashes, and more. If that’s the case for you, then choosing an unscented product is a no brainer.
The Difference Between Fragrance Free vs Unscented Deodorant
If you have sensitive skin and you see “fragrances” on an ingredient list, turn and run.
“Fragrances,” perfumes, or parfum are all artificial scents. Sensitive skin guys are much more likely to experience skin ailments from fragrances (the same goes for alcohol, so you might want to check out this buyer’s guide we made containing the best alcohol free deodorants for men).
Fragrance free products don’t use any of those artificial scents. They aren’t necessarily unscented. The smell that they do have is simply a result of natural ingredients.
Unscented products genuinely have no scent. Manufacturers can create that result with or without the help of fragrances and natural ingredients, but more often than not, unscented products shouldn’t have any fragrances on the ingredient list.
My small disclaimer here is that “fragrance free” and “unscented” don’t have a uniform industry-standard definition, even though the above explanation is what those labels are meant to imply. You should always read the ingredient list, and patch test products before you use them generously on your skin.
Frank Edwards
Frank Edwards is a men's grooming & style expert who is "internet famous" for being able to simplify complicated grooming routines into easy, yet effective rituals any man can do. As a professional analyst, he has spent years researching the biggest brands, products, experts, best practices, and breaking news in the space. He takes this analysis, tests it out on himself, and then documents everything in his writing. As a result, his experience-based articles are considered by some to be the gold standard in men's grooming and men's style.
