Should You Be Using a Whole-Body Deodorant?

It’s a safe bet that you’ve recently come across an ad for something called “whole-body deodorant,” or at least heard about it.

It represents an entirely new frontier for personal care, and these products have exploded in popularity over the last year.

According to Google Trends, searches for “whole body deodorant” have increased sharply in 2024. Sales for Lume, one of the original whole-body deodorants, more than doubled in 2023 to $125.8 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. And this year alone, Dove introduced “Whole Body Deo,” Secret launched a “Whole Body” line, and Native hit the market with its own “cruelty-free” whole body deodorant spray.

All this sudden interest begs the question: Should you be using a whole-body deodorant?

Deodorants use fragrance to create a more acidic pH on your skin, which neutralizes odors and bacteria. This is a totally different approach from that of antiperspirants, which deploy ingredients to form a plug that blocks the secretion of sweat from the eccrine glands.

Whole-body deodorants, which are designed to be used in places like the groin, feet, thighs, lower back, and under the breasts, act similarly to deodorants made specifically for armpits. In fact, if you’ve ever used your underarm product in off-label areas, you’re hardly alone. It’s been going on as long as deodorant has been a thing, so it was only a matter of time before formulas for the rest of the body were developed.

That said, most regular deodorants can be used on other parts of the body. Whole-body deodorants, however, may have slightly different formulations to accommodate different areas of the body, such as stronger fragrances or ingredients to absorb moisture, because these areas may produce more sweat than the underarms. Also, some whole-body deodorants may be designed to better combat bacterial growth in areas where there can be a greater accumulation of sweat.

Regular deodorants, whole-body deodorants, and antiperspirants are generally safe to use wherever you wish, with a couple of caveats.

One place many of these brands are spotlighting is the groin. But if you’re applying deodorant around your genitals, make sure you’re using a hypoallergenic and fragrance-free product. Essential oils and fragrances might irritate sensitive skin.

You should also only use the product on the outer, dry areas of skin.

Regardless of where you want to apply a whole-body deodorant, it’s a good idea to conduct a patch test on a small, less sensitive area of the skin first to ensure you don’t have an adverse reaction.

And if you’re wondering, I never had a body odor problem. Do I really need a whole-body deodorant? No. It’s OK to try it. It’s also OK to skip it.