As a mom of two (stinky) teenage boys, I can tell you that I’ve tried out several deodorants to get them smelling a little fresher.
From as early as eight or nine years, boys start sweating a lot more and once puberty hits, you wouldn’t believe just how pongy things can get. I mean, don’t get me wrong; it’s totally normal and instead of shaming our sons for their stink, we should be supporting them to find ways of staying fresh and clean.
Encouraging your son to use deodorant and develop a good personal hygiene routine will give him more confidence. Look back to your school days and think about the stick that kids got for smelling of B.O; that’s not something that you or I want for our children.
There’s no set age that a boy can start wearing deodorant because everyone is unique. Some boys may start sweating and producing odors from as young as nine whereas others might stay smelling ‘childlike’ until they’re 13 or 14. It’s important to monitor your teenage boy and step in with the deodorant when the moment calls for it.
But if this isn’t your first time at the rodeo, don’t worry. There’s no need to waste money on products that don’t cut the mustard. Me and my teenage boys have tested several deodorants and I’m here to take you through my list of the best ones.
1. 808 Dude No More Stinky Pits Deodorant
Best Deodorant For The Stinky Teenage Guy
First, I chose the 808Dude deodorant, which is specially designed for young boys. The deodorant looks really bright and attractive and I think is a nice way to encourage teens who don’t want to wear deodorant to give it a try.
This is a product with stinky boys at the heart of everything it does. It benefits from a range of essential oils that block sweat odors keeping my teen fresh all day, even when he’s active. I noticed that the citrus scent did a really good job of masking any sweaty smells that my 14 year old would usually be surrounded by.
One of the main concerns from parents is that deodorants contain nasties but 808Dude is free from phthalates, parabens, aluminum, sulfates, and alcohol. Instead, it uses natural ingredients that are totally safe and nourish the skin.
2. Kidskin Natural Deodorant
Safest Deodorant For Tweens
I love this formula as it’s designed especially for younger teens and allows your kid to stay fresh without putting any nasty chemicals onto their skin. I like that this deodorant uses a completely natural formula that comes highly recommended by dermatologists and pediatricians.
This is an unscented deodorant which my son found great when he was younger. There’s something of an embarrassment about going to school smelling like one of the dads when you’re just 10 or 11 years old. But this scent-free stick keeps them smelling neutral and protects them from sweat all day long.
I noticed that, even after playing sports or running around simply being a kid, there was still no obvious sweaty odor. Plus, the stick is great for sensitive skin as it’s super gentle.
3. Each & Every Natural Deodorant Cedar & Vanilla
Best Deodorant For Teens With Sensitive Skin
The price of this deodorant is around $17. And I forgive you if you feel the deodorant is a little pricey for a teenager. But I do think that you can’t put a price on their health and that includes the health of their skin. I have sensitive skin myself so I know how irritating some products can be and I don’t want that for my kids.
Before I get into how good this one is for the skin, I need to comment on the smell. It’s a really masculine scent so I’d recommend it for older boys who are starting to concern themselves with fragrance. It also lasts really well and does keep them smelling fresh the entire day.
Each & Every natural deodorant only contains 6 ingredients and they’re all skin-friendly. I have to say that this was one of the first times that I found a natural deo that had worked so well. The results speak for themselves. We noticed no irritation, causing no bumps, redness, or itching; it’s a 10/10 for us!
4. Vanicream Antiperspirant Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Teens With Eczema
This is a deodorant made for people of all ages but I think it’s one of the best for teenage boys with eczema as it’s free from all irritating ingredients. Reports of people’s underarm skin being healed are abundant and it really does do what you’d expect. On top of this Vanicream is unscented which is important as a lot of teens with eczema find that they have flare ups simply from using fragranced products.
But despite the lack of scent, we found this deodorant to be very effective in the fight against the stink. I saw so many reviews of people talking about how well this one stopped sweating that I had to try it for my sons. Even on a hot summer’s day, the sweat smell was barely noticeable.
One thing I would warn you about, however, is that this deodorant does sometimes leave white marks on clothing. Plus, it’s one of the more expensive on this list but owing to how well it works and how kind it is to the skin, I’d say it’s more than worth it.
5. Miles Deodorant Rugged Scent
Best Deodorant For Teens With Smelly Armpits
This specially formulated deodorant for teens and tweens comes in three scents but my son particularly liked the Rugged scent. At 17, he prefers something a little more grown up and with things like amber and spicy notes, it feels a lot more mature.
But did the fragrance do much when it came to getting rid of odors? Definitely. Mile Deodorant kept my boy smelling fresh from morning until night which isn’t something we’ve ever experienced before. But the smell wasn’t overpowering or too much so it was perfectly fine for school.
In case you’re like me and get concerned about nasty ingredients then Miles is for you. It’s all natural and designed to protect and care for your teen’s skin.
6. Nuonove Kids Natural Deodorant
Best Deodorant For No Stains
I’ll start by saying that I’d use this deodorant more for pre-teen boys just because the packaging feels a little childish. My older boys didn’t really seem too struck by it but we gave it a try nonetheless.
One of the main reasons that I’ve included Nuonove on my list is that it doesn’t leave any white marks on the clothes. That’s one of my pet peeves as some deodorants can leave stains even after I’ve washed clothes. This one is totally invisible.
I find that Nuonove also performs well against wetness and odors. The ingredients are completely natural so you know they’re safe for your kids and they stop sweat in its tracks. I loved that the deodorant didn’t have an overly strong scent. That works well for school.
At around $15 it’s a little expensive for a kid’s product but the deodorant lasts quite a long time and with how kind it is to the skin, ultimately it was worth the splurge.
7. Growing Basics Sport Deodorant For Boys
Best Deodorant For Teen Athletes
If you’ve got a budding football star, a keen softball player, or even just a kid who likes to run around a lot then sweat can be a problem. A friend of mine told me about this kid’s deodorant specially formulated for the active teen.
It is made from completely natural ingredients, so irritation is unlikely to become a problem. Plus with the addition of things like witch hazel, it seems extra soothing on the skin.
One of the things that I liked most about this Growing Basics deodorant was how clean it was to apply. It leaves no white marks and washes off super easily. Just two swipes in the morning and my boys smelt like fresh ocean breezes all day. I see this deodorant definitely as one of the most effective for active teenage boys.
8. Schmidt’s Charcoal & Magnesium
Best Deodorant For Teens With Body Odor
Schmidt’s isn’t aimed at kids or young people but it is a natural deodorant that is perfectly safe for your teenage boy. In some cases, teens that have very serious problems with body odor may benefit from using a man’s product and this one really does a good job at masking bad smells.
I find that Schmidt’s Charcoal & Magnesium has a fresh, strong scent that works very well at blocking sweat and odor before they even begin. It holds up very well and will even tackle sweat when your son is working out or being active.
However, one thing I did notice when I examined the deodorant was that, despite being made from natural ingredients, it did irritate some people. This is why I recommend patch testing before allowing your teen to use it.
9. Dirty Kids Organics Deodorant Stick
Best Deodorant For Teens with Dark Underarms
When you see the double-digit price of this one, I know you’re probably going to spit out your coffee, fall off your seat, or at least gasp in astonishment. But bear with me because if your teenage boy is self-conscious of his dark underarms, an organic, natural deodorant like this could improve things.
I’m not saying it’s a miracle product, it isn’t. But when you use antiperspirants that contain things like aluminum, alcohol and other chemical ingredients, this can make dark patches on the skin worse. Since Dirty Kids Organics commits to only using 100% natural ingredients, this shouldn’t be an issue.
I was also super impressed with how well this deodorant glided onto the skin and left no white marks on the clothes. It’s subtle, discreet, and is unscented so there’s no need for anyone to know your teen is wearing it.
For active teens, this is a deodorant that can stop stinks in their tracks so I’d recommend it for sporty kids as well.
10. TBH Kids Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Teens with Heavy Sweaty Armpits
Not only does TBH do an amazing job at banishing sweaty odor but it’s also designed to be super kind to the skin.
My 14 year old has a serious problem with B.O but after applying TBH, I noticed a noticeable difference in how he smelled. Besides eliminating his unpleasant odor, his shirt also got less sweaty. This came as something of a surprise as the deodorant is unscented but it must be all those natural ingredients doing what they do best. I know that the charcoal inside soaks up the moisture.
I’d not only recommend this one for keeping kids dry and odor-free but for teens who suffer with sensitive or eczema-prone skin. It’s really gentle and doesn’t cause any irritation to my boys. It’s something I’ve also seen in reviews from other parents.
11. Tom’s Of Maine Wicked Cool Kids Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Teens with Itchy Armpits
Wicked Cool is one of the deodorants that attracted my youngsters the most. I think it’s just because of the label design. But it’s ideal for boys of all ages thanks to the lack of aluminum, parabens and other harmful chemicals we don’t want them exposed to.
My eldest son has very sensitive underarms and finds that many typical deodorants make him itchy, especially when he sweats. As it turned out Wicked Cool didn’t cause him any flare-ups.
He smelled clean all day from just one application of this light citrus scent. That said, since this isn’t an antiperspirant, I wouldn’t recommend it for kids that are incredibly sporty or active as it might not stand up to the challenge.
12. Old Spice Swagger
Best Deodorant To Buy For a Young Man Aged 18-25
As your teenagers start getting a little older, they’re going to want to smell attractive and manly. In the past, they might have wanted to hide the fact that they used deodorant, but now it’s all about getting attention.
Old Spice Swagger is a lime and spice scented deodorant for men that’s super strong and will keep your young man smelling fresh all day.
While Old Spice might be a brand that was once associated with older guys, new fragrances mean it’s accessible to all. I have found that Old Spice deodorants work well for stopping sweat and covering up odors.
It’s not as gentle on the skin as some of the other deodorants I’ve mentioned here, but by this age, that often starts to matter a little less.
