The subject of keeping your private parts clean and fresh is still something that many people find difficult to talk about. Unfortunately, women are led to believe that their downstairs departments are meant to smell like a bed of roses. Well, let me tell you, they’re not.
Of course, while it is totally normal to have an ‘odor’ down there. This shouldn’t be foul-smelling as that could indicate an infection which you’ll need to get checked out.
But the last thing we girls want is to get sweaty in between the legs and feel uncomfortable. The good news is that there are intimate feminine deodorants that can keep you feeling fresh all day.
The Use of Deodorant for Your Lady Garden
Before I get into the nitty gritty, I wanted to touch upon the most suitable products for using down there. It is of vital importance that you don’t simply grab your underarm deodorant and go to town spraying it all over your private parts. These deodorants are not designed for that.
Your vagina is incredibly sensitive and products like underarm deodorant can upset its delicate pH, leading to infections that can cause bad odors.
More importantly, using heavily scented deodorants around the vulva can irritate the sensitive skin down there. If you’ve ever experienced shaving rash or other forms of itching down below, you’ll know that this isn’t something you want to repeat.
Let me also quickly go back to the notion that your lady garden should smell immaculate; it’s never going to be scent-free. This is a body part that has discharge and is essentially an opening to your body. Therefore, it will have a natural aroma. As long as it isn’t rancid-smelling then you’re good to go.
The problem is that advertising tends to seem to shame women for having a natural bodily smell and so many of us girls now feel as though we need to eliminate all odors. That said, if you suffer from heavy sweat down below, a deodorant might work but it’s usually best to make sure it’s unscented unless the formula contains no synthetic fragrances.
Furthermore, check the ingredients as you don’t want to be putting anything like aluminum, parabens or sulfates near your vagina. All of the feminine deodorants I’ll include in this guide will be safe for use downstairs but do note that each woman will react differently to certain products. For this reason, I’d always recommend testing before you commit.
My Most Recommended Feminine Deodorants
1. Vagisil Scentsitive Scents White Jasmine Dry Wash Spray
Vagisil is perhaps one of the most well known feminine hygiene products and for a long time, I’ve used their intimate washes. So, I was looking forward to trying the deodorant and had high hopes. But were they dashed?
Well, I was very pleased with the results and the way that this deodorant left me feeling really fresh all day. It’s designed to be used when you don’t have time for a shower so I tried skipping my shower one morning and still felt as though I was clean and smelt good.
This was also one of the deodorants that didn’t leave any marks or stains on my underwear. I tend to wear black and some deodorants left my panties looking a little worse for wear, but Vagisil was very discreet.
2. SweatBlock Super Fresh Lady Parts Deodorant Lotion – Clear Protection
Later, I’m going to talk about the powder deodorant version of this brand. But if you don’t like the idea of a powder deodorant, then I think this lotion version might be suitable for you.
It comes in a yummy coconut scent that provides you with the right balance between odor protection and not being too strong. I did find that it kept me feeling fresh all day long and it felt also super nourishing to my skin.
What I love about Super Fresh Lady Parts is that it’s such a versatile female deodorant. Yes, it works really well down below but I also found it stopped me from sweating under my boobs and in my armpits. For an all-rounder, it’s also not overpriced.
3. Vagi-Pal Super Fresh Natural Vagina Deodorant
I’d heard a lot of people raving about this Vagi-Pal spray for use before intimacy because of how quickly and easily it freshens you up down there. So of course, I had to try it and I wasn’t disappointed. The scent is refreshing and feminine but certainly not overpowering.
Vagi-Pal is also one of the best products for eliminating odors from conditions like BV which can be very strong. If you’re currently being treated for infections like this then Vagi-Pal might be worth trying because it’ll not only tackle bad smells but is also very soothing.
One of the other things I loved about this product was that it only contains organic ingredients. I’m not risking my intimate health for the sake of deodorizing ingredients but with things like Vitamin E, witch hazel, and natural oils, I wasn’t worried at all.
4. HH Herb & Health Sweet Lychee Feminine Vaginal Deodorant Spray
When you see the cost of the HH Herb & Health vaginal deodorant (about $30), you might think that the odors are best left alone. However, while it is a little expensive, it does a fantastic job, largely because it contains natural essential oils that are super effective against smells and are gentle to the skin.
I chose the lychee scent which feels really sweet and fresh. However, the spray does come in a variety of other fragrances like blackcurrant, citrus, floral, or woody. In any case, you’ll find that the scents are pretty delicate so they are easy to wear all day.
The HH Herb & Health deodorant is brilliant for pregnant women. Natural vaginal odors can increase during pregnancy and I know this is a bother for some ladies. However, being all-natural, it is safe to use it from conception to birth for soothing, odor protection.
5. Ease pH Balanced Mist
What instantly caught my attention about the Ease mist was that it is designed to be soothing. I don’t know about you but sometimes I get that irritating hooha itch and scratching it does nothing but make it worse.
When I used this mist, it was so soothing and calming that any irritation instantly went away. Plus, since it’s pH balanced, it didn’t upset my natural balance which goes a long way in preventing odors.
And speaking of odors, this isn’t just a soothing spray. It also prevents smells from forming and works particularly well when you’re busy and may sweat. However, you may want to reapply it after six hours to get the maximum benefits.
That said, carrying the Ease spray around with you is super convenient thanks to the slim, discreet bottle it comes in.
6. FDS Shower Fresh Deodorant Spray
FDS intimate deodorant comes in a range of scents but I personally like the Shower Fresh fragrance as it makes me feel really clean. That said, the scent is not over the top and leaves me with just the right amount of fragrance to continue feeling clean all day. It’s ideal for those hardworking days when you need ongoing protection.
I was very pleased with how this spray did a good job of eliminating menstrual odors. I can apply it to my pads, leaving a fresh fragrance. I know some women are very concerned about smells during this time of the month and I feel like this is one of the best solutions to help with that and give you more confidence.
Even though this is one of the more affordable feminine deodorants on my list, it is surprisingly kind to the skin. There is no talc and no sulfates although I did notice the product contains alcohol.
7. SweatBlock Super Fresh Lady Parts Deodorant Lotion – Powder Protection
If you’ve ever used powder products down there before, you’ll know that things can get pretty messy. That’s why I loved this powder lotion which has the effectiveness of a powder but in lotion form.
But please keep in mind that this is not a deodorant that will stop perspiration, rather it’s designed to mask odors. It can be used in between the legs, under the breasts, and under the arms so it’s pretty versatile. Plus, it performed really well and kept me feeling super fresh for about a day.
I really like the scent of this one. It’s not over the top because, while I want to smell clean, I don’t want my downstairs department to be so fragrant that people start asking me what I’m wearing.
The only thing that I did find annoying was that the solution left white marks behind. Although this certainly isn’t a deal breaker with how well it prevents smells.
8. Bona Dea Naturals Feminine Deodorant Spray
You’ll have to bear with me on this one as it is a bit pricey. However, if you’re going to put a product down there, you want to make sure it’s as safe as possible. One of the reasons that this oil-based deodorant is so pricey is because of the natural ingredients it contains.
It’s hard not to love this Bona Dea natural deodorant if you like fresh and uplifting scents. I found its citrus and tea tree blend to feel very refreshing and was impressed with how clean it left me smelling. Despite being on the go, it still did its job.
The product passed dermatological tests and I found that it caused no irritation to my sensitive skin. Also, while it smells great, it’s tasteless so you can even use it during those intimate moments with your partner.
9. Taylor’s Naturals Elevated Muffin Mist
I mean, let’s first not ignore the amazing name Taylor’s Naturals gave this deodorant. My first reaction was; Muffin Mist, I have to try this! There are other products in the range including the Puanani Paste and Woo Woo Wash so if you’re looking for a complete feminine hygiene kit, Elevated has your back.
One thing I did notice about this deodorant was how powerful the scent was. Out of all the feminine deodorants tried, this had the most lasting freshness. I could even smell it on myself the following morning before I took my shower. But if you don’t like very strong scents, this may be worth avoiding.
Muffin Mist is also really kind to your delicate downstairs skin and I found it to be quite moisturizing. However, it wasn’t to the point that my skin felt greasy or sticky. While I couldn’t assess it myself, I have heard how the mist helps soothe after childbirth, which is quite nice.
10. The Honey Pot Lavender Rose Refreshing Panty Spray
While this deodorant does also come in a jasmine scent, I personally prefer lavender. Not only does it do a nice job of masking odors but it’s got a calming feeling that I enjoy every time I go to use the bathroom.
What I really liked about The Honey Pot spray was how natural it was. I have sensitive skin at the best of times and that can be even worse down there so I needed something gentle and that’s exactly what I got. It contains no parabens, talc, or artificial fragrances and my skin thanked me for this.
I did come across some women mentioning how the spray didn’t work too well in active situations as the scent wore off very quickly. The thing is since this is designed to be sprayed on the inside of your underwear, it’s meant to be more of a freshener than something to stop sweat and vaginal odors in their tracks.
Caring For Your Downstairs Department To Prevent Odors
I’ve said it several times throughout this guide but I can’t stress it enough; your vagina will have a natural odor and that’s OK. You’re human, after all!
But of course, we all want to be hygienic so if you want to avoid unnecessary odors, it starts with a good cleanliness routine. Deodorants can be applied afterwards to keep you feeling fresher for longer.
Did you know that the vagina is a self-cleaning organ? It produces discharge to flush out irritants, bacteria, and dirt so there’s no need to use anything other than warm water to cleanse down there. That said, a lot of women, myself included, like to use soaps but it’s best to use those that are specially formulated for your delicate areas to avoid irritation.
A lot of the deodorants I have talked about in this guide come from a range of other products like wipes and washes. Using them in combination can work very well.
Another way you can maintain good genital hygiene is by keeping your underwear clean and changing it regularly. It can also help to wear 100% cotton as this is more breathable.
But other than that, adding a spritz of deodorant can give you a confidence boost, particularly around that time of the month, during pregnancy, or if you are suffering from an infection. Just remember; you’re a woman and smelling womanly is A-Okay!