There comes a certain point when you start to notice a, shall we say, less than fresh smell coming from your child. While that age can vary widely from 8 to the teenage years, whenever it arrives, you’ll want to introduce them to deodorant. “If you or your child start noticing body odor that doesn’t go away with regular bathing, it’s probably time to try something,” says pediatrician Dr. Whitney Casares. She says the best deodorant for kids “is one that doesn’t irritate your child’s skin, controls odor effectively, has ingredients you feel good about and feels good to them, because if they hate the smell or feel, they won’t use it.”
Considering what goes into the deodorant that’s making contact with their skin is important, as many kids are still developing in these years—however, just because it says “natural” on the packaging doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe or effective. “Many deodorants that are marketed as more ‘natural’ contain some of the ingredients parents may hope to avoid and some products also add more plant-based extracts and essential oils that can still lead to allergy or irritation,” says Dr. Harper N. Price, division chief of dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital who advises parents to do some research before committing and recommends “products that have a proven track record of efficacy, are less likely to irritate a child’s skin and have a good record of safety.” In general, “fragrance-free or lightly scented options with natural odor-fighters tend to work well,” she says.
Best Deodorant For Kids Overall: Dove 0% Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Best Affordable Deodorant For Kids: Hello Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Young Kids: Fresh Monster Natural Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Tweens: Native Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Girls: Good For You Girls Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Boys: Tom's Of Maine Wicked Cool! Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Sensitive Skin: Miles Deodorant
Best Roll-On Deodorant For Kids: Fresh Kidz Deodorant
Best Deodorant For Kids Overall
Effective And Smells Great
Dove 0% Aluminum-Free Deodorant
The Dove 0% Aluminum-Free Deodorant was hands down the deodorant mentioned most often by all the parents with which I spoke. It’s free of both aluminum and alcohol, designed to be used on even sensitive skin. It also combines the popular brand’s proprietary moisturizers with odor-absorbing ingredients to keep their underarms dry and comfortable.
“We went through three or four deodorants for my tween daughter before landing on this Dove 0% Aluminum,” says Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala. “I wanted a more natural deodorant given her young age, but we also needed something that worked, and this one does. It also glides on easily.” Another mom of three says she doesn’t smell anything on her 15-year-old son “even after back to back practices.”
My own volleyball-playing 11-year-old recently switched to this from another natural deodorant she’d been using and raves about how much she loves this one. She particularly likes how smoothly it goes on without any effort on her end and the pleasant but not cloying scent. There’s a fragrance-free version for kids with sensitive skin or a history of allergies, as well as a variety of scents from which to choose.
Best Affordable Deodorant For Kids
Whimsical Packaging And Fun Scent
Hello Deodorant
This cute naturally scented deodorant is free of aluminum,baking soda, dyes and parabens and uses moisture-absorbing arrowroot to keep wetness at bay, so you can feel good giving it to your kid. Made with moisturizing ingredients like coconut butter and shea butter, it’s also a great value at under $7 for a stick.
My now teen liked this deodorant the best when she was younger and first starting to use deodorant, loving the fun packaging and watermelon “unicorn” scent. I appreciate that it didn’t leave stains on clothing and the smell wasn’t too overpowering. Sala’s tween uses this deodorant on occasion too and was particularly drawn to the “great scent.” Other scents include peach sparkle, lavender vanilla, fresh citrus and sweet coconut, along with an unscented version.
This is one that’s probably better suited for younger kids who aren’t sweating (or smelling) quite as excessively as a teenager may be.
Best Deodorant For Young Kids
Smells Like Gummy Bears And Glides On Smooth
USA-Made
Fresh Monster Natural Deodorant
If your child is just getting started on their deodorant journey, you’ll want to look for something that’s gentle and easy to use. Fresh Monster’s natural deodorants are free of aluminum and parabens and are deemed hypoallergenic. “It’s specifically made for kids and dermatologist-tested,” says Casares.
It comes in kid-friendly scents like coconut lemon, beach breeze and the oh-so-fun sounding gummy burst. The deodorant itself is made with natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea oil, baking soda and tapioca starch to combat body odor.
The brand says it offers 24-hour odor protection, and parents rave that it glides on smoothly without any residue. This is one you’ll have to trial-and-error with older tweens and teens in the throes of puberty, however, who may require something a bit stronger.
Best Deodorant For Tweens
Sophisticated Scent Combos They’ll Love
Native Deodorant
Native was another brand that kept getting mentioned over and over (and over) by parents of teens and tweens—including one of our experts. It’s made with clean, simple ingredients and is powerful enough to keep hormonal odors at bay. “In our house, we’ve had success with Native. It’s gentle, smells great and works for everyday use,” says Casares.
My own 13-year-old, an active soccer player, also uses the Native line as her everyday go-to before going to school. She likes how it goes on clear and doesn’t leave any sticky white residue, unlike other brands she’s tried in the past.
She also loves the more adult scents like coconut and vanilla and sweet peach and nectar, something other parents have echoed. “We love the scents more than anything, there was even a Girl Scout cookie-scented line my tween was obsessed with,” says one mom of three. It’s not an antiperspirant, however, so kids may need to use a different kind of deodorant when they’re playing sports.
Best Deodorant For Girls
Plant-Based Ingredients In Cute Packaging
USA-Made
Good For You Girls Deodorant
Our top pick for girls delivers protection with a formula that’s both gentle and effective. Good for You Girls is both aluminum- and paraben-free, so parents don’t have to worry about potentially hormone-disrupting ingredients on their skin. The roll-on deodorant uses plant-based odor-fighting ingredients like witch hazel, coconut oil and shea butter to help them feel fresh without irritation.
The deodorant goes on clear, dries quickly and doesn’t feel sticky, according to reviewers. Light, fresh scents (think fresh honeydew or powder fresh) and cute packaging are not too babyish, but not too mature, either. It’s clearly designed with tween and teen girls in mind. Sala’s daughter keeps this one in her backpack for toting to middle school.
Best Deodorant For Boys
Keeps Them Smelling Fresh Without Harsh Ingredients
Tom's Of Maine Wicked Cool! Deodorant
Free of aluminum, parabens and artificial fragrances, Tom’s of Maine’s Wicked Cool deodorant is a great choice for boys going through the preteen years who require odor protection but still need something less harsh for their delicate underarm skin. Aloe and sunflower oil help keep pits smooth and chafe and bump-free. It’s available in a slightly fruity “freestyle” scent as well as “summer fun.”
The best part? It actually works. Several parents we spoke with whose own kids used Wicked Cool! say they still smelled “fresh” at the end of the day, even after running around. “We picked this for my son’s first deodorant and were happy with it when he was a younger tween playing several sports,” says Sala. “He was only 9 but we wanted to get him into the habit with something gentle that he could use every day.”
Best Deodorant For Sensitive Skin
Gentle And Free Of Any Irritants
USA-Made
Miles Deodorant
“If your child has sensitive skin, look for deodorants that are fragrance-free or made with essential oils only, free of baking soda (which can cause irritation in some kids), and labeled ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘dermatologist-tested,’" says Casares. Miles hits all these marks. This ultra-gentle hypoallergenic deodorant is made without baking soda, aluminum, parabens or synthetic fragrances, meaning no irritation, rashes, redness or harsh ingredients to worry about. It’s also dermatologist-tested and designed specifically for developing tweens and teens. It comes in both a stick and roll-on formats so kids can pick the option that feels most comfortable for them.
For older kids, the packaging makes it seem a little more grown-up. My middle child used this one until it ran out in the early deodorant-wearing years, and really enjoyed it. It’s available in three scents that lean a bit more masculine or neutral: clean, rugged and fresh. My tween is generally more sensitive to strong fragrances and liked the subtle scent of this one (fresh, in particular.) I’ll confess I’ve borrowed it a few times myself and found it glides on easily without any chalky residue or sticky feel and doesn’t leave stains on shirts, which is a major bonus.
Best Roll-On Deodorant For Kids
Glides On Smoothly With No Mess
MOST POPULAR
Fresh Kidz Deodorant
Fresh Kidz is specifically formulated for a kid’s more delicate skin. The convenient roll-on applicator means it’s easy for even younger kids to use without dealing with the hassle of messy sprays or gummy residue from sticks that can linger on clothes. There’s a version for boys and one for girls, but they’re essentially the same, just with slightly different packaging and scents. Both are free ofaluminum, parabens, sulfates and alcohol.
The packaging itself is more compact and round, making it easier to fit in smaller hands and the applicator glides on smoothly—and clear. The scents are all mild and pleasant: Blue is slightly citrusy, Pink is more floral with notes of jasmine and amber and Purple is more of a powdery scent with slight hints of vanilla and pink grapefruit.
RECOMMENDED BYFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
As parents ourselves, the baby and kids gear team at Forbes Vetted is dedicated to helping parents find the best products to keep their babies safe. We’ve spent countless hours testing and researching products, including products parents might want to stock up on for summer fun near the water like the best infant life jackets and the best water shoes for kids.
- The author of this story, Esther Carlstone, is a longtime parenting editor, product tester and mom of three whose kids have used several of the deodorants on this list (and then some) and has recently reported on everything from the best iPads for kids to the best mattresses for teens.
- The editor of this story, Rose Gordon Sala, is a mom to three and the deputy editor of baby and kids gear at Forbes Vetted. She’s an experienced parenting journalist who has extensively tested and reviewed dozens of baby and kids gear, including the best shoes for kids.
How We Chose The Best Deodorant For Kids
As a mom to a tween and a teen, wearing deodorant is a regular part of their daily routine. To find the best deodorant for kids, I consulted with experts, parents of deodorant-wearing kids and conducted extensive research in dozens of deodorant brands for kids.
- I spoke with pediatrician, mom of two and founder of Modern Mommy Doc, Dr. Whitney Casares. I also interviewed dermatologist and division chief of dermatology at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Harper N. Price.
- I surveyed over a dozen parents whose kids regularly use deodorant, including some whose kids are athletes, to learn about which brands their kids preferred, which the parents thought actually worked effectively and more.
- I analyzed online reviews and only selected brands that had an average rating of four stars or more and overwhelmingly positive ratings.
- I also considered the ingredient makeup of each product to ensure they would work with even sensitive skin.
What To Look For In The Best Deodorant For Kids
Deodorant Vs. Antiperspirant
“Simply put, a deodorant works to neutralize unpleasant odors produced by skin bacteria that reside in specific areas of the body containing sweat glands by using antibacterial ingredients as well as fragrance (to mask the smell) and odor absorbers,” says Price. “Antiperspirants work to reduce sweating, most often by using various aluminum salts that plug the sweat glands to reduce or inhibit sweating on the surface of the skin.” As for which your child will need, it really depends on their daily activity level and how much they sweat, but young children will likely be fine with just deodorant. “Most kids don’t need full-on antiperspirant unless they’re dealing with excessive sweating,” says Casares.
Ingredients
Casares If your child has sensitive skin, look for deodorants that are fragrance-free or made with essential oils only, free of baking soda (which can cause irritation in some kids), and labeled “hypoallergenic” or “dermatologist-tested.” Aloe, shea butter, or coconut oil bases are often soothing, but always patch test first. And if they’ve had reactions before, check with your pediatrician or dermatologist to be extra safe.
Scents
Parents of older kids, tweens and teens know they can be notoriously picky about what scents. If you’re able to, take them to the store with you to sniff various scents before landing on one to bring home. Having a scent they do like can often be an incentive to use their deodorant on a consistent basis.
If your child has a history of allergies or sensitive skin, a fragrance-free option is best as fragrances are “the most common culprit of irritation or allergy” in deodorants, according to Price.
Efficacy
At the end of the day, if their deodorant isn’t working, leaving them stinky day after day, it’s not worth it and it’s probably time to try a new brand. Older kids that have hit puberty and play sports that make them sweat a lot may need an aluminum-based antiperspirant on certain game and practice days. While some natural deodorants are quite effective, certain kids may end up needing to use a mix-and-match combo option of natural and aluminum-based to keep the odor at bay, says Casares.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The best type of deodorant for a child is one they’ll actually want to consistently use that actually works, but you’ll also have to be aware of ingredient lists. “Consider whether your child is prone to having rashes, dry or sensitive skin. In this case, products with fewer ingredients may be a better first choice,” says Price. On the other hand, if you have a sweaty tween or teen, a deodorant that has an antiperspirant to stop sweatingmay be your best bet.
If you feel that your 7-year-old is starting to smell, you can introduce deodorant to them. Make sure you’re selecting a product that is hypoallergenic and gentle for sensitive younger skin. “If you or your child start noticing body odor that doesn’t go away with regular bathing, it’s probably time to try something,” says Casares, who recommends starting with a gentle, kid-focused version first.
“Look for deodorants that are fragrance-free or made with essential oils only, free of baking soda (which can cause irritation in some kids), and labeled ‘hypoallergenic’ or ‘dermatologist-tested,’” says Casares. “Aloe, shea butter or coconut oil bases are often soothing, but always patch test first. And if they’ve had reactions before, check with your pediatrician or dermatologist to be extra safe.”
