Is roll on or spray deodorant better for underarm protection?
Each person has their own preferences, but is there evidence to show what is better: roll on or spray deodorant?
In this blog, you’ll hear firsthand from our experts as they share insights as to the differences (and similarities) between roll on and spray deodorant and antiperspirant and which is best for your lifestyle.
Is roll on or spray deodorant better? Let’s compare!
Obviously, the main difference between spray and roll on deodorant is that one is an aerosol and the other is usually a liquid but that’s not all…
Our team of experts are going to compare the following aspects:
Application
Everyone has their own opinion about whether spray or roll on is the more effective application for deodorant, but what does science say?
Well, research has found that only 11.4% of spray deodorant reaches the skin! The other almost 90% goes into the atmosphere. Not only wasting so much product, but having a negative impact on the environment due to the aerosol emissions entering the air and impacting the Ozone layer.
And you’re more susceptible to sweating (although it isn't a bad thing, it's just not always the right time for sweat patches).
Plus, as only 11% of spray deodorant goes on the skin, the rest goes in the air which could be breathed in - leading to potential consequences like harmful ingredients entering the lungs and bloodstream.
So, to answer the question: What is better, roll on or spray? When it comes to application, roll on deodorant takes the win!
Drying time
Most people tend to use spray deodorant as it dries faster than roll on, this is because the latter is a wet formulation compared to spray’s dry finish.
This means spray deodorant is better for busy people who are always in a rush. But if most of the spray doesn’t reach the body, just how effective is this option? Waiting a few extra minutes in the morning for your roll on to dry, may just be worth it at the end of the day.
Did you know that the Make Waves formulas have been designed to have full coverage and no drying time? Making it the best of both worlds!
Ingredients
Mass produced deodorants or antiperspirants - whether spray or roll on - typically use ingredients that are cheap and not with the friendliness of the planet or user in mind.
How much do you actually know about what you’re putting on your skin? For example, are these deodorant ingredients bad for you?
When you opt for a natural deodorant, the formulation uses skin-conscious ingredients to ensure your underarms are also cared for.
Here at Make Waves, we worked with some of the world’s leading chemists to choose ingredients for our natural deodorant that were kind to even the most sensitive skin but also high-performing. It really is the best of both worlds!
Some of the ingredients in our deodorant and natural-based antiperspirant include:
- Vitamins A, C, D, E, F, and K - preventing dryness and irritation
- Shea butter - antibacterial, helping to reduce odour
- Tapioca starch - absorbs excess moisture
One of our co-founders, Owen, says:
“For us, it was really important that our formulations were not just high performing, but also kind to our armpits. And so we set out to pack our formulations with skin-conscious ingredients.
“Our antiperspirant formulation is unique in the market, offering a mix of natural ingredients and antiperspirant actives to keep you sweat-free, with no dry time after application and unlike sprays, doesn't impact the people around you.”
Therefore, when it comes to whether roll on or spray deodorant ingredients are better, we actually recommend choosing natural deodorant (or antiperspirant if shopping with us!) instead. This way, you can rest assured that you are taking care of your underarms and overall body.
Staining
We can all agree that getting deodorant stains on your clothes is extremely annoying. White marks can appear on all fabrics with even yellow stains even appearing on light coloured clothes.
Unfortunately, both spray and roll on deodorant can cause stains on your clothes, so neither is necessarily better than the other.
Top tip: We recommend letting your deodorant dry before applying your clothes to prevent as many stains or marks as possible.
Reapplying
On those particularly hot days (even if it is just due to the central heating) you may find you want to reapply your deodorant for an extra boost of freshness. (Of course, you may not need to reapply if you’re using a high-performing product like Make Waves).
Typically, deodorant in a roll on form is much more discreet to reapply thanks to handheld size. Whereas spray deodorant is usually taller making it more awkward to hide and reapply under a shirt. Sprays are also quite suffocating not only for you but for everyone around you!
In this instance, roll on deodorant is better than spray.
Travel friendliness
For international travels, certain aerosol sprays aren't allowed as they are considered a liquid. All airlines have different rules, so we recommend double checking before packing any deodorant.
If you just want a deodorant for your bag, like we’ve just mentioned, roll on deodorant is usually far smaller than spray which makes it perfect to pop in your bag if you want to reapply later in the day.
At Make Waves, we worked with former Dyson engineers to create our ergonomic applicator that works for both our deodorant and antiperspirant capsules. Both our natural deodorant and antiperspirant (with a natural base) are travel-friendly as they are a stick formulation and can be taken on flights as they aren’t considered a liquid.
It may be small, but it sure is mighty!
Areas of the body
If you thought deodorant was just for the underarms, think again! So, where can you apply deodorant? Anywhere on the body that sweats, such as:
- Feet
- Back
- Chest
For this, you may find spray deodorant better than roll on as it's easier to spray something onto your back for example! However, as spray isn’t as effective, the extra effort roll on takes may just be worth it.
What is better, roll on or spray deodorant?
Let’s summarise our findings to find who the real winner is!
Concern |
Spray |
Roll On |
Make Waves |
|
Dryness after use |
✅ |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Coverage |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Performance |
❓(depends on brand) |
❓(depends on brand) |
✅ |
|
Sustainability |
❌ |
❌ |
✅ |
|
Travel |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
|
Health |
❌ |
✅ |
✅ |
Having compared multiple aspects of both styles of deodorant, Make Waves is the winner in all areas!
Now you know to choose Make Waves, do you choose deodorant or antiperspirant? Well, it depends on your lifestyle. If you are someone who has an office job sitting at a desk most of the day, a deodorant will likely be more than enough, however, if you are going to running club or getting 10k+ steps a day, an antiperspirant may be more your speed.
If you can't decide, why not opt for a Make Waves bundle box? You'll receive both of our award-winning formulations so you can choose the right option for your lifestyle.
Don’t forget if you subscribe to Make Waves, you can save 15% on every order!
Don’t sweat it… or maybe do?
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