The market for odour products is a mess. Some say deodorant, others spell it differently, ads show you antiperspirant, and increasingly you'll also see the term anti-odorant. What do these names mean and what's the difference between them? Here's a simple explanation.
Deodorant — is there more than one kind?
Let's start with the most common confusion. A deodorant is a product that addresses sweat odour, not sweating itself. But watch out in practice: in shops you'll often find a "deodorant" that's actually an antiperspirant. That's why it pays to read the ingredients.
The Difference Between a Deodorant and an Antiperspirant
This is the essential difference:
A deodorant addresses odour, not sweating. Some deodorants work antibacterially, but a large share of ordinary products simply mask odour with fragrance. They don't stop sweating.
An antiperspirant addresses sweating. It contains aluminium salts that plug the sweat glands and thereby reduce or stop sweating. The goal is a dry underarm. The downside: sweating is a natural temperature-regulating process, and blocking it can cause irritation on more sensitive skin.
Put simply: an antiperspirant stops sweat, a deodorant addresses odour.
And What Is an Anti-odorant?
Anti-odorant is a newer term for products that specialise exclusively in sweat odour. Unlike a classic deodorant, it doesn't mask odour with fragrance — it works with the skin's microbiome so that the odour never forms in the first place. These are usually stronger, longer-lasting formulas, or products designed for parts of the body other than the underarms (the feet, for example).
How to Choose
- You want to address sweat odour and keep natural sweating → deodorant (ideally aluminium-free)
- You want to address odour long-term and keep natural sweating → anti-odorant (aluminium-free)
- You want to stop sweating → antiperspirant, but with aluminium salts
ZINDEO — Deodorant and Anti-odorant in One
ZINDEO is a natural aluminium-free anti-odorant. Thanks to zinc and herbal extracts, it addresses sweat odour at the source — it doesn't mask odour with fragrance and doesn't plug the glands, but works with the skin's microbiome so the odour never forms. Clinically verified microbiome testing confirmed that it supports the microbiome's balance. It leaves sweating natural, doesn't irritate the skin, and thanks to a clinically verified 72-hour effect keeps you fresh for days.
Reset Set MAX — SALSOAP® + roll-on + cream · €49.50. For sensitive skin, reach for the fragrance-free version. Try Reset Set MAX →
