5 Best Deodorants for Kids and Preteens
These aluminum-free deodorants are dermatologist-approved.
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If your kids are barely old enough to walk to school by themselves, you might be surprised, and even a little confused, when you notice that familiar scent of body odor coming from their armpits. Rest assured: This is normal.
"I give the green light for kids to use deodorant when they start to have a bothersome body odor in the underarm area," says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. "This is different for everyone, but it is usually early in puberty."
There are two types of deodorants for kids out there: Deodorants neutralize or minimize body odor but don't stop sweating while antiperspirants reduce sweating and wetness on the skin. Deodorants are aluminum-free, and most are generally considered safe for children, says Dr. Zeichner. Of course, as with any personal care product, you should always touch base with your pediatrician.
Since safety is always a number one priority, you'll want to choose only heavily vetted and trusted products to apply to your kid's delicate skin. We tapped four dermatologists for their recommendations and rounded up formulas the Good Housekeeping Institute Lab experts found suitable for kids, preteens and teens.
Known for mixing moisturizers into their deodorants, which helps soothe irritable skin, Dove aims to protect your kid's sensitive underarms with this soft solid formula claiming 48-hour odor protection. This formula is designed to be gentle, containing 0% aluminum and 0% alcohol, which will help avoid itchy, red underarms–a great option for any teens who shave their armpits. In fact, Dr. Zeichner recommends this aluminum-free deodorant to his own children.
Tom's of Maine Wicked Cool Kids Deodorant (Freestyle)
Typically easy to find, appealing to kids and available in a few different scents, Tom's Wicked Cool! deodorant is one of Dr. Wattenberg's favorite recommendations for kids.
The deodorant stick is said to provide 24-hour odor protection without irritating sensitive skin; it's aluminum-free, paraben-free and artificial fragrance-free, according to its packaging. And since most deodorant packaging is not recyclable curbside, the brand has built a partnership with TerraCycle to help you recycle it properly.
Amazon reviewers say it really does banish the stink: "My son is [nine and a half], active, and a typical boy. He started getting a little B.O. after karate. I tried another natural one, and it worked for a few hours. I bought this and if he skips a day for a shower, you would NEVER know."
Good for You Girls Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant Roll-On
A blend of botanicals — aloe, arnica, lavender, chamomile, witch hazel and white tea extracts — helps naturally neutralize odors while conditioning skin. Our product experts love the youthfulness of the Fresh Honeydew scent with its green and fruity notes.
Plus, we enjoyed how the roll-on formula makes for easy reapplications on the go. "I like the cooling sensation of the water-based formula as it goes on and evaporates from skin," says Aral. The texture also feels lightweight and more gel-like than creamy, so you need a more generous amount on the underarms.
Native Natural Deodorant
Native's deodorants are a popular pick among adults, and teenagers who want to avoid childish scents and branding will love the vast array of scents available, from coconut and vanilla to lavender rose. Thanks to emollients like coconut oil and shea butter in the formula, it just glides on skin and leaves it feeling conditioned.
The variety impressed our Lab experts, but one was "especially partial to the eucalyptus and mint" and loves "its creamy texture against the skin" adding that "it goes on clear and does not leave any crumbly white residue." More than 5,000 Amazon reviewers agree. And if you're looking for a more sustainable option, Native also offers the same deodorant in a plastic-free paperboard tube.
Our Lab experts enjoyed that the Crystal deodorant offers an easy roll-on application. Since the formula is water-based, it takes a while to dry, so we advise that kids apply this on clean, dry skin, then allow it to set completely before putting on clothes.
It comes in compact, easy-to-grip packaging, which makes it great for stashing in a sports bag or backpack. We enjoyed its pared-down formula, which has only six ingredients, "a great option for people who do not like to have their deo’s scent clashing with other fragrances," said one of our testers.
Savvy consumers will notice potassium aluminum sulfate listed in the ingredients of this deodorant, which is a mineral salt with astringent and antimicrobial properties. It's free of aluminum chlorohydrate, the active ingredient in anti-perspirant. While it is labeled “unscented,” meaning that it doesn’t have a specific floral, powdery or fresh scent, we found it had a base odor that might be off-putting for some. (It also contains benzoic acid as a preservative, which is technically considered a fragrance due to its faint aroma.)
How we choose the best children's deodorant
While the GH Beauty Lab has engaged in a couple of one-off testings, we haven't categorically tested kids' deodorants or antiperspirants. That said, our experts currently have testing underway, so we can offer more detailed advice and make science-backed, tested recommendations in the future. In the meantime, we've reviewed the ingredients of every product on this list to ensure they're safe for use on sensitive skin.
Here, we applied deodorant to a cardboard surface to determine how smoothly and evenly it goes on. This candidate went on clumpy and was therefore not chosen as a top pick.
What to look for when buying deodorant for kids
When shopping for your child's first deodorant, there are a few things you should consider, according to board-certified dermatologists:
✔️The ingredients list is probably one of the most important things for you to keep your eye on. According to Dr. Lisa Lewis, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician in Fort Worth, Texas, to be as safe as possible, especially for kids with sensitive skin, consider hypoallergenic formulas without aluminum, parabens, triclosan and artificial dyes. Stay away from fragrance if your kid's skin is sensitive as it can cause atopic or allergic rashes.
✔️How easy it is to use is something you may not think to consider at first, but your child is growing up and will likely be using deodorant on their own. Is the cap easy to remove? Can they apply it on their own? Is it a roll-on, stick or a tub that you will have to apply with your own fingers? " I recommend narrowing the choice down to a few products and then let your child pick one," says Dr. Wattenberg. "If they are involved in the choice they are more likely to use it."
✔️Functionality is also important to evaluate. If your deodorant doesn't effectively cut through odor, then there isn't much use for it. Depending on your child's level of physical activity, you may need stronger or weaker products. Aluminum-containing antiperspirants may be appropriate in a child who is suffering from excessive sweating, says Dr. Zeichner.
At what age should a child start using deodorant?
There's no hard and fast time, as every child develops differently, but body odor begins to emerge in the early stages of puberty. The window usually opens around 9 to 14 years old, says Dr. Wattenberg. It's the combination of hormones, sweat and bacteria that cause body odor and the strength of that odor can be affected by how active kids are. Kids can start using deodorant when they begin to notice or become self-conscious about their body odor.
Is deodorant safe for a child?
To evaluate the true safety, it’s first important to understand that there's a difference between a deodorant and an antiperspirant. An antiperspirant uses "aluminum salts that form a plug within the sweat gland, physically preventing sweat from reaching the surface of the skin," explains Dr. Zeichner. "It does not decrease the amount of sweat that someone makes." Deodorants, on the other hand, simply help curb the odor caused by the interaction of sweat and bacteria on the skin.
Generally, both antiperspirants and deodorants are considered safe, but there has been some association between aluminum salts and diseases like breast cancer and Alzheimer's that are largely unproven, says Dr. Zeichner.
To ensure no allergies or sensitivities arrive, Dr. Wattenberg advises testing the product on your child’s forearm for a day or two before they apply it to their underarms. It's also worth showing your child how to apply it so they know how much to use. It sometimes takes a few tries to find the perfect product that does not irritate their skin and successfully curbs the odor.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on everything a parent needs for their kids, including personal care products.
Reviews Analyst Jamie Spain and Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin consulted GH's Beauty Lab experts as well as a series of board-certified dermatologists, including Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Dr. Debra Wattenberg, Dr. Lisa Lewis and Dr. Cherilyn Cecchini.
Jacqueline (she/her) was a commerce editor for Good Housekeeping from 2021 to 2024. Prior to joining GH, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.
Jamie (she/her) is the former parenting and pets reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has also worked a BuzzFeed and People. She's a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and psychology and a master’s degree in journalism.
