My father had an unusual gland condition that caused him to perspire more than the average male. This problem was so severe he would have to shower and changed clothes a minimum of three times a day to work in the public. The odor from his body was over powering at times. I’m lucky that my glands did not react this way; I am still very self conscious when it comes to the amount that I do perspire. I have tried every form of antiperspirant and deodorant known to man kind. Through all of my trials only two brands stand out, Degree and Mitchum.
Both of these deodorant lines come in a variety of styles and scents for different personal tastes. My body goes through cycles of how much and when I perspire. I’ve found that brand matters a lot more then the particular type or scent used, but it’s worth mentioning. Degree comes in an aerosol spray, Invisible solid, and soft solid. The scents vary by type you buy, however the scents are Sheer Powder, Shower Clean, Fresh Oxygen, and Cool Cotton. While Mitchum comes in aerosol, roll on, and gel. Mitchum offers Powder Fresh, Shower Fresh, Spring Fresh, and Unscented for their ‘flavor’ range.
Cost is an issue with every product, deodorant is no exception. My fear of my father’s gland issues has plagued me with the tendency to shower and reapply deodorants two, to three times per day. I go through a ton of deodorant in a given week. Degree is comes in a 2.6 oz solid for around $4 where as Mitchum comes in a 2.6 ounce gel for around $5 dollars. Degree and Mitchum both offer duo packs so that I do not have to make frequent trips to the store.
Now that we’re done with the introductions lets get down to the real issue: performance. I wouldn’t use any deodorant that didn’t meet my minimum standards of protection. Both of these deodorants keep your body from smelling like a refuse station, both are an antiperspirant and deodorant, both are available at nearly every store in my area.
Degree is advertised as a “Little black dress approved. This means that it does not leave nasty white stains on your clothing. However, this is only true if you purchase their invisible solid formula. Other versions of Degree do leave a slight trail of the chalky white residue on your clothing. Degree does not come in an unscented variety. If you do not mind adding a smell to your body, but are concerned about how it will blend with your perfume, purchase a sample size before investing $4 into a product you won’t use. Degree is also advertised as body responsive. The more your body temperature rises the more the active ingredients work. I’m not sure there is any science behind that claim but it does keep me dry and smelling fresh. Degree as a company has had the same policy regarding animal testing for over 20 years. Reduce, refine, and replace animal testing.” They have consistently found ways to safely test their product without putting animals in danger.
Mitchum is advertised as “inhibiting perspiration without interfering with the body’s natural regulation of heat to prevent growth of odor causing bacteria.” Mitchum is not an instant action product. The effects of Mitchum’s effectiveness are increased over time. If you have the time and patience to allow Mitchum to become as fully affective as it can be it is a much better product to use. Over time it does reduce the amount in which you sweat; even the unscented variety keeps you smelling and feeling fresh and clean. Mitchum’s scented formulas do not smell as strong as Degree. The lighter scent offers less of a possibility of clashing with your perfume. Mitchum is a South African produced product and does not give any information on animal testing. It does have the white chalky residue that can stain clothing. Their website offers advice on how to get the stains out of your clothes.
What’s the bottom line? Since a good deodorant is hard to find, I would keep a supply of both in my medicine cabinet. If I could only ever use one brand of deodorant again, it would be Degree. Mitchum is the better brand for long term use. I prefer my deodorant to be as effective as it can be instantly. Degree has less of a chance of damaging my clothing.
