Deodorant, on the other hand, directly combats and masks odor. As Dr. Corey Hartman, dermatologist and spokesperson for Old Spice, told The Manual, "Our underarms are prone to moisture and odor. Deodorant fights the odor that comes when sweat mixes with bacteria." Mia Saini Duchnowski, co-founder and CEO of Oars+Alps, agreed, explaining, "Deodorant includes ingredients that kill the bacteria that [actually] lead to underarm odor."

But is one a safer way to reduce your body odor than the other? "In general, deodorants and antiperspirants are safe products for most people in good health to use," Dr. Michele Green, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology in New York, told Byrdie. However, it's good to be aware that aluminum found in most antiperspirants can be harmful to anyone with kidney problems. "Excess aluminum is usually filtered out of your body by your kidneys and so, people with weakened kidney function can't filter aluminum fast enough."

If you're in that camp, it might be time to look for an alternative to deodorant or antiperspirant.