How deodorant is made
Deodorant does not stop sweat. Antiperspirant does, using aluminum salts that plug the sweat ducts.
- stations
- 7
- things upstream
- 74
- raw sources
- 23
- steps from the ground
- 10
The short version
Deodorant stick is a warm wax or gel base mixed with fragrance and an antibacterial agent, poured into a plastic tube and cooled until firm. Antiperspirants add aluminum salts that block sweat glands. Sprays are the same actives dissolved or suspended in a liquid and sealed in a can with a propellant.
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Make the aluminum salt
Aluminum is reacted with hydrochloric acid to form aluminum chloride, which is then partly converted to related salts that irritate skin less. These salts are what block the sweat ducts.
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Melt the stick base
Waxes and fatty alcohols are heated together in a jacketed tank until they melt into a clear oil. This is the base that holds everything else.
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Stir in the actives
Powdered aluminum salt, a silicone oil for slip and a fragrance are stirred in while the base is still liquid. Bacteria-killing agents go in too.
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Pour into tubes
The warm mixture is poured into empty plastic tubes and cooled. The base sets in a block, and the dial at the bottom pushes the stick up.
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Dissolve for sprays
Spray versions combine the actives with ethanol or a carrier oil in a mixing tank. This liquid concentrate is filtered so it will not clog the nozzle.
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Charge the aerosol cans
Cans receive the concentrate first, a valve is crimped on, and a liquefied hydrocarbon propellant is forced in through the valve. A water bath later checks for leaks.
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Cap and box
Caps are pressed on, batch codes are printed and the finished sticks and cans are packed into cartons.
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Worth repeating
- The first modern commercial deodorant, Mum, appeared in 1888.
- The modern antiperspirant formula was patented by Jules Montenier on January 28, 1941.
- In 1977 the US Food and Drug Administration banned the aluminum zirconium active used in aerosols over inhalation concerns.
Back to the ground
Follow every input upstream and deodorant starts as these 23 raw sources.
Everything it is made of See it on the map
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Sources
Cite this page: "How deodorant is made." Assembly Line, 2026-11-03. https://assemblyline.org/make/deodorant