The right deodorant can complement your perfume

Yes, your deodorant contributes to your signature scent. Make sure you’re using an underarm product that works with your perfume.

Like washing your hair, brushing your teeth and applying your face cream, gliding or spraying on your deodorant is just another autopilot beauty moment. And yet, when we consider how frequently we pause to smell something lovely like the crisp dampness of freshly falling snow, the warm comfort of homemade gingerbread cookies or the sensual pleasure of cognac beside a burning fire, it reinforces just how powerful the olfactory senses are.

So why are we diluting—or worse, confusing—the scents we smell in our chosen and carefully spritzed on perfumes with conflicting body products? Specifically speaking: our deodorant.

It’s all in the family

Selecting the right underarm product to best match your scent is key when you want to keep your olfactory message consistent. So making the perfect pairing is all about knowing which family your favourite perfume belongs to.

Defined by their predominant smell, the fragrance families are most typically referred to and described as being: Aromatic for their botanical or herbal scent. Citrus smelling for their tart, sweet and zesty lemon and lime juices. Floral for their garden-like range of freshly cut flowers. Fresh for their clean and minty, neutral and airy eaus. Fruity for their use of juicy berries, melons, peaches and more. Green for their tea, cut grass, leafy and earthy vibe. Oriental for their spicy, exotic notes and woody for the forest of tree scents to choose from.

Read the labels

Choosing a deodorant that resides within each of the same scent families as your preferred eau is as straight forward as reading the product description on the label. Sporty deodorants lean towards green and invigorating scents. Shower clean often refers to light and fresh laundry-like notes. Tropical or berry descriptors allude to juicy and fruity sensations. And baby powder and rose-based smells tend to work best with exotic and oriental, and delicate and floral perfumes, respectively.

Stock up

If you’re like us, you have more than one fragrance on your vanity and spritz according to the moment, your mood or your attire. Naturally, this means you’ll want to have one or two deodorants on hand. When you change your perfume from day to night or day-to-day, you can compliment each one with the appropriate deodorant as well.

Pair each scent perfectly

Until all perfume houses launch matching ancillary deodorants with each new bottle (one day our dreams will come true!), let your nose lead you in pairing your deodorant with your fragrance.

Aromatic fragrances

Aromatic fragrances like Jo Malone Lavender and Coriander, are comprised of herbal notes like lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, tarragon and mint. We recommend: Rocky Mountain Soap Lavender deodorant, for its calming and soothing, lightly herbal scent. $9, www.rockymountainsoap.com

Citrus fragrances

Citrus fragrances, like Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue and Acqua di Gioia by Giorgio Armani, are infused with tart, sweet and tangy lemon, lime, lemongrass, mandarin and bergamot notes. We recommend Nivea Energy Breeze anti-perspirant/deodorant, for it’s cheerful and uplifting lemongrass scent. $4, Shoppers Drug Mart.

Floral fragrances

Floral fragrances, like Chanel Chance and Chloe Eau de Parfum by Chloe are liquid bouquets replete with flowers like jasmine, rose, freesia, hyacinth and peony. We recommend: Dove Dry Spray Antiperspirant in Beauty Finish, for it’s blend of jasmine, lily of the valley and freesia flowers. $6, Shoppers Drug Mart.

Fresh fragrances

Fresh fragrances, like Clean Air by CLEAN and Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aqua Motu, are like a breath of fresh air with their airy, ocean fresh, marine, zen spa and salty compositions. We recommend: Dermalogica Environmental Control Deodorant, for its shower-fresh scent. $30.50, www.dermalogica.ca.

Fruity fragrances

Fruity fragrances, like Salvatore Ferragamo Signorina in Fiore and Jimmy Choo L’Eau, are juicy and sumptuous elixirs with their decadent mix of berries, nectarine, pear, pomegranate and more. We recommend: Kaia Naturals The Takesumi Detox Bamboo Charcoal Deodorant in Juicy Bamboo, for its fruit-bowl fresh scent. $21, www.kaianaturals.com.

Oriental fragrances

Oriental fragrances, like Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence and Gucci Guilty, are a sensual, spicy and exotic experience favouring notes like amber, vanilla and patchouli. We recommend: Saje Natural Wellness Peaceful Warrior deodorant, for its spray of patchouli, rosewood and fennel scents. $13, www.saje.ca

Woody fragrances

Woody fragrances, like Narciso Poudrée by Narciso Rodriguez and Thierry Mugler Alien are perfumes with a presence thanks to their woody notes like cedar, white cedar, oak, oakmoss and teak. We recommend: Old Spice’s Odor Blocker anti-perspirant/deodorant in Tougher Timber, for it’s made-for-a-man but sexy enough for a woman, woodsy scent. $9, Shoppers Drug Mart.

Green fragrances

Green fragrances, like Elizabeth Arden Green Tea and Balenciaga Florabotanica, are steeped in green, earthy ingredients such as green tea, mint, cannabis, grass and vegetables. We recommend: Kaia Naturals’ The Takesumi Detox Bamboo Charcoal Deodorant in Lime Mint, for its crisp, fresh scent. $21, www.kaianaturals.com.