With each summer becoming hotter and hotter, it’s important to carry a handy deodorant to keep you smelling fresh and clean. Whether you always have one at hand or only carry it during hot days, it’s essential to know how to store your deodorant to prevent it from melting or bursting.
Different types of deodorants react in different ways to extreme heat. On a hot day, spray deodorants will likely burst, explode, or crack, whereas roll-on deodorants will melt. If you leave your deodorant facing direct sunlight in your car, it will melt, crack, expand, or explode at a quicker rate.
Now that we know not to leave deodorants in the car, it would be beneficial to understand what makes deodorant react so expressively to hot cars and heat in general. In the rest of the article, let’s take a closer look at deodorants, their properties, and the consequences of leaving them in a hot vehicle.
Will Deodorant Melt If I Leave It in My Car? (In Detail)
To learn why deodorants melt if left in a hot car, we first need to look at car temperatures in hot weather and different types of deodorants.
What Temperature Can Cars Reach on a Hot Day?
It’s no surprise that cars reach extremely high temperatures during hot days, especially in some of the hottest places in the United States, such as Florida and Texas.
Some studies state that after one hour of your car in the hot sun, the temperature can reach a whopping 95 to 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Car seats can get even hotter at around 123 degrees Fahrenheit, making them incredibly inconvenient and potentially dangerous.
Since cars can reach such high temperatures, it stands to reason that the items you leave in your vehicle will also have to face similar temperatures. Bearing that in mind, you should never leave things such as food or drinks in a hot vehicle, and it is the same for deodorants.
At What Temperature Will Deodorant Melt?
Many deodorants are alcohol-based, with several brands using stearyl alcohol. Stearyl alcohol has a relatively low melting point at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, deodorant as a whole can melt at lower temperatures with an average melting point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
As the inside of vehicles can reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit on hot days, your deodorant will melt or burst fairly quickly. Since cars can reach 116 degrees Fahrenheit within a single hour, it is not advisable to leave your deodorant there for a long time period.
Types of Deodorant
Deodorants of various types will respond differently to being in a hot vehicle, and some react more explosively than others. In this section, let’s take a look at three different deodorant types.
Spray Deodorant
Spray deodorants come in aerosol cans; to use the spray, you must point it towards the areas you want to cover. Since the deodorant comes in a pressurized container, you must store it within the temperature range that the brand recommends. If your deodorant faces temperatures exceeding its range, the can will break or explode.
The container can break because the change in air pressure can result in the air inside the bottle expanding. Once the air expands, it can damage the can, rendering it useless.
Stick Deodorant
Stick deodorants have either a gel or (more commonly) solid formula. You can apply these types of deodorants to clean skin after showering or bathing. Since stick deodorants require you to have clean skin to prevent the build-up of bacteria, many people are unlikely to keep their stick deodorants anywhere else except the bathroom.
If you leave your stick deodorant in the car, the formula can melt in its case and seep through to its surroundings. Furthermore, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that reveals how difficult it is to clean up after a stick of deodorant melts in a hot car.
Roll-on Deodorant
A Roll-on deodorant comes in a small cylindrical shape. On the top of the deodorant is a roller ball that you glide across the areas you want to deodorize. A roll-on deodorant can either come in gel or liquid, meaning that it can leave small wet patches on your skin.
Out of all of the deodorant types on this list, roll-on deodorants are least likely to cause any mess. Moreover, although the gel or liquid on a roll-on deodorant may see some changes in the face of extreme heat, it will neither melt nor burst.
Does Old Spice Deodorant Melt?
There are certain types of deodorants that do not melt, with manufacturers and brands advertising them to be ‘melt-free’. According to the maker, one such product is the Old Spice On-the-Go Antiperspirant. Regarding the reliability of its claim, there have been several people who speak for Old Spice and the non-melting quality of its deodorants.
What Does Deodorant Do to Cars?
When facing high temperatures, a spray deodorant can cause a harsh enough explosion that will ruin the inside of your car. Since all of the air will come out of the can, it will also result in your vehicle emitting a strong deodorant smell that can be difficult to manage.
In hot weather, roll-on deodorants will melt, leaving a large, sticky, and expensive mess on your car’s interior. If the deodorant formula gets into your car seat, you may need to book professional services to get your vehicle in the same condition before the mess.
How Should I Store Deodorants, so They Don’t Melt?
To store your deodorant correctly, keep it in your backpack or leave it at home. Unlike a vehicle, your purse will assumably not reach temperatures that can lead to a deodorant stick melting. If you have to keep your deodorant in your car, at least keep it away from direct sunlight to reduce further exposure to heat.
Conclusion
To prevent any deodorant-related mess in your car, you must understand what temperature would lead to a deodorant stick melting and how to best store your deodorant on hot days. If a heatwave is heading your way, keep in mind the information in this guide to store your deodorant correctly.
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