Look, I know this is strange. I am writing about deodorant, the anti-perspirant kind more specifically. But I am writing about deodorant because there is a deodorant consumer conspiracy afoot that’s on par with the Michelob Ultra beer scam of the early 2000s. Right now, on every drug store shelf sit a group of deodorants labeled “clinical strength.” Don’t buy them; they are a rip off, and an insult to your consumer intelligence.
Let us begin with the Michelob Ultra story. Launched by Anhesuer Busch as the “low carb” beer, Michelob Ultra was a big deal for a while: body-conscious women liked it, small-penis meatheads drank it, and it was heavily advertised as the beer for “active” people. For whatever reason, people accepted the veracity of the low carb claim and bought the beer despite its watery, crappy flavor. But, had these hasty imbibers taken 2 seconds to parse the label they would have seen that Michelob Ultra, nutritionally speaking, was virtually identical to Miller Lite, which tastes significantly better. Here, take a look at how the two beers stack up against one another:
Michelob Ultra: 4.2 % alcohol, 95 calories, 2.6 carbs Miller Lite: 4.2% ABV, 96 calories, 3.2 carbs
Would you rather look like self-respecting person drinking a Miller Lite or a jab hole drinking a Michelob Ultra? I thought so, and I imagine this is why you don’t see many people drinking Michelob Ultra anymore.
The reason that I mention the Michelob Ultra scam is because at its crux it is the exact same thing as the dubious “Clinical Strength” deodorant marketing travesty that’s currently being run by Gillette and Secret. Both campaigns depend on the core incompetency of American consumers to compare and contrast simple products. People do not apply the same exacting matrix of comparison criteria to purchasing things like food or toothpaste as they do to giant LCD TVs. I know, a TV can cost over a $1,000 and that other stuff is usually cheap. But still, there is no reason to make uninformed decisions no matter what you’re buying.
Take a look at the deodorant section of almost any drug store and you will find a raft of “Clinical Strength” deodorants that are priced around $10. This is opposed to the Mitchum brand deodorants (they have been on the shelves since I have been wearing deodorant), which sell for just below $5. What’s the difference between the “Clinical Strength” stuff and the Mitchum? Nothing, more or less.
The amount of active ingredient (the anti-perspirant) in both types is exactly the same, 20% Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly. The only difference between the Mitchum and the “Clinical Strength” is the “filler” ingredients. And I imagine this has more to do with smell, texture, and pitfeel than anything else.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at the list of inactive and active ingredients in the “Clinical Strength deodorants vs the Mitchum deodorant. Very similar, yes?
Secret Clinical Strength Active Ingredients: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly (20%) Inactive Ingredients: CyclopentaSiloxane, Dimethicone, Tribehenin, Peterolatum, Cyclodextrin, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Fragrance, PPG 14 Butyl Ether
Gillette Clinical Strength Active Ingredients: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly (Anhydrous 20%) (Antiperspirant) Inactive Ingredients: CyclopentaSiloxane, Dimethicone, Tribehenin, Petrolatum, Cyclodextrin, C18-36 Acid Triglyceride, Fragrance, PPG 14 Butyl Ether Mitchum Smart Solid
Active Ingredients: Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly (20.0%) Inactive Ingredients: Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Hydroxy Stearic Acid, PEG 12 Dimethicone, Glycerin, CyclopentaSiloxane, Acetamide MEA, Agarose, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Fragrance
I AM A MITCHUM MAN AND SO CAN YOU
7 Comments
Well I love both Mitchum and Miller Lite what do I win?
It is funny how so many people neglect to do these basic comparisons for common products.
Digg it at http://digg.com/health/Clinical_Strength_Deodorants_are_a_Scam
I actually don’t use Mitchum or clinical strength. Nor do I drink any of the Miller beers. I agree that consumers can be huge suckers, but I also think Mitchum is part of that scam. It might not be as expensive as Secret Clinical Strength, but it IS more expensive than other deodorants, and for me, has never worked as well as Right Guard or Gillette. And it must be clear gel, otherwise fuck it. Speed Stick has always sucked.
Well, the fact is that Mitchum has a lot more active ingredient than both of the brands you refer to, Jose.
Yes it does cost more, but it also comes in a nifty Smart Solid variation which is the best of both worlds. No residue and no wet gel.
Certain Dri is the only true, clinical strength antiperspirant. It is so strong, that you are not supposed to use it after you get out of the shower or shave your pits (gentlemen), otherwise you will RASH UP. That is how strong it is.
And by the way, have you ever accidentally gotten antiperspirant on your tongue? You can forget about tasting anything for a day.
Ktray, that is one of the best comments ever. You’re such a knowledgeable consumer.
The active ingredients are actually different. The activite ingredient for Secret clinical is TRICHLOROHYDREX and the Mitchum ingredient is TERACHLOROHYDREX. I just thought I’d point that out, although these two ingredients probably don’t differ much.
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