Brandwave

Axe vs Secret:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Secret had more branded searches than Axe among deodorant brands in the United States. Secret had about 40,500 branded searches, while Axe had 8,100. Secret made up 7.9% of all deodorant brand searches we track, and Axe accounted for 1.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about deodorant brands, Secret appeared in four of the five answers and Axe in none.

Among deodorant brands in the United States in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Secret, about 5 searches for every 1 for Axe

Secret 40.5K searchesAxe 8.1K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Secret, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Axe in 0

Secret in 4 of 5Axe in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Secret, the only one of the two named

Secret first in 4Axe never named

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Top deodorant brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Secret was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Axe did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Secret1st
  2. Dove2nd
  3. Native3rd
  4. Certain Dri4th
  5. Speed Stick5th
  6. Old Spice6th
  7. Mitchum7th
  8. Degree8th
  9. Lume9th
  10. +2 more
  11. Axe–
  12. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Dove4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Secret4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Native3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lume2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Certain Dri2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Degree1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Old Spice1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Speed Stick1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Mitchum1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Axe0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+3 more

See every answer about deodorant brands

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.

Is Axe or Secret more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Axe and Secret by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 deodorant brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.

Axe and Secret among deodorant brands in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Secret, Axe. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthDoveNativeLumeDegreeOld SpiceSecretDr. SquatchArm & HammerCertain DriSpeed StickAxeSchmidt’sMitchum
Oct 202522.9%21.4%11.8%7.9%9.6%7.9%5.3%3.5%2.4%2.4%1.9%1.9%1.1%
Nov 202519.9%22.8%12.5%8.4%10.3%8.4%5.6%3.1%2.5%2.1%1.7%1.7%1.1%
Dec 202520%26.7%9.8%8%9.8%8%5.4%2.9%2.4%2.4%1.6%2%1.1%
Jan 202620.9%25.1%11.2%7.5%9.2%9.2%5%2.7%2.7%2.2%1.2%1.8%1%
Feb 202619.8%22.7%12.5%8.3%10.2%8.3%5.6%3.1%3.1%2.5%1.4%1.7%0.91%
Mar 202622%20.6%13.9%7.6%9.3%7.6%6.2%2.8%3.4%2.3%1.5%1.9%1%
Apr 202618.7%21.4%14.4%7.9%9.6%7.9%6.4%2.9%3.5%2.9%1.6%1.9%1%
May 202618.9%20.6%13.8%9.3%9.3%7.6%7.6%2.8%3.4%2.8%1.5%1.5%1%
Jun 202619.7%17.6%17.6%9.6%7.9%7.9%6.4%2.9%3.5%2.4%1.9%1.6%1.1%
Jul 202622.2%17.1%17.1%9.3%7.6%7.6%6.2%3.4%3.4%2.3%1.2%1.5%1%
Aug 202622.4%20%13.4%9%9%7.3%6%3.3%3.3%2.2%1.5%1.5%1.2%
Sep 202623%17.7%11.8%9.7%9.7%7.9%6.5%3.5%3.5%2.9%1.6%1.3%1.1%

How has the Axe and Secret comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Secret was ahead of Axe in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Axe’s share of searches among deodorant brands in the United States moved from 1.9% to 1.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 9.9K to 8.1K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Secret’s share of searches among deodorant brands in the United States held steady at 7.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 40.5K.

How did search popularity change for United States deodorant brands in September 2026?

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Secret gained share of searches among deodorant brands in the United States, from 7.3% to 7.9%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Axe in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 9.9K to 8.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Axe’s and Secret’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Axe

1 branded search term

  • axe deodorant

Secret

1 branded search term

  • secret deodorant

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among deodorant brands

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