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Partner Content MARCH 8, 2022

26 Best Deodorants for Men of 2023

We’ve created a massive list ranging from organic all-natural products to the classics, so you can discover the best deodorants for men this year.

26 Best Deodorants for Men of 2023
Men's Deodorant

Men’s Deodorant

Sponsored content provided by Machines Agency


Let’s face it: Body odor is important. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and how you smell is a significant part of that. No one wants to be known as the guy with bad BO.

You harbor these same knee-jerk odor opinions about other people as well, even if you are Mother Teresa reincarnated. Because you have a nose, you will alwaysbe catching a whiff of other people’s scents. Some will be delightful, while others might make you want to crawl back into bed and work from home until you retire.

I’m on team “let’s avoid this issue altogether” by finding a deodorant that works at combating funky smells or odors. We’ve created a massive list ranging from organic all-natural products to the deodorant your grandpa uses, so you can discover the best deodorants for men this year.

1. Blu Atlas Deodorant

Our winner of best deodorant for men in 2023 is the cutting-edge Blu Atlas Deodorant. Recognized by Men’s Journal, Observer, and Forbes, this is an aluminum-free product that fights odors and makes Mother Nature proud. Blu Atlas takes their nature-based ethos seriously: This deodorant is packed full of powerhouse ingredients sourced from plants and the natural landscape.

Blu Atlas combines coco-caprylate and volcanic ash to tighten pores, block out odors and keep your skin hydrated. With its science-backed formulation, it will keep you smelling fresh all day.

We love this product because it’s one of the few deodorants with all-natural ingredients that keep foul odors locked away all day long. But don’t just take our word for it. Try it for yourself, and you can decide.

2. Jack Black Pit Boss Antiperspirant & Deodorant 

Jack Black creates luxury self-care products that men love and return to time after time. Their Pit Boss Antiperspirant & Deodorant is one of their most popular offerings. Pit Boss is a well-loved men’s deodorant that gets the job done. In just a few swipes, you can have the scent and luxury you crave.

Their formula uses 20% aluminum zirconium as its antiperspirant to stop sweat in its tracks. When combined with aloe vera juice and vitamin E, it helps the skin remain soft and supple while blocking unwanted odors.

You’ll love this product for its easy application and fresh, clean scent.

3. Art of Sport Victory Men’s Antiperspirant and Deodorant 

Blocking, locking and boxing out bad BO is what the Art of Sport’s deodorants do best. They’re all-natural, aluminum-free deodorants that use plant-based science to help you manage body odor and intense sweat. If you’re an active guy or just sweat a lot, you’ll love Art of Sport’s range of deodorants that help men maintain control over their scent and smell.

With four strong natural scents to choose from, you’ll have options to maintain your optimal aroma. The formula uses matcha and arrowroot to lock away foul odors and smells without using harsh chemicals such as aluminum to block sweat.

You’ll love this product if you’re an active guy looking for a great-smelling, easy-to-use natural deodorant.

4. Mario Badescu Deodorant 

If you’re looking for a simple, clean product that provides a fresh scent and minimal fuss, Mario Badescu’s Deodorant is hard to beat. It’s an aluminum-free and baking-soda-free formula perfect for men with sensitive skin or other skin problems. It has a light scent that is long-lasting but not overpowering.

Their calming blend of sage, cucumber and ginger root oils simultaneously combat underarm odors and soothe the skin. Mario Badescu products are always light and refreshing and are a great addition to your morning routine.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for a light, fragrant deodorant that’s perfect for sensitive skin.

5. Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant 

Malin + Goetz created this Eucalyptus Deodorant to help everyone with sensitive skin find a deodorant that actually works. They only use natural fragrances and colors in their products, and of course, it’s vegan and cruelty-free. This deodorant formulation is also aluminum-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free and baking soda-free.

The natural ingredients that neutralize odors are citronellyl and eucalyptus. This plant-based approach to killing stench works well, as men keep coming back to buy more. Simply apply the deodorant to clean, dry skin, and you’ll be ready to take on the day in your new ultra-fresh deodorant.

You’ll love this product if you have sensitive skin and appreciate the invigorating smell of eucalyptus.

6. Aesop Spray Deodorant 

Who doesn’t love a fast, easy spray to keep body odor in check? This spray deodorant from Aesop’s is the cure-all for those with busy lives and long to-do lists. Simply spray the deodorant onto clean, dry underarms, and you’ll be on your way! Be careful not to waste any of this product, as it only comes in a 1.7oz container.

With a sleek bottle made from 99.7% recycled plastics that looks like it comes straight from a Shakespearean apothecary, it’s a siren call for people who love the earth. It contains no harsh antiperspirant chemicals, but its formula of zinc and essential oils combats odor and keeps sweat in check. The ingredients will take care of your pits with natural compounds like vetiver root, lavender and coriander seed.

You’ll love this product if you appreciate the ability to spray on deodorant and move on with your busy life.

7. Corpus N° Green Natural Deodorant 

Corpus N° Green’s Deodorant looks like it hopped straight out of a beauty catalog. Its round green container evokes garden vibes and awakens the nature lover in us all. It is free of baking soda, which means your skin will feel smooth and rested after use, and the deodorant won’t irritate your skin.

The plant-based materials and oils create a lovely botanical citrus garden scent. Corpus also makes more rugged scents in their deodorant line. They manufacture seven diverse fragrances to cater to your preferred aroma and vibe: Neroli, Third Rose, Santalum, California and The Botanist.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for an all-natural deodorant with powerful scent options.

8. Ralph Lauren Black Deodorant Polo Spray

This classic brand is perhaps best known for its men’s polo shirts. They’ve extended their product line with the Black Deodorant Polo Spray. It offers a quick, efficient way to apply deodorant if you’re short on time. Ralph Lauren calls this deodorant “daring,” but you’ll end up calling it delectable. Its blend of unique scents includes mango, patchouli and silver armoise.

You’ll love this deodorant if you’re looking for a strongly scented sprayable deodorant.

9. Tom’s of Maine Men Deodorant

Reduce, reuse, recycle. That’s not Tom’s of Maine’s motto, but they do care about the earth and environment. Tom’s of Maine wants us to consider our impact on the globe with each self-care product we purchase.

This solid deodorant offers 24 hours of protection from odors. Their unique blend of deep forest scent combines pine and lemongrass to create an unforgettable rugged aroma. The deodorant comes in two scents, North Woods and Mountain Spring. The latter is perhaps the most popular.

You’ll love this product if you like to invest in companies that care about the earth.

10. Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin Deodorant Stick, Here & Now 

Schmidt’s has been creating high-quality natural deodorants for people with sensitive skin, with the best natural components out there. With over 20 variations of deodorant to choose from, they make finding a new deodorant easy.

Their sensitive formula is free from artificial fragrance, baking soda and aluminum. Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin Here & Now contains activated charcoal to help your pits remain odor-free.

We love this product because it’s made for people with sensitive skin. No more worrying about adverse effects, bumpy skin and ingredients that just don’t work. You’ll love this product if you’re looking for an affordable deodorant option for sensitive skin.

11. Peach Not Plastic Deodorant

Peach Not Plastic has made a revolutionary plastic-free deodorant option for men. Buckle up, because we’re shopping for organic, natural deodorants that don’t pollute the earth.

Peach Not Plastic’s Deodorant offers 48 hours of odor-killing protection with their hippie-love-child-meets-body-care product. With the rugged scent of cedarwood and eucalyptus, it’s tough to resist. They offer three other refreshing scents: coconut jasmine, cucumber sage and citrus vetiver.

If you love the earth, jump on the bandwagon of zero waste and start purchasing refillable self-care items. With Peach Not Plastic, you can buy a deodorant stick refill that helps you reduce waste and keep the earth safe.

We love that they have a “Happiness Guarantee” policy, meaning you can return a product within 30 days and get a refund if it doesn’t work for you! We have a feeling you’ll keep it, though.

12. Oars + Alps Natural Deodorant

With so many amazing natural deodorants on the market, how can we choose just one? That’s where Oars + Alps can step in and help you find the ideal underarm scent for you. With over seven scents and aromas to choose from, they make picking a new natural deodorant fun and easy. Best of all, their deodorant has no aluminum, making it perfect for anyone with sensitive skin.

Not only is it an incredibly effective deodorant; it’s also an incredibly affordable option! Try out their Deo Scent Sampler kit, which brings three mini all-natural deodorants to your home for only six dollars.

You’ll love this brand if you’re looking for a variety of scents and options and don’t want to break the bank.

13. Lume Natural Deodorant 

Another all-natural deodorant option comes in at number 13 on our list. Like many other deodorants, it is aluminum-free, paraben-free and baking soda-free. Why did we include so many natural deodorants on our list instead of synthetic chemicals that blast away BO and block out sweat production? Well, we know all-natural products like Lume really work, and we want to allow you to discover new plant-based products that can level up your self-care routine.

With Lume’s Unscented Deodorant, you can keep away funky odors while still allowing your cologne or other scents to shine through. Their deodorant provides 72 hours of odor-neutralizing coverage.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for a long-lasting, all-natural deodorant that doesn’t steal the thunder from your cologne or perfume.

14. Hawthorne Natural Eucalyptus Deodorant

Hawthorne wants you to ditch your antiperspirant and take a walk on the wild side with their natural deodorant. They made a luxurious roll-on deodorant that glides across your underarms to level up your self-care.

With their unique blend of eucalyptus oil, coconut oil, arrowroot powder, sunflower seed oil and sage oil, they aim to replace the synthetic scents many other deodorants use while still giving you a delicious underarm smell. There are no traditional antiperspirant sweat blockers in this formula, which uses witch hazel to combat bacteria and BO. Eucalyptus provides a fresh, long-lasting scent.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for a natural sweat-blasting product that does all the dirty work for you.

15. Method Men Deodorant 

Method Men uses plants and minerals to bring you the natural deodorant your underarms have been looking for. They only offer aluminum-free products to give your body the natural ingredients it deserves. Their deodorant provides 12 hours of underarm protection. While that is on the lower side, you’ll only need a quick reapplication to reap the benefits and maintain your fragrance.

Their deodorants come in four tempting scents: bergamot and lime, sea and surf, juniper and sage, and cedar and cypress. The formula includes plant-based botanicals that will turn your underarms into a heavenly bouquet.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for a strongly scented deodorant that’s also aluminum-free.

16. Off Court Deodorant Body Spray 

Another deodorant body spray has made this year’s list of the best deodorants for men. We love the idea of a spray deodorant that helps us save time and get on with our lives while smelling exquisite. Off Court has made an all-natural deodorant spray that effectively locks away foul odors.

The formula uses prebiotics to keep funky scents under wraps by helping good bacteria thrive and banishing harmful bacteria. Off Court brings three refreshing scents to the streets. Fresh Citron + Driftwood, Fig Leaves + White Musk, and Coconut Water + Sandalwood. Oh, and it’s aluminum-free!

You’ll love this product if you want a deodorant spray with different scent options.

17. Myro Solar Flare 

Solar Flare’s packaging is what makes it so eye-catching. But the combination of botanical ingredients and science is what will keep you coming back for more. Myro created an aloe-based formula to combat body odors and sweat using plant-based science. Their recipe uses probiotics to cultivate the good bacteria and snuff out the bad. With the incredible scent combination of sunflower, juniper and orange, it’s a wonderful addition to your toiletry bag.

To keep the environmentally friendly train going, they also offer a refillable case for which you can purchase deodorant pod refills. You can even wash the deodorant case in the dishwasher. What more could you want in a 21st-century self-care product?

You’ll love this product if you want to do your part and take care of the environment. The refillable case makes it a true champion for the planet.

18. Every Man Jack Deodorant Sandalwood

Every Man Jack creates standout products for men, and they certainly didn’t skimp on their deodorant collection. Their 99% natural products are totally aluminum-free, and most men will want to try this deodorant. They have many affordable deodorant choices starting at just nine dollars.

The formula uses an ingredient most others don’t: lichen extract, a natural antibacterial that comes straight from nature. They combine it with aloe vera to keep your skin smooth and soothed.

You’ll love this product for its strong scent and easy application.

19. Agent Nateur Unisex N°5 Deodorant

If you’re looking for a high-quality deodorant that looks like it belongs under the arms of a secret agent or spy, we’ve got you covered. Agent Nateur’s deodorant is a mix of elegance and simple statements. They help you naturally balance your body’s odors with their all-natural ingredients.

This formula mixes incredible ingredients with botanicals such as coconut oil, avocado butter, castor oil, sandalwood oil and vetiver. The ingredients are all certified organic, so you know you’re only putting the finest products on your clean skin.

You’ll love this product if you’re in the market for a certified organic deodorant that makes you feel like a movie star.

20. Clinique for Men Antiperspirant-Deodorant Stick

If you don’t want your deodorant to clash with your cologne or aftershave scent, Clinique for Men is the deodorant for you. It is an antiperspirant and deodorant that will combat any sweat or bacteria that can cause bad BO. It has a simple aesthetic and takes a gentle but effective approach to combating odor.

You’ll love this product if you’re looking for an unscented deodorant and antiperspirant to help combat sweat and body odor.

21. Mitchum Men Antiperspirant & Deodorant 

Mitchum makes men’s deodorant accessible and easy. They manufacture generic scents and odor-blocking solids that will help you stay fresh. Their deodorant offers 48 hours of odor protection and ensures no offensive odors come through.

You’ll love this antiperspirant and deodorant if you want an easy, clean option that helps your pits stay fresh one swipe at a time.

22. Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Antiperspirant & Deodorant Cream

This deodorant and antiperspirant is not your average product! This bad boy comes in cream form and is easy to apply. Kiehl recommends applying the cream with clean hands to freshly washed underarms to fight odors. The formula uses aluminum and witch hazel to manage bacteria and sweat that cause bad BO.

What makes cream deodorant different? It’s a liquid, so it will look and feel different from standard solid deodorant. It rubs in smoothly like a lotion, and many men note that it is a more enjoyable experience.

You’ll love this if you’re looking for an easy cream deodorant that you can use anywhere.

23. Gillette Invisible Solid Antiperspirant & Deodorant 

Some of the original vanguards against odors and bad smells, Gillette’s deodorants have circulated in gym bags since the 1960s. You might think they’d eventually lose their thunder, but being a preferred deodorant by athletes and active people for more than 60 years means this deodorant isn’t going anywhere.

Their strong antiperspirant blocks sweat glands and helps stop the production of more sweat while you’re on the court, in a meeting or on a first date. It will lock away odors and provide 72 hours of sweat protection, which means you can go on a first date without having to worry about being a sweaty mess.

Gillette offers many variations of deodorant that will suit your needs. Their deodorant collection includes a clear gel and an invisible solid.

You’ll love this deodorant if you’re an active man and want a tried and true deodorant that other men have been using for decades.

24. Dove Men + Care Clean Comfort Deodorant 

A no-fuss, no-mess deodorant to use for real-life events awaits you. Dove Men + Care has a deodorant that will take care of any odors and lock them away with their 48-hour odor protection. It leaves you with a clean, fresh scent. It’s an affordable option and has an alcohol-free formula, so it won’t leave your skin feeling parched or dry.

You’ll love this deodorant if you’re looking for an inexpensive, alcohol-free deodorant with a fresh scent.

25. Old Spice Classic Original Scent Deodorant 

Another classic deodorant from the old guard protecting your all-day scent is Old Spice. You may associate Old Spice with your father or grandfather, but we think it deserves a 21st century revival for its ability to blast foul odors. Easy to find and easy to use, this deodorant will keep you feeling fresh all day. Don’t overlook this fresh classic!

You’ll love this deodorant if you’re looking for an incredibly affordable option with a classic manly scent.

26. Degree Men Clean Clinical Antiperspirant Deodorant 

Don’t let the sleek, straightforward design of Degree’s Clinical Antiperspirant Deodorant fool you; it’s here to do the work and block all foul odors from your underarms. Its single purpose is to stop the sweat-producing glands that create gross odors and smells. With its extra-strength antiperspirant of 20% aluminum, it certainly gets the job done.

You’ll love this product if you want a fresh, easy-to-apply men’s deodorant.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing

Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant 

Deodorant

A deodorant is a substance that covers up body odors with fragrance. Most deodorants target the smell produced by your underarms.

Deodorant generally does not stop sweating or block the foul odors that bacteria create. The different scents you will get from deodorants come from natural ingredients or other harsh chemicals to cover bad BO smells.

Antiperspirant

Antiperspirants are chemicals used to block or reduce sweat production by the sweat glands. The main ingredient used by many companies to stop sweat production is aluminum.

Antiperspirants block sweat, and they also block odor. That’s why many deodorants use more potent antiperspirant chemicals.

The use of aluminum as an antiperspirant has become a contentious discussion due to its potential health effects. The jury is still out on the long-term effects aluminum may have on our health. If your health is a priority (and it should be!), you should probably switch to an aluminum-free deodorant.

Types of Deodorant and Antiperspirants 

Deodorants come in many forms. These include solids, gels, sprays and even creams. Each odor-blocking formula has a different drying time and product shape, and will feel different on your skin after application.

We want to use products that make us feel good! So let’s walk you through each variation, and you can find the perfect option for you.

Solid

A solid deodorant is the most classic form. It will usually come in a tube (many solid deodorants are white), and the solid glides on effortlessly. A solid deodorant may leave white streaks on clothes or transfer to your T-shirt. Residue can be visible after applying this type of odor blocker.

Invisible Solid 

This deodorant will look solid but will dry invisible and transparent, leaving no white streaks or marks. It’s perfect if you love a solid deodorant but hate the marks it can leave on your clothes.

Gel 

A deodorant made with gel will coat the skin and needs time to dry.

Gels come in many forms, and some are wetter than others. If you’re on the fence about a gel deodorant and are worried it may be too wet, scroll through the product reviews and see what other men have shared about the product.

Spray

Spray deodorants are incredibly easy to use and dry quickly, which is why many men love them. Simply aim the bottle at your underarm, spray and it should dry incredibly fast. Give the deodorant spray time to dry before getting dressed, though! Waiting a few minutes before dressing ensures you won’t rub off your deodorant spray.

Roll-On

Deodorants that come in a roll-on bottle are liquids that dry quickly. Usually, they are wetter than a standard deodorant, as they are made from a water base, and it’s best to apply them before getting dressed so they won’t rub off on your clothes.

Cream

Cream deodorant will come in a tube, or possibly a tub, to make application easier. Many people prefer a cream deodorant because it is soft and feels like lotion when applied.

Simply swipe this onto clean pits with your fingers (or an applicator, if you prefer). You’ll have to wait for this product to dry before putting on clothes.

How to Properly Apply Deodorant

Always apply deodorant to clean, dry skin. If your deodorant contains alcohol, be sure to avoid any nicks or scratches on your underarms, as this can irritate your skin or cause adverse reactions.

If you’re applying a wet deodorant product (think cream or liquid), give it time to dry before putting clothes on, or you risk wiping off and losing your odor-neutralizing product.

Are you Switching to an Aluminum-free Deodorant? Here are a Few Things to Keep in Mind

If you’re switching to an all-natural deodorant that is free of harsh chemicals (specifically aluminum), you will not smell immediate results. It will take your body time to adjust to the new product you are using. Because it is aluminum-free, your body will be “recovering” from the sweat gland blockers and relearning how to manage sweat with the help of your all-natural deodorant.

Think of it as your body going through a withdrawal process as it learns to cope with sweat and bacteria on its own again. Between weeks two and four of using an aluminum-free, all-natural deodorant, your body will start using these deodorants in a more effective, fresh-smelling way.

So don’t give up if your pits aren’t smelling the “right” way after only one week! We recommend waiting until week four before switching back to a product with aluminum.

2023’s Best Deodorants for Men Recap

Blu Atlas Deodorant wins our top spot for this year’s list of best deodorants. From purchasing to the final application, they make it easy for you to enjoy their all-natural product. Their deodorant brings together plant-based science and nature’s botanical miracles to make your pits smell the best they ever have.

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Studio S OCTOBER 22, 2026

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence

The San Diego home remodeling company works on full homes, kitchens, bathrooms, home additions, ADUs, garages, landscapes, and hardscapes.

Milan Design + Build Helps San Diegans Remodel With Confidence
Courtesy of Milan Design

Most homeowners want two things before they commit to a remodel: a realistic sense of cost and a clear picture of what the finished space will look like. Milan Design + Build helps deliver both through its online remodeling estimator and personalized design consultations, supported by a showroom experience and 3D renderings.

“The online estimate gives homeowners a starting number in about a minute, and the showroom and 3D renderings let them see materials and layouts before anything is built,” says David Noriani, CEO of Milan Design + Build. “Keeping design, permits, and construction with one team helps us manage expectations and keep everyone working toward the same vision.”

Courtesy of Milan Design

Modern design is a particular focus for Milan, with an emphasis on clean lines, natural light, functional layouts, and carefully selected materials. The team adapts each design to the homeowner’s lifestyle and the character of the property. Milan Design + Build combines thoughtful design with construction expertise, creating spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful.

The online estimator covers kitchen remodels, bathroom renovations, full-home remodels, and ADU construction. At Milan’s showroom on Carroll Road, visitors can review real materials, finishes, and design options, meet the design-build team, and discuss project scope, budget, and timing. Consultations can also be held virtually for homeowners who prefer to start remotely.

At Milan Design + Build, one integrated team works on the entire project. Design and construction aren’t divided between separate firms. The process begins with a consultation and feasibility review, followed by design, space planning, and 3D renderings developed from detailed measurements and digital scans. The team also coordinates architectural plans, structural engineering, city approvals, and material selection, with construction overseen by a dedicated project manager.

Homeowners can explore their remodeling options, get an initial estimate, or request a design consultation at MilanBuild.com.

Courtesy of Milan Design

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 10, 2026

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign

The Campaign for La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) will fuel scientific innovation and medical advances

La Jolla Institute for Immunology Announces $55 Million Fundraising Campaign
Courtesy of La Jolla Institute for Immunology

Philanthropists and Scientists Join Forces for a Bold $55 Million Campaign

La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) is going public with a bold bet: a $55 million campaign to propel medical research into a new era. The Campaign for LJI will fuel discovery, empower scientific innovation, and expand the impact of immunology on human health. 

The Institute quietly kicked things off in 2023, guided by its Board, campaign volunteers, and early believers. Nearly 80% of the $55 million goal is already in hand. Now LJI is opening the doors and inviting the whole community to carry their visions across the finish line and back discoveries that change how LJI researchers understand, treat, and prevent disease. 

And there’s a bonus. To mark the public launch, LJI Board member and Campaign Honorary Chair Anthony R. Carr is offering a special matching gift so new donors can double their impact. Full details are here. 

The Promise of Immunology

Immunology has already rewritten human history. Advances in immune science helped wipe out smallpox, pushed polio to the brink of elimination, and revolutionized how we prevent and treat infectious disease. Today, immune-based therapies are opening doors for patients with cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other serious illnesses once considered untreatable. 

For nearly four decades, LJI scientists have stood on the front lines, driven by one insight: the immune system shapes disease in virtually every organ in the body. By decoding how the immune system works and how to harness it to prevent and treat disease, LJI researchers are chasing the Institute’s ultimate mission: Life Without Disease®. 

To make that mission real, the Institute pairs world-class scientists with cutting-edge technology, speeding up breakthroughs and turning discoveries into transformative new therapies that ease suffering worldwide. 

The Campaign for LJI supercharges that momentum, uniting the vision of the Institute’s scientists with a community that believes in research. Focused on advancing LJI’s most promising areas of study, the campaign aims to help build a future free from the burden of disease, a goal that demands bold ideas, lasting partnerships, and generous philanthropic support.

The Campaign for LJI will advance research across three critical pillars: 

1. President’s Priority Fund. Flexible, unrestricted dollars let big ideas move now, not later. Scientists can launch high-risk, high-reward projects, bring experts together across disciplines, build transformative technologies, and train tomorrow’s scientific leaders. 

2. Center for Sex-Based Differences in the Immune System. Male and female immune systems don’t respond the same way, and LJI researchers are tracing the fundamental differences down to individual cells and molecular pathways. The Campaign will speed up this pioneering work, revealing hidden drivers of disease and paving the way for more precise, biologically informed therapies for autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, cancer, and beyond. 

3. Center for Vaccine Innovation. Immunologists, bioengineers, and vaccine experts are teaming up to design the next generation of vaccines and immune-based therapies. With donor support, LJI scientists can engineer longer-lasting and more personalized vaccines, pinpoint the cellular mechanisms driving protective immunity, and refine delivery methods to prevent autoimmune disease and treat cancer. 

A Lasting Impact

As the campaign enters its public phase, LJI welcomes new partners and supporters to join this landmark initiative. Community support is essential to accelerating scientific discovery, and there are many meaningful ways to help shape the future of immunology. Donors may direct their gifts to any campaign priority or other area of interest. As a comprehensive campaign, all gifts to LJI count toward the campaign goal, regardless of designation. Join the campaign, and multiply your impact with our limited-time matching opportunity. 

To explore the campaign, visit imagine.lji.org.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments

Scripps orthopedic surgeons are investigating stem cells as an alternative to joint replacement

Paving the Way for New Knee Treatments
Courtesy of Scripps Health

Shiley Center for Orthopaedic Research and Education at Scripps Clinic recently received a $12.7 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to investigate whether they can transform stem cells into tissue that can repair some types of knee injuries. Currently, if a patient has lost most, if not all, of the cartilage in their knee, then their doctor will recommend a total joint replacement. Joint replacement is safe and effective, but patients who’ve only lost part of their cartilage often don’t qualify. A stem cell-based treatment would provide these patients an option that doesn’t involve donor tissue. Click here for more on the preclinical trial process. 

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Healing by Design

Artwork throughout the Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas promotes hope and healing

Healing by Design
Courtesy of Scripps Health

The recently opened Lusardi Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas is a state-of-the-art addition to the hospital staffed by dedicated team members who’ve helped make Scripps one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. Complementary to that medical excellence, the Lusardi Tower also represents the latest expansion of the Scripps Arts for Healing Program. The philanthropic initiative strategically places nature- and community-based artwork throughout the hospital to support health and well-being. Both Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla have healing arts programs as part of new building projects and growth on the campuses. Click here to read more about the Healing Arts Program and how residents from a nearby retirement community showed their support. 

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

Partner Content
Partner Content NOVEMBER 4, 2026

A Guide to South Park

From century-old Craftsman homes to vegan fantasy bars, dive bars, and a tiki room built for exactly two people, this is one of San Diego’s great little neighborhoods

You may not realize it, but Balboa Park is bigger than Central Park (in fact, 1.5 times larger). Pressed right up against its southeastern edge is a little architecture farm built on old trolley bones, where houses look like someone was collecting architectural styles and local businesses are still run by people who seem personally invested in keeping this place interesting.

This is South Park. 

To understand why it feels the way it does today—less like one commercial strip and more like a handful of tiny villages—you have to go back to the trolley.

How the Trolley Built South Park

The land that became the original South Park Addition (the subdivision’s original name) was surveyed in 1870 and officially filed in 1890, but the neighborhood really started becoming a neighborhood in the early 1900s. The Bartlett Estate Company began developing and marketing the tract in earnest around 1906, pairing lots and new homes with something extremely useful if you lived outside Downtown in the horse-and-buggy era: an electric streetcar.

On May 1, 1906, the South Park and East Side Railway made its first trip. Developers didn’t just build near transportation; they helped pay for the transportation, then used it to sell the dream. Downtown had industry, noise, and congestion. Out here were palms, sidewalks, utilities, room to breathe and a four-cent ride back to the city.

It worked. Homes began filling in around the streetcar route, and little commercial clusters grew around the places where people got on and off. That transportation pattern is still written into South Park’s geography. Some of the neighborhood’s odd street geometry is also due in part to the trolley—the old line cut across parcels instead of politely obeying the grid, leaving behind pieces of land that later businesses learned to build around. Places like Station Tavern sit on the former easement and station site of San Diego’s No. 2 trolley line.

Then San Diego went big for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in neighboring Balboa Park. The exposition transformed much of the park and helped push the city through another burst of building and growth. South Park was right there to absorb some of that momentum.

And the people building houses here had taste.

Walk the residential streets now and it can feel like somebody planted an architectural sample garden: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission Revival, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival. Creedence Clearwater Revival. All the revivals. The neighborhood includes work by Irving Gill, one of the defining architects of early modern California; Gill-designed Prairie homes still stand along Granada Avenue.

The city formally designated the South Park Historic District in 2017, recognizing roughly 400 properties and a period of significance stretching from 1906 through 1949. In other words, a lot of what makes the place feel old is actually old.

South Park Today

While the trolley eventually disappeared, the basic idea behind it didn’t. South Park is still a neighborhood organized around little pockets of human activity: a couple blocks where you can buy a record, drink a beer, find a 60-year-old lamp, eat a vegan burger beneath gothic beasts, browse a bookstore, and walk home past a century-old Craftsman.

The 30th-and-Fern area may be the clearest example. Several surviving buildings there date to South Park’s early development, including the old Fire Station No. 9, Rose Grocery building, and Burlingame Garage. What began as infrastructure for a young streetcar suburb became the neighborhood’s commercial heart.

That history is also partly why buying a house here can be competitive. There isn’t some endless supply of vacant land waiting around the corner for another subdivision. Much of the neighborhood filled in generations ago, and the architecture itself is part of the appeal.

San Diego Mag’s been documenting the city for 78 years. And we’ve been looking for a partner who loved the city enough to help us tell its stories. Redfin is that partner. They’re helping us tell the story of some of the city’s most unique neighborhoods. They launched Redfin Early Access this year to get their people in first and to see certain coming-soon and exclusive listings on Redfin before they appear on other major real-estate sites.

First up: South Park.

Here are some of the people and places worth knowing here:

Whistle Stop Bar

Big Kitchen Cafe

Start with Judy “the Beauty” Forman, because it’s difficult to explain South Park without her. The former social worker bought Big Kitchen in 1980 and turned a neighborhood breakfast joint into a gathering place for artists, musicians, activists, politicians, eccentrics, and pretty much anyone who needed somewhere to belong. As Judy puts it, “I built this for people who others passed over.”

One of those people was a young single mom named Whoopi Goldberg, who worked as a dishwasher here before the Whoopi Goldberg part of her career happened. Today Big Kitchen still serves breakfast and lunch Thursday through Monday.

3003 Grape Street

Whistle Stop Bar

Whistle Stop reopened in 2001, right as South Park’s little independent-business ecosystem was finding a new generation. Owner Sam Chammas—also connected to Live Wire and, later, Station Tavern—helped turn it into the kind of neighborhood bar where the calendar can jump from a DJ night to live bands to some strange communal event nobody at a normal sports bar would propose.

The room still has that laid-back, slightly sweaty house-party quality. Check what’s happening before you go, because Whistle Stop changes personality depending on the night: sometimes neighborhood beer, sometimes everyone dancing beneath the disco ball like work tomorrow was canceled.

2236 Fern Street

Station Tavern

Station Tavern may be the most literal example of old South Park becoming new South Park. It opened in 2009 on land once crossed diagonally by the No. 2 trolley line, and architect Lloyd Russell incorporated that history into the design rather than pretending the weirdly shaped lot wasn’t weirdly shaped. The project won the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s Grand Orchid Award the same year it opened.

Sam Chammas built the place as an open-air burger-and-beer spot with big communal tables, a backyard, room for kids, and room for dogs. It still works exactly that way: get a burger, get the tots, let everybody spread out, stay awhile.

2204 Fern Street

Kindred + Throne Room

Kindred arrived in late 2015 looking nothing like the beige-and-leafy vegan restaurant stereotype. The place went full gothic fever dream—heavy music, wild cocktails, decadent plant-based food—and eventually collected national vegan accolades plus local Restaurant of the Year and design honors.

And in 2026, it got even weirder. Hidden behind a chain-mail passage inside Kindred is Throne Room, a medieval-fantasy cocktail chamber whose mythology grew out of a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired map the Kindred team created for a 2017 Coachella pop-up. The 90-minute experience has scroll menus, plant-based mezze, cocktails and zero interest in pretending restaurants need to behave normally.

1503 30th Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Vinyl Junkies Record Shack

Vinyl Junkies has good music-scene DNA. Founder Eric Howarth previously ran indie label Hi-Speed Soul, whose roster included acts like Nada Surf and Swervedriver, then teamed with Casbah owner Tim Mays after the pair had spent years putting on Vinyl Junkies record swaps.

They opened the South Park brick-and-mortar shop in 2017, and it remains a buy-sell-trade temple for people who understand that owning music on a physical object is irrational in exactly the right way. Go flip through the new arrivals. Leave holding something you had absolutely no intention of buying.

2235 Fern Street

Bad Madge & Co.

Bad Madge is what happens when “vintage store” doesn’t quite explain the situation. Owner Tanya McAnear and her team fill the shop with furniture, clothing, barware, records, art, jewelry, collectibles, and various objects that seem like they may know things about their previous owners. The shop opened in 2011 and has made reuse and upcycling part of its identity ever since. Go in without looking for anything specific—specificity will only slow you down.

2205 Fern Street

Thread + Seed

Across the neighborhood’s vintage-and-vinyl universe sits Thread + Seed, a local boutique built around clothing, denim, gifts, and personal styling. Its South Park shop has an especially deep denim program—petite, tall, wide-leg, straight, flare—and the store also offers one-on-one styling built around color and body type. In other words, this is where you go after deciding the jeans currently on your body have betrayed you. South Park understands that sometimes personal renewal begins with pants.

2220 Fern Street

The Book Catapult

Seth Marko started The Book Catapult as a book blog in 2006. In 2017, he and his wife, Jennifer Powell, turned it into an actual bookstore in South Park, specializing loosely in fiction, local interest, and children’s books while maintaining the more important bookseller skill: putting something into your hands that you didn’t know you needed.

There are staff picks, author events, signed books, and the dangerous possibility of walking in for one title and emerging with four. Because no one ever died thinking, “I shoulda read less.”

3010-B Juniper Street

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Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle

Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and craft mixers - meet our 2026 Tastemakers, the minds behind the magic.

Tastemakers Fall 2026: Valle
E-SDM—Valle-2026—Tastemakers_WEB

Roberto Alcocer, Chef

Chef Roberto Alcocer showcases all that Mexican cuisine and culture has to offer at Oceanside’s Valle. The Michelin-guide recommended restaurant takes inspiration and techniques from all over Mexico—with a heavy Baja influence—and blends them with local San Diego ingredients to create original and delectable contemporary Mexican cuisine. The seasonal tasting menu allows Chef Alcocer to experiment with the freshest available ingredients, creating dishes that defy guests’ expectations, while the wine list features more than 100 labels from Mexican artisans. Even the restaurant’s walls are a celebration of Mexican culture, all decorated with work from artists of Baja.

“My favorite part of being a chef of Valle is being able to showcase the Mexico that I know to everyone who visits,” Chef Alococer says. “Not only through the food, but with the design, culture, and welcoming service.”  

Try This!

Lobster Taco: Flour sourdough tortilla with lobster shell bisque and local red spiny lobster

Valle

222 North Pacific Street, Oceanside, California 92054
866-723-8906  | valleoceanside.com

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