The apparatus is designed to dispense an aerosol product from a pressurized cylindrical cannister having a depressible nozzle at one end. The dispenser is pistol-shaped, formed of a generally cylindrical body and a downwardly extending handle with a trigger. The body defines an elongated recess adapted to receive and engage the cannister, with the nozzle situated substantially along the axis of the body. The dispenser body has a nose part moveably mounted in the front end. Means are provided for connecting the trigger to move the nose part relative to the body to depress the canister nozzle such that the product is released through an opening in the nose part.