Deodorant

There are two main types of deodorant: ones that eliminate or mask smells with fragrances and/or by killing bacteria that cause bad smells; and antiperspirants which contain ingredients (usually salts of aluminium) that reduce sweating by temporarily blocking pores.

Deodorants also come in a number of different forms including roll ons, sprays, solid sticks and crystals.

Toxics

The often complex and long ingredients lists of bodycare products contain a number of ingredients of concern. Parabens, phthalates and triclosan have been selected by Ethical Consumer as important indicators for our own toxics rating.

Companies that receive our best mark for their toxics policies avoid all three toxins, ones who score a middle have a policy to avoid one or two of the toxins, and companies that score a worst use all three of the toxins or have no policy.

Best rating for toxics policy

Faith in Nature, Green People, Little Satsuma, Weleda, Pacifica, Neal's Yard, Lavera, JASON, Sanex, Soft & Gentle, Crystal Spring and L'Occitane.

Middle rating for toxics policy

Dr. Hauschka, Logona and Sante, Attitude, Urtekram, Aesop, Bulldog, Mitchum, Body Shop, Unilever (Dove, Lynx, Rexona, Simple, Sure, Vaseline), Boots, PitRok, Lush.

Worst rating for toxics policy

Arrid, Amplex and Triple Dry, Eucerin, Fa, Right Guard, Natrel Plus, Nivea, Gillette, Old Spice, Superdrug, Avon, Dr Organic

Parabens in deodorants

According to Breast Cancer UK: “Parabens can mimic oestrogen action and have been measured in human breast tissue at concentrations which are functionally capable of mimicking oestrogen action in a way which could lead to  increased growth of oestrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells”.

Breast Cancer UK's position:

"Breast Cancer UK supports the phase out of all parabens from all cosmetics and products designed to be applied to the skin."

Cancer Research UK’s position:

“A recent review of the evidence surrounding parabens and breast cancer found that parabens can encourage human breast cells to behave like breast cancer cells, by moving about and invading tissue, avoiding cell death, and suppressing the work of a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer. But there are hundreds of other environmental chemicals that are found in human breast tissue, so it’s hard to be sure that parabens can cause cancer alone.”

Breast Cancer Fund:

“Check personal care product labels and avoid any products with parabens or any word ending in "-paraben."

Paraben free brands

The following companies have a policy not to use parabens in any of their products:

Faith in Nature, Green People, Little Satsuma, Weleda, Pacifica, Neal's Yard, Lavera, PitRok, Logona, Sante, Urtekram, Aesop, Bulldog, Body Shop, Dr Hauschka, Hain Celestial Group (JASON), Colgate-Palmolive (Sanex, Soft & Gentle, Tom’s of Maine), Crystal Spring (Salt of the Earth) and L'Occitane, Dr Organic.

Additionally, Lush do solid deodorants and powders that are paraben-free.

Aluminium

Some research suggests that aluminium-based compounds, which are more commonly found in antiperspirants rather than deodorants, may be absorbed by the skin and cause oestrogen-like (hormonal) effects like breast cancer. However the link between antiperspirants and cancers is not conclusive.

The compounds used are usually Aluminium Chlorohydrate or Aluminium Zirconium.

However, if you want to err on the side of caution, a wide number of brands now offer aluminium free deodorants, including Green People, Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Weleda, Neal’s Yard, Salt of the Earth, Urtekram, Logona, Lavera, Lush, Pitrok, Dr Hauschka, Aesop and Sante.

For more information about aluminium compounds and their toxicity see the Environmental Working Group’s website.

To avoid any toxic chemicals and to be totally aluminium free, just use soap and water. Or try a pinch of baking soda mixed into water.

Animal Testing

As animal testing is common in the cosmetics industry, we have rated the animal testing policies of all companies in this guide to deodorants. Companies will score a best rating if they have a policy not to test on animals, have a fixed cut-off date (a date after which none of their products or ingredients will have been tested on animals) for ingredients and are not selling to markets (e.g. China) where product animal testing is required by law.

Deodorant companies that received our best rating and do not conduct animal testing include: Faith in Nature, Green People, Dr. Hauschka, Little Satsuma, Logocos Naturkosmetik (Logona and Sante), Neal's Yard, Weleda, Lush, Natura Cosmeticos, Aesop, Edgewell Personal Care (Bulldog), Hain Celestial Group (JASON), Colgate-Palmolive (Sanex, Soft & Gentle, Tom’s of Maine), Body Shop, Lucy Bee.

Vegan and vegetarian brands

There are a number of vegan and vegetarian [A] deodorants available.

Vegan: Dr. Hauschka, Lucy Bee, Green People, Logona and Sante, Urtekram, most of Lavera’s deodorants, Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Pacifica, Neal’s Yard, Attitude, Weleda, LUSH, PitRok, Crystal Spring and Bulldog.

Vegetarian: JASON, Dr Organic and Tom’s of Maine

If you are vegan, you may want to buy from a vegan company as well. Pacifica, Attitude, PitRok and Little Satsuma are all vegan companies. Faith In Nature is also vegan with the exception of two hair care products which contain propolis (a product manufactured by bees).

Green People, Neal’s Yard and Weleda are vegetarian companies.

Sustainable palm oil

Palm oil and its derivatives are found in a vast number of cosmetics products that are manufactured by the companies in this guide. How a company sources and traces its palm oil products will affect whether it is linked with the clearing of rainforests and peatlands, and the degree to which its products negatively affect local communities, biodiversity and climate change.

The palm oil category under Environment on the score table shows which companies receive our best, middle and worst ratings for their palm oil policies and practices.

In this guide, only Lucy Bee is palm oil free. But Faith in Nature, Lush, Dr. Hauschka and Unilever received our best rating for their palm oil policies.