GoodGuide Deodorant and Antiperspirant Ratings

The concept with deodorants and antiperspirants is simple: Apply, make bad-smelling stuff smell good. The problem is that the way most deodorants do that is with a cocktail of chemical ingredients labeled “fragrance”. It's hard to say specifically what’s wrong with fragrance—in a deodorant or antiperspirant's fragrance is considered a trade secret, which means the company doesn’t have to say what chemicals are in it—but generally fragrances have strong allergy and immune system toxicity concerns, and they often conceal the presence of toxic phthalates. (more)

A health and environmental concern in many deodorants is the anti-bacterial chemical triclosan, a skin irritant and organ toxicant that’s hazardous to marine life and could lead to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria.

Although the risk isn’t as great, a few other chemicals common to personal care products, including immune system toxicant BHT (short for butylated hydroxytoluene) and potential endocrine disruptors parabens, also show up in some deodorants. The ingredient that does the antiperspirant work in deodorants (by closing pores) is often a form of neurotoxic aluminum compound (such as aluminum zirconium or aluminum chlorhydrate).

Like many other products with toxicity concerns, deodorants and antiperspirants are generally tested on animals. So an easy way to find a safe, environmentally friendly, socially-responsible deodorant is to look through our data for a deodorant or antiperspirant made by a company that has signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics and is PETA or Leaping Bunny certified.