Looking for a good cruelty-free and vegan deodorant that actually WORKS can be LOT harder than it sounds! Since the term “cruelty-free” is not one that is currently regulated, some companies intentionally mislead you into thinking you are buying a product that was not tested on animals when in fact, it was.
But never fear! We have 8 awesome cruelty-free and vegan deodorant choices for you that have either been used by us or, have been recommended by our trusted closed Facebook group, the Peas and Carrots Society!
You can listen to us discuss the deodorants here or read on for a quick summary!
Let’s Talk About Some Important Definitions First
Before we get started discussing specific brands of cruelty-free and vegan deodorant recommendations, let’s define a few terms.
As we mentioned in our recent episode on cruelty-free shampoos, it’s important to know that there is no legal definition of what it means to be “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals.”
This lack of regulation has allowed some companies to claim that their products are not tested on animals when in reality, only the final product was not animal-tested. This doesn’t necessarily mean that some of their ingredient suppliers haven’t tested on animals or that they haven’t used animals for testing at some point in the production process.
This is why it’s really important we do our due diligence in researching these companies before buying their products. In my opinion, it’s important that we buy from companies that do not test on animals: 1) for the animals, and 2) to reward the companies that are actually doing the right thing (instead of rewarding those businesses using deceptive marketing practices to intentionally mislead consumers).
So, now that we know that just having a “cruelty-free” or “no animal testing” label doesn’t make a product safe to buy, we need to know how to read labels to ensure we’re buying products that truly are cruelty-free.
Luckily, there are more and more resources these days to guide us to the right products.
The 3 Certifications for Cruelty-Free Products
Before we talk about vegan deodorant brands, let’s talk about certifications. There are 3 certifications you can look for to help you find cruelty-free products.
- The Leaping Bunny Certification Program was created in 1996 by 8 animal protection groups as a way to counter deceptive marketing practices. The CCIC has its own single comprehensive standard, called Leaping Bunny Certification, to help you shop for cruelty-free products.
- Then there is the PETA cruelty-free certification, called the Beauty without Bunnies program. To participate in PETA’s program, companies must sign a statement of assurance that they do not test any part of their products on animals and they pledge not to do so in the future.
- Finally, there is the Choose Cruelty-Free (CCF) program, which is based in Australia. Companies that want to be certified by the CCF must sign a binding agreement that none of their products or their suppliers’ products are tested on animals.
One final definition to touch on. When we say that a product is “vegan” we mean that it contains no animal by-products, including honey. Honey is not considered vegan as it is made by bees.
With those clarifications, let’s get to talking about deodorants!
Our Top 8 List of Cruelty-Free and Vegan Deodorants
As we mentioned, we’ve tried some of these deodorants, and those we haven’t have been tried and tested by our Facebook community.
We’re listing this one first because it was mentioned the most in our closed Facebook group.
Schmidt’s was founded in Portland, Oregon in 2010 by Jaime Schmidt, who developed a formula that filled a void in the marketplace: a plant-based natural deodorant that helped keep her family feeling fresh and smelling amazing.
Schmidt’s deodorants are never formulated with aluminum salts or artificial fragrances. They include added vitamins and superfood extracts like pomegranate.
Schmidt’s is a vegan deodorant that is Leaping Bunny certified.
Schmidt's Deodorant, Lavender and Sage
-Schmidt’s deodorants are never formulated with aluminum salts or artificial fragrances.
-They include added vitamins and superfood extracts like pomegranate.
-Schmidt's is a vegan deodorant that is Leaping Bunny certified.
Jason publishes its code of honor on their website, promising to select safe ingredients free from parabens, harsh sulfates, and artificial colors.
Additionally, they never test on animals. Testing is always done on human volunteers.
Here is a full list of what their products do not contain:
- Parabens
- Harsh Sulfates
- Petrolatum
- Phthalates
- Artificial Colors
- Saccharin
- GMOs
- Plastic Microbeads
- MEA, DEA & TEA
- PEG Derivatives
- Formaldehyde Donors
- Animal Testing
Jason Purifying Tea Tree Deodorant Stick - 2.5 oz
- Natural Clinically Tested
- All Day Odor Protection
- Help fight odor-causing bacteria
- No: Aluminum, Parabens, Phthalates or Propylene Glycol
Humble contains four to five organic and all-natural ingredients that you can pronounce (and might, in fact, have in your own kitchen).
Their deodorant is both effective and safe, containing no aluminum or parabens while still keeping you dry and free of offensive odors.
They manufacture their deodorant in small batches right here in America.
They also claim to have the fewest ingredients of any deodorant on the market.
This is one we’ve used in the past. This company was formed in 1970 so they’ve been around for a while (almost 50 years!).
What we really like about Tom’s is their transparency. I especially like companies that have been this transparent for a long time (even before it was “cool” to do so).
They have their core values and Stewardship Model posted on their site. They also have a very clear definition of what they mean by “natural” ingredients in their products. As we’ve discussed in other episodes, calling ingredients “natural” can be another “gray” term companies use to hide ingredients you may not want to put on your body.
Tom's of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant
- 24-Hour Odor Protection
- No Preservatives
- Certified B-Corp
- Aluminum-free
- Tom's of Maine donates 10% of our profits to charities committed to children's health, education and the environment. Employees donate 5% of paid time to causes they are passionate about in their communities. Thank you for supporting Tom's of Maine.
Lush is one of my personal favorites! In full transparency, I’ve only tried one of their deodorants, the Aromaco, and it works better on me than on Larissa.
They also have a couple of others, the T’eo, Greenwich, and the Guv’ner which is supposed to be their most absorbent.
Their site contains a lot of great information about their ethical campaigns, including one to combat trophy hunting, and ongoing campaigns to help save the planet and promote human rights initiatives.
Their tag line says it all, “Natural deodorant that works. No B.S. No bad stuff!”
Their products are:
- Natural organic ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Aluminum-free
- Synthetic fragrance-free
They use non-aluminum baking soda, which helps to neutralize body odor. Also the arrowroot powder helps you stay dry while allowing your body to release toxins naturally.
This one looks like it’s geared towards the fellas, which is good.
Their products are free of:
- Phthalates
- Dyes
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Triclosan
Like Lush, they use containers that can be recycled (some stores allow you to bring containers in to refill).
Their sole focus charity is “trees.” They are sponsors of the National Arbor Day Foundation.
This is another company that has been around for a while. They also have a partnership with The Gentle Barn animal sanctuary, acting as a sponsor for them.
Per the “Our Story” section on their site, they are committed to:
- Safe yet effective ingredients
- Eco-friendly packaging
- And no animal testing. They are both PETA and Leaping Bunny certified.
We hope this article has provided you with some great cruelty-free shopping choices. Remember, we vote with our dollars so it’s important to support these companies as much as we can!
Please note that some of the links on this page may be affiliate links and, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through to the product using the link we have provided. We never recommend or provide affiliate links to products or services we do not use ourselves, and our ultimate goal is to provide helpful products and advice to you, our readers and listeners.
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The Golden Apple Roundtable
Patreon is a simple way for listeners to contribute to Vegetarian Zen every month.
Pledge levels start as low as $1 a month. Pledge $5 or more and you’ll receive some sweet Veg Zen swag…t-shirts, stickers, magnets, grocery bags, and more!
By becoming a sponsor on Patreon, you are automatically inducted into our prestigious Golden Apple Roundtable!
Click "Learn More" for more info.
Further Reading and Related Resources:
- FDA Cruelty-Free/ Not Tested on Animals
- Leaping Bunny.org
- Three Organizations That Certify Cruelty-Free Products
- 7 of the Best Cruelty-Free and Vegan Shampoos (ep. 316)
- Cruelty-Free Shopping
- Finding Cruelty-Free Products is Easier than You Think (VZ 65)
- Cruelty-Free 101
- Cruelty-Free Pet Products (VZ 260)
Recipe of the Week
Thanks for listening!
Peace and Veggies,
Vickie and Larissa
Vegetarian Lasagna (with Vegan Options)