Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick vs Baking Soda Free Deodorant: which is safer?
Primally Pure Baking Soda Free Deodorant is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Axe
Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 59/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
talc/starch base, wax, fragrance, aluminum compounds
Confidence
62%
PossibleFragrance allergen / contact dermatitis
Our pick
Primally Pure
Baking Soda Free Deodorant
PFAS grade
Excellent 100/100
Overall grade
Excellent 96/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
mineral-based powder blend (arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, mica)
Confidence
82%
PossibleSkin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Fragrance allergen / contact dermatitis on the Axe and not on the Primally Pure.
- We flag Skin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity on the Primally Pure and not on the Axe.
- The Axe is talc/starch base, wax, fragrance, aluminum compounds where the Primally Pure is mineral-based powder blend (arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, mica), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Primally Pure is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More deodorant, see the full ranking