Clinical Strength Underarm Antiperspirant 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.

Carpe

Clinical Strength Underarm Antiperspirant

PFAS grade

Excellent 75/100

Overall grade

Good 61/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Aluminum compounds, active ingredients (no coating disclosed)

Confidence

62%

PossibleAluminum absorption and systemic exposure

ReportedContact dermatitis and skin irritation

Our pick

Primally Pure Baking Soda Free Deodorant

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 Aluminum absorption and systemic exposure and Contact dermatitis and skin irritation on the Carpe and not on the Primally Pure.
  • We flag Skin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity on the Primally Pure and not on the Carpe.
  • The Carpe is Aluminum compounds, active ingredients (no coating disclosed) 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