Baking Soda Free Deodorant vs Clinical Strength Clear Gel Antiperspirant and Deodorant: which is safer?
Primally Pure Baking Soda Free Deodorant is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
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
Secret
Clinical Strength Clear Gel Antiperspirant and Deodorant
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Gel base (glycerin, resin), talc-free mineral powders, aluminum zirconium compounds
Confidence
62%
PossibleAluminum zirconium systemic absorption
ReportedSkin sensitization or contact dermatitis
PossibleFragrance allergens
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Skin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity on the Primally Pure and not on the Secret.
- We flag Aluminum zirconium systemic absorption, Skin sensitization or contact dermatitis and Fragrance allergens on the Secret and not on the Primally Pure.
- The Primally Pure is mineral-based powder blend (arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, mica) where the Secret is Gel base (glycerin, resin), talc-free mineral powders, aluminum zirconium compounds, 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