Baking Soda Free Deodorant vs Zest Bars: 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
Zest
Zest Bars
PFAS grade
Excellent 75/100
Overall grade
Good 71/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
soap base, essential oils, plant extracts
Confidence
78%
PossibleEssential oil sensitization and irritation
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Skin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity on the Primally Pure and not on the Zest.
- We flag Essential oil sensitization and irritation on the Zest and not on the Primally Pure.
- The Primally Pure is mineral-based powder blend (arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, mica) where the Zest is soap base, essential oils, plant extracts, 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