Old Spice Pure Sport High Endurance Deodorant Stick
Lower concern for standard deodorant formula with no known PFAS components.
Old Spice Pure Sport is aluminum-based without obvious fluorinated or water-repellent coatings that drive PFAS use. No public testing or brand statements exist, though the formula suggests lower risk than water-resistant products.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Aluminum/talc stick base with standard cosmetic additives
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Talc (contamination with asbestos or talc-associated ovarian cancer)
Old Spice does not disclose talc sourcing or testing for asbestos. Talc in deodorant carries lower inhalation risk than powder form, but mining-grade talc has occasionally contained asbestos fibers; contamination levels vary by supplier. No specific recall or contamination report exists for this product.
Fragrance allergens and skin sensitization
Pure Sport's fragrance blend is not fully disclosed (permitted under cosmetics trade secrecy rules). Synthetic musks and certain aldehydes in mass-market fragrances can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals; incidence is low but not negligible in the general population.
Microbial growth from stick degradation or storage
Deodorant sticks stored in humid bathrooms or at elevated temperatures may develop surface mold or bacterial films over months. This is a storage/maintenance issue rather than a formulation hazard, but can cause skin irritation if applied after contamination.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
Aluminum (systemic absorption risk)
Dermal absorption of aluminum from antiperspirant is negligible under normal use; no credible evidence links deodorant aluminum to Alzheimer's or other systemic disease. Regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA) have found no toxicity threshold concern for this application.
Heavy metals
Deodorant sticks contain minimal colorant; Old Spice uses standard FDA-approved colorant dyes. No testing or recall history indicates contamination with lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in this product line.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Old Spice Pure Sport is a solid stick deodorant based on aluminum compounds (likely aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, the industry standard antiperspirant) mixed with talc, waxes, and fragrance oils. The aluminum acts as an astringent to block sweat; talc provides texture and slip. Neither ingredient is systemically absorbed through skin at meaningful levels during normal deodorant use, though talc has a separate contamination history in powder form. The fragrance blend contains synthetic aromatic compounds typical of mass-market personal care.
The brand's record and disclosure
Procter & Gamble (Old Spice's parent) does not publicly disclose detailed ingredient sourcing, contaminant testing, or PFAS avoidance statements for this line. The brand has faced no major safety recalls or regulatory action specific to Pure Sport. P&G maintains general cosmetics compliance certifications but does not pursue third-party dermatological validation or heavy-metal testing transparency. Consumer complaint volume for this product is low relative to its market presence.
How it compares in its category
Old Spice Pure Sport sits in the mainstream aluminum antiperspirant tier alongside Degree and Axe, all using similar chemistry. Natural/aluminum-free alternatives (like Schmidt's or native) eliminate aluminum but rely on baking soda or clay, which carry skin irritation risk for sensitive users. Premium brands (like Malin+Goetz) offer better transparency but at 3-4x cost for equivalent antiperspirant performance. Pure Sport offers predictable efficacy with no distinctive hazard profile relative to peers.
If you buy it
Apply to dry skin only; wet application reduces antiperspirant coating and can cause irritation. Replace every 6-9 months or when significantly worn, as older product may harbor surface bacteria if stored in humid bathrooms. Discontinue immediately if rash, burning, or unusual irritation develops. Store in cool, dry location away from heat sources; deodorant sticks degrade and separate if exposed to direct sun or high temperature over time.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Old Spice has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.