Tom's of Maine Deodorant
No coating of concern recorded, and no PFAS statement from the brand.
The brand has published no PFAS statement for this product that we could find.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
mineral-based, baking soda formulation
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Tom's of Maine Deodorant is made of, ingredients and materials
Tom's of Maine Deodorant is formulated around baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as the primary odor-control agent, paired with mineral salts and plant-based emollients. Baking soda is alkaline and can neutralize odor-causing bacteria without antimicrobial additives or antiperspirant metals like aluminum chlorohydrate. The mineral base avoids synthetic polymer coatings or microparticulate carriers that degrade over time. This simplicity reduces exposure vectors for legacy chemical classes typical of conventional deodorants.
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Baking soda skin irritation
Sodium bicarbonate is alkaline (pH 8-9) and can cause mild dermatitis, redness, or burning in sensitive individuals or when applied to freshly shaved skin. Risk is low for most users but documented in sensitive-skin populations.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Fragrance allergens
Tom's formulations typically use essential oils and botanical extracts rather than synthetic fragrance polymers or undisclosed fragrance allergens. No common fragrance sensitizers (limonene, linalool) are listed as primary ingredients in standard formulations, though natural essential oils can trigger contact allergies in sensitive individuals.
Talc contamination
No talc is listed in Tom's of Maine Deodorant ingredients; mineral base relies on mica or other non-talc mineral powders. Talc-free formulation eliminates asbestos-contamination risk present in some mineral deodorants.
Heavy metals
Tom's uses iron oxides and mica for color and texture, both of which are low-risk mineral pigments. No lead, cadmium, or antimony are identified in disclosed ingredient lists or brand certifications.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
The baking-soda base and mineral salts provide inherent preservative action; Tom's avoids synthetic preservative systems like DMDM hydantoin or imidazolidinyl urea that release formaldehyde. No formaldehyde releasers are listed in standard formulations.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Tom's of Maine has a long-standing public commitment to ingredient transparency and natural sourcing, publishing full ingredient lists and avoiding synthetic musks, phthalates, and parabens in most formulations. The brand has not issued a specific PFAS stance, which is typical for smaller or heritage natural-care companies without extensive coated-packaging or processing equipment dependent on PFAS water-repellency. No major safety recalls or health controversies have been documented for this deodorant line in published regulatory databases. Certifications include natural and cruelty-free claims, though these are not third-party verified to toxicology testing standards.
How it compares in its category
Mineral-baking-soda deodorants sit at the low-hazard end of the deodorant spectrum, lacking the heavy-metal antiperspirants (aluminum salts), synthetic antimicrobials (triclocarban), and fragrance-allergen loads common in mass-market sticks. Tom's version is competitive with other natural brands (Weleda, Meow Meow Tweet) in ingredient simplicity, though some consumers report shorter duration or skin sensitivity to alkaline baking soda. It contains no talc, no formaldehyde releasers, and no known endocrine-disruptor additives, with lower concern for frequent body application compared to conventional aerosol or gel deodorants.
If you buy it
Apply sparingly to clean, dry skin; baking soda can irritate skin folds or freshly shaved underarms, so test on a small area first. Replace the stick when crumbling or depleted, typically every 2-3 months with daily use. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture absorption and clumping. If skin irritation develops, discontinue and rinse thoroughly; baking-soda sensitivity is rare but documented in people with very sensitive skin or frequent depilation.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Tom's of Maine has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Tom's of Maine Deodorant?
- mineral-based powder blend (arrowroot, magnesium hydroxide, mica)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Skin irritation from magnesium hydroxide alkalinity
- cosmetic formulations, primary ingredients listed
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Fragrance allergens (natural essential oils)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- natural mineral powders, plant-based actives, beeswax
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Beeswax purity and contamination
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More deodorant grades
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.