That quick swipe of deodorant before heading to work or the gym is a daily habit for millions of Americans. Few people stop to read the fine print on the back of the package.
But a new European consumer review is prompting fresh questions about ingredients found in several globally recognised deodorant brands, many of which are also sold in the United States.
Major brands under review
The Norwegian Consumer Council analysed 43 deodorants on the market, screening them for substances suspected of being hormone-disrupting, allergenic or environmentally harmful.
Sixteen products received the lowest rating because they contained one or more ingredients linked to potential endocrine disruption.
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Among the brands scoring poorly were Dove, Rexona and Axe. Rexona is marketed as Degree in the US, making it a familiar name to American shoppers.
The substances identified included Cyclopentasiloxane, BHT, Benzyl Salicylate and Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
In two Rexona products, three of these compounds appeared together on the ingredient list.
Price not a guarantee
The findings suggest that higher cost does not necessarily mean a cleaner formula. Several of the best-performing deodorants in the review were among the least expensive options.
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By contrast, two Biotherm products were given the lowest rating due to the presence of suspected hormone-disrupting ingredients.
All of the substances flagged in the review are currently permitted under European cosmetics regulations.
In the United States, cosmetic ingredients are overseen by the Food and Drug Administration, though critics argue that oversight remains limited compared with EU standards.
For American consumers, the report underscores a broader point: brand recognition and price may matter less than what appears on the ingredient list.
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Sources: Forbrukerrådet