Arm & Hammer is an American brand owned by Church & Dwight. Originally known for washing soda and baking soda, the brand now has other products like deodorant, toothpaste, and detergents under its umbrella.
The underarm deodorant is touted for its aromatic fragrance, natural ingredients, efficiency in odor reduction, and affordability. Are these claims authentic? Is the product good for you? Let’s do a smell test.
Table of Contents
Arm & Hammer Deodorant Ingredients
Arm & Hammer deodorant is offered in five variants
- Essentials Solid Deodorant – Magnesium Vanilla Sandalwood
- Essentials Solid Deodorant – Rosemary Lavender
- Essentials Solid Deodorant – Unscented
- Essentials Solid Deodorant – Coconut Geranium
- Essentials Solid Deodorant – Orange Citrus
Each variant has a specific makeup. However, these are the common ingredients as per the product packaging
- Water
- Vegetable-derived propylene glycol
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Sodium stearate
- Coriander fruit oil
- Rosemary leaf oil
- Lavandin oil
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Tetrasodium EDTA
- Allantoin
- Octenidine HCL
- Fragrance
Let us examine if the product contains any of the following substances.
Aluminum
Arm & Hammer deodorant does not contain aluminum as per the label. In fact, it is also claimed to be free of aluminum. However, it contains allantoin – a compound of aluminum. Allantoin is scientifically called aluminum dihydroxyl allantoinate.
Deodorant products use aluminum compounds as an antiperspirant. However, the aluminum gets absorbed into the skin. It can cause allergic reactions like hives, itching, redness, and irritation.
Benzene
There are no affirmations that Arm & Hammer deodorant does not contain benzene. A study conducted by Valisure, a consumer product testing company, reveals that the majority of American underarm deodorants have benzene in them. This is despite the common belief that benzene is mostly used in spray deodorants.
According to National Cancer Institute, exposure to benzene and absorption of it by the skin leads to the risk of getting cancer and other illnesses of the blood. Further, inhalation of the chemical can result in nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness.
Baking Soda
Yes, Arm & Hammer deodorant contains baking soda. It is one of the chief ingredients. Chemically known as sodium bicarbonate, the chemical is used to mitigate bad odor. Baking soda can irritate the skin, especially in sensitive areas such as armpits. It can also cause skin abrasion.
Alcohol
There is no alcohol in Arm & Hammer deodorant. Some deodorant brands use alcohol as it dries quickly, kills odor-causing bacteria, and makes the skin feel cool upon application. However, alcohol makes the skin dry and causes irritation.
Triclosan
Arm & Hammer deodorant has been alleged to contain triclosan. Church & Dwight was slammed with a class action lawsuit in 2015 over assertions that the labeling of the product was deceptive.
The lawsuit alleged that as advertised, the product was not pure and natural, but contained synthetic chemicals like triclosan. Although the company rebuffed these statements, it paid $1.9 million to settle the lawsuit.
Triclosan is used in deodorants as a preservative to prevent the growth of bacteria. However, the chemical is known to cause dermatitis, irritation, and allergies. It is especially dangerous for children.
Gluten
Arm & Hammer deodorant is free of gluten and is safe if you are celiac. Gluten in deodorants is not considered a threat to gluten intolerance as it is not known to be absorbed through the skin.
Safety
Arm & Hammer deodorant is marketed as a natural and safe product that does not contain harmful ingredients like phthalates, parabens, aluminum, and other animal matter. Nevertheless, the existence of triclosan, allantoin, baking soda, and benzene is a safety concern.
Additionally, inhalation of sodium stearate for longer hours may cause respiratory issues. Ethylhexylglycerin, which is a common ingredient in cosmetics, is known to trigger skin irritation and contact dermatitis. Tetrasodium EDTA is another ingredient that is harmful to sensitive skin as it is understood to cause eczema.
The most lethal ingredient in deodorants is fragrance. The constitution of fragrances in Arm & Hammer is not known although they are claimed to be natural. However, cosmetic fragrances are well-established for causing skin irritation, neurological problems, risk of cancer, respiratory issues, and estrogen imbalance. Therefore, it is advised to use the unscented variant of the deodorant.
Does Arm & Hammer deodorant lighten or darken underarms?
Arm & Hammer contains baking soda, which is believed to lighten skin tone. However, it is not true. The chemical does not lighten the skin. On the other hand, other chemical ingredients in the product may cause hyperpigmentation and darkening depending on the type of your skin.
Does Arm & Hammer deodorant cause rash?
There are no reports of the product causing rashes. However, according to dermatologists, even natural oils like coriander fruit oil, rosemary leaf oil, and lavender oil used in the product can cause allergies and rashes if your skin is sensitive.
Further, triclosan, allantoin, and fragrance ingredients can give you rashes. The risk of contracting rashes is higher in underarm roll-on deodorants.
Does Arm & Hammer deodorant cause cancer?
Arm & Hammer is touted to be made of natural ingredients sans the use of chemicals like phthalates, parabens, and animal substances. However, there has been a lawsuit challenging this claim. The deodorant has been found to contain chemicals.
Chemical ingredients like benzene, triclosan, and fragrances come with the risk of cancer. The risk corresponds with the extent of usage. Therefore, limit the use of deodorants, especially on sensitive areas like the underarms. You may use them only on warm days when you sweat profusely and avoid using them when you are indoors.
Is Arm & Hammer deodorant bad for you?
There are no serious reports of adverse effects with the use of Arm & Hammer deodorant. There are only a few perceptions that the baking soda in the deodorant could stain your clothes. As claimed, the product may not be completely natural. It contains synthetic chemicals like triclosan, benzene, and allantoin. Therefore, you can check the ingredients list before using it.
Arm & Hammer deodorant for sensitive skin
If you have sensitive skin, you could avoid this product. Ingredients like baking soda, tetrasodium EDTA, allantoin, and fragrances are bad for your skin type. We say so because
- Baking soda can cause itching, irritation, redness, rashes, and abrasion for people with sensitive skin, especially when used on armpits.
- Tetrasodium EDTA could be safe in the small quantities it is used. It is neither absorbed by the skin. However, it has the capacity to induce skin conditions like eczema in extremely sensitive skin types.
- Citrus is detrimental to sensitive skin. So, avoid using variants that contain citrus oils.
- Allantoin is used as an anti-perspiring agent. However, it can cause inflammation, hives, and allergies.
- Arm & Hammer claims to use naturally derived fragrances. But the actual composition is not divulged. Fragrances, even if natural, can trigger allergies for sensitive skin types. If you are allergic to fragrances, use the unscented variant of the product.
- Natural oils like rosemary leaf oil, coriander oil, and lavandin oil may cause irritation to sensitive skin.
To know if the product suits your skin type, you can do a patch test for about a week. If there are no adverse reactions, you can continue to use the product.
Does Arm & Hammer deodorant stop sweating?
Arm & Hammer Ultra Max is a variant that is especially good for extreme sweating and odor. It is claimed to be free of aluminum. However, it contains allantoin – an aluminum compound that serves as an antiperspirant. Allantoin is a common content across all variants of the product.
Is Arm & Hammer deodorant vegan?
According to the product information on the package, there are no non-vegan ingredients in the deodorant. But there is no information about the constituents of fragrances in the deodorant. It is common practice for cosmetic companies to use animal ingredients in fragrances. So, it is not clear if Arm & Hammer deodorant is completely vegan.
Is Arm & Hammer deodorant natural?
The company claims the product to be natural. It is stated to be made of natural oils, baking soda, and plant-derived glycol. However, it contains some synthetic chemical content too. The product has also faced a lawsuit proving that its labeling of being completely natural is false and misleading.
Arm & Hammer deodorant contains chemicals like allantoin, tetrasodium EDTA, octenidine HCL, and triclosan. The fragrances could also contain some chemical elements.
Is Arm & Hammer deodorant cruelty-free?
Arm & Hammer deodorant is not cruelty-free. Animal testing is conducted by them or through suppliers and third-party vendors.
Check out our articles on other popular deodorant and perfume brands
References:
- https://www.armandhammer.com/en/personal-care/deodorants
- https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/products/928235-Arm__Hammer_Ultramax_Antiperspirant__Deodorant_Invisible_Solid_Wide_Stick_Active_Sport/
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