14 Best Cruelty-Free Perfumes To Smell Great, Ethically
A high number of mainstream, well-known perfume brands test on animals but many people either aren’t aware of this or they overlook it because they simply want to own the brand name. However, owning ethical fragrances is important to many people which is why I’m excited to bring you this list of impressive cruelty-free perfumes.
Below you will find cruelty-free, gender-neutral perfumes made for anybody and everybody. You’ll also find a number of vegan perfumes as well!
Whether you’re looking for a sweet and fruity cruelty-free perfume or a musky and woodsy cruelty-free cologne, there is something below for you. Keep reading for more!
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What Perfume Is Tested On Animals?
There are a number of well-known perfume brands that currently test on animals. Many “iconic” names throughout the fragrance industry are not cruelty-free. Here is a small list of some brands that sell fragrances that are tested on animals.
Burberry | Calvin Klein | Chanel | Clinique | Dior | Dolce & Gabbana |Gucci |Jo Malone London | Lancôme | Mugler |Tom Ford | Valentino |YSL
If your current perfume brand is not on this list and you want to know if they are cruelty-free, simply search “Is *brand name* cruelty-free?” on Google and you will find your answer.
Best Cruelty-Free Perfume
Now that you know who NOT to purchase from, let’s get into the best cruelty-free perfume brands.
As I mentioned, the below perfumes are gender-neutral and can be used for people seeking both cruelty-free colognes and perfumes.
Below there is also a number of vegan cruelty-free brands, as well as clean, hypoallergenic cruelty-free brands. Let’s dive into it!
Aesop
Aesop is known for its meticulous attention to detail when creating formulas that are not only of the finest quality but are made with safe ingredients and refreshing, distinctive scents.
They are a cruelty-free and vegan brand with no animal-derived ingredients, including beeswax, honey, or lanolin. They are Leaping Bunny approved and are on PETA’s cruelty-free list.
Aesop offers 7 unmistakable scents in individual 1.7oz bottles as well as scent trios which are compromised of a fragrance, body cleanser, and hand balm. Their fragrances are unisex meaning they’re perfect for anyone looking for a cruelty-free cologne as well. The brand also offers skincare, body & hand care, hair care, and more.
The Body Shop
The Body Shop is not your average cosmetics company. They are a B-Corp-certified business that is committed to setting the highest standards throughout sustainable and ethical practices in their business.
The Body Shop is a cruelty-free brand that actively works towards banning animal testing worldwide with its Forever Against Animal Testing campaign. Not all of their fragrances are vegan, but you can find their vegan fragrance selection here.
The Body Shop sells body mists, perfumes, and home fragrances. They also sell skincare, body care, makeup, and hair products, making them your one-stop destination for fragrance and beyond.
Clean Reserve
Clean Reserve is a farm-to-fragrance collection that is created from sustainable ingredients made to be layered in order to create a scent unique to you. Whether you’re looking for something warm and cozy or woody and earthy, Clean Reserve has the perfect scent for you.
Clean Reserve is cruelty-free and 100% vegan with clean ingredients. Their fragrances are made from “sustainably sourced or tried-and-true synthetics” which puts not only people first, but the planet as well.
Clean Reserve offers a number of invigorating perfumes in fresh packaging. If you’re unsure of which perfume to try, you can purchase their discovery set. They also have a number of travel-size perfumes for any of my on-the-go readers!
Ellis Brooklyn
Ellis Brooklyn is an award-winning fragrance (and body care!) line created by The New York Times beauty columnist, Bee Shapiro. I’m a sucker for a Brooklyn-founded brand (I live here!) so of course, I had to include them as one of the best innovators of cruelty-free perfumes.
Ellis Brooklyn is PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free, sustainably sourced, and eco-friendly. Their luxurious scents are designed to be layered so you can customize your perfect scent. Plus, they have some of the best packagings I’ve ever seen meaning their bottles will look amazing on your vanity!
Ellis Brooklyn has a mini rollerball perfume set with 5 perfumes if you want to test some perfumes before you purchase. The brand also sells body products including body milk, body oil, and CBD body lotion.
Glossier
Glossier is a favorite beauty brand of mine and has been a constant in my routine for years. The brand sells everything from skincare to makeup products, and of course perfume! Glossier offers one perfume in their product line, but trust me when I say this one is all you need.
Glossier’s You perfume is self-described as smelling “soft, warm, and familiar”. Its top notes contain pink pepper, followed by a woodsy feel, and lastly, a floral aroma to round out the entire perfume.
Glossier is a cruelty-free brand so you can feel good about wearing their ambiguous You perfume.
Good Chemistry
Good Chemistry is an exclusive-to-Target fragrance line that offers a number of affordable cruelty-free perfumes to make you smell good and feel great. I love this perfume brand because their packaging is adorable and they offer a wide variety of scents whether you’re looking for fresh, floral or anything in between.
Good Chemistry sells cruelty-free and vegan perfumes. Their products are made from natural and safe synthetic raw materials while also working with trusted vendors to ensure ethical manufacturing practices. Good Chemistry, through and through, is a great ethical perfume brand.
At Target, Good Chemistry primarily offers body sprays that come in packaging that you bring on the go. They’re $10 for 4.25oz meaning you get a ton of product for an incredibly affordable price. The perfumes are $25 for 1.7 fl oz and come in gorgeous packaging which is just a plus on top of their feel-good scents.
Juliette Has A Gun
You’ve probably heard of the iconic perfume brand, Juliette Has A Gun. Their bold name is hard to ignore and the same is true for their memorable perfumes. The France-based company sells a variety of cruelty-free perfumes in sleek packaging and distinctive names, allowing for a truly unique scent experience.
Juliette Has A Gun is cruelty-free and also offers some vegan products. Their most well-known cruelty-free perfume is their “Not A Perfume” fragrance which has a woody and earthy scent.
Juliette Has A Gun offers a number of other scents including one if you’re a vanilla lover and even one named Moscow Mule with ginger and lime notes.
Kierin NYC
Kierin NYC is a family-run fragrance brand founded in, you guessed it, NYC. The brand is gender-inclusive, distinctive, and takes pride in its ability to create fragrances that celebrate everyone who wears them.
Kierin NYC makes some of the best cruelty-free perfumes. They are also toxin-free, vegan, and sustainably sourced. Plus, they will run you $32 per bottle which is a great deal considering the standard price of many perfumes.
Kierin NYC offers 6 illuminating scents with cute names and eye-catching packaging. If you want to test some of their iconic scents, you can purchase their discovery set for $22 which is the perfect way to sample their collection.
Lake & Skye
Lake & Skye is a strong believer that fragrance can change your mood and mental state for the better. They build fragrances around the fact that that one of our major senses, smell, affects our moods, emotions, and memories which are made to “uplift and transform” according to their founder, Courtney Somer.
Lake & Skye is a cruelty-free and vegan perfume brand. They use FSC Certified packaging and make recyclable products while also planting one tree for every order they receive.
Lake & Skye is famously known for their 11 11 perfume which is a light, woody, fresh, and long-lasting scent. They also offer this iconic scent in a candle! If you want to test some of their perfumes before purchasing, Lake & Skye offers a discovery set which you can check out here.
Le Labo
Le Labo creates soulful fragrances made with intention and intoxicating scents. They have been wildly successful over the years and it’s clear to see why.
Le Labo creates cruelty-free perfume and all of their products are vegan. They also contribute to minimizing overconsumption with their worldwide labs where you can refill your perfume bottles.
Le Labo offers a Nordstrom Exclusive discovery set that you can purchase to test their fragrances. They also sell a number of other body care products, including body lotion and lip balm, and home good products, including candles.
Pacifica
Pacifica is an affordable beauty brand with a number of products and expertise in fragrances. Their packaging is dreamy while containing alluring and illuminating scents that uplift your mood and spirit.
Pacifica is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Their products are made with compassion and clean products, making them a must-have in your fragrance collection.
Pacifica offers a number of fragrance-based products, including perfume sprays, hair & body mist, roll-on perfumes, and even solid perfumes. For the price, you’ll be able to stock up on a number of scents you love and can’t live without.
Phlur
Phlur is a fragrance brand made with intention. They believe in crafting the finest modern fragrances and do not compromise on the important ethical steps to create the perfect product.
Phlur is a cruelty-free perfume brand and is created with fully selected synthetic ingredients and botanical ingredients. They also create their cruelty-free perfumes with non-toxic ingredients so if you’re someone with sensitive skin, Phlur is for you.
Phlur offers a number of gender-neutral fragrances, including their best-selling Hanami scent which contains notes of white florals and fig. Check out their discovery set here.
Skylar Clean Beauty
Skylar Clean Beauty is a beauty brand primarily focused on fragrances made with ingredients you can feel good about. The brand has wistful scents (and packaging!) making them not only a great cruelty-free brand but an aesthetically-pleasing one as well.
Being cruelty-free is not the only attribute of Skylar Clean Beauty. They are also a hypoallergenic, vegan, and clean beauty brand. Skylar Clean Beauty keeps allergies in mind by creating clean fragrances through carefully curating products that not only smell great but are safe. Their products are also packaged in sustainable and eco-friendly packaging.
This cruelty-free perfume brand sells a number of fragrances throughout full-size and travel-size products. They also have a discovery set you can purchase! Check them out for yourself, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
The 7 Virtues
Lastly, we have The 7 Virtues. This brand offers beautiful packaging on top of its already incredibly scents. Their cruelty-free perfumes are long-lasting, non-toxic, and contain extremely memorable scents.
The 7 Virtues is a cruelty-free brand that is vegan and gluten-free. They produce their fragrances with 100% clean and hypoallergenic ingredients. They are also female-founded and sustainably sourced.
The 7 Virtue offers a number of perfumes in various forms including sprays, oils, and rollerballs.
Let’s Wrap It Up
I hope this list was able to help you find some cruelty-free perfumes! My personal favorite affordable perfume on this list is Pacifica and my favorite splurge-worthy fragrance is Le Labo.
As always, thank you for reading, and don’t forget to check out more beauty content here.
With love or whatever,
Hailey
