Many people are learning the positives of veganism, not only in their diet but other aspects in life too. Like their beauty, skincare products or fragrances they use. Just like these days we don’t need to test on animals, so many brands go proudly vegan and cruelty-free. Similarly, we don’t need to use animal byproducts for making lotions and potions, because we have alternatives like vegan-friendly fragrances.
There are of course many, fully vegan and cruelty-friendly beauty brands out there these days. This isn’t just a trend, it’s the way forward. These are especially popular with the younger generations.
But what about those people who have been using a certain brand for a long time and they just can’t ditch the label? Or they simply prefer these old money labels because they embody luxury and tradition for them.
So in this blog post, I’ll list vegan-friendly fragrances by famous perfume brands. Whilst the brand ISN’T vegan or even cruelty-free, the listed fragrances happen to be vegan either by accident or as a conscious effort to cater for vegan customers too. We might call this “vegan-washing”, but in the long term, I think these are baby-steps towards a better future. If more people demand vegan products, brand will have to make them to survive. Similarly, to the “if you don’t buy them, they don’t make them” rule.
But let’s start with clarifying the terms.
What makes a perfume vegan?
They do not contain animal products. Ingredients that are often used and are animal products:
- Musk: Only the mature male produces musk, which is stored in a hairy pouch just the size of a golf ball, in front of the penis. The musk deer populations are now dangerously low as people have been hunting these deer for centuries in order to produce the scent found in fragrances.
- Ambergris: is a wax-like pathological growth found in the stomach and intestines of about one in a hundred sperm whales, and also in the pygmy sperm whale. Whilst whales had to be caught in the past to obtain ambergris, now it can be collected as ocean waste instead of removing it directly from the animal.
- Hyraceum: is the petrified and rocklike excreta of the rock hyrax. Hyraceum is perfect for lending a “dirty” note to perfumes that are too sweet or too fresh.
- Civet: this cat-like animal’s excretions are collected to be used in perfumery to create a velvety, floral scent. The collection is often done using cruel methods, by keeping the animal in cage.
- Castoreum: taken from the castor sacs of beavers. Beavers were caught and then killed just to obtain this perfume extract, which resembles musk.
- Kasturi: this ingredient is a secretion product from the male deer. It is sourced from a gland that is found between the deer’s back and rectum. The gland is usually removed entirely from the deer to be used as a fixative in perfumes.
- Milk: it is the heart of some of the finest perfumes. Milk has a subtly sweet smell that provides comfort and takes you back to childhood. At the same time, milk may amplify the floral scent in the fragrance.
- Beeswax: the essence of beeswax absolute is used to achieve golden and amber-y notes. Beeswax is used as a base or middle note in the fragrance.
When looking through the ingredient list, some of these may appear hard to identify, but a quick search will always tell you the truth.
Now jump onto the list!
Vegan-friendly fragrances by famous perfume brands
Carolina Herrera: Good Girl
Both freshly light and moodily dark, this innovative fragrance captures a woman’s wondrous complexity with surprising and exceptional ingredients. The sweet, alluring qualities of jasmine give Good Girl its brightness and femininity. The darker side of Good Girl is created with richly fragrant cocoa and intoxicating tonka. Almond and coffee bring Good Girl its immediate vibrancy. Tuberose, extracted in a new way that creates a rich delicacy, its the fragrance’s wild card, bringing fluidity and femininity.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Limonene, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Benzyl Benzoate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citric Acid, Citronellol, Farnesol, Benzyl Alcohol, Tetrasodium Edta, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Ci 60730 (Ext. Violet 2))
Floris London: Jermyn Street
Drawing on notes of gin and vetiver, this fragrance has the feel of refined elegance, understated class, and timeless style by Floris London. Notes of juniper with a splash of lemon accentuated by an initial burst of citrus and refreshing green facets have been blended with the theme of vetiver. The vetiver permeates the fragrance from its introduction to the base and is buoyed in the heart by the juniper with a contemporary twist of coriander, a subtle complement to gin creation.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water, Eau), Diisopropyl Adipate, Benzophenone-2, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Methyl 2-Octynoate, Eugenol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Benzoate, Cinnamal)
diptique Paris: Eau de Sens
A delicacy to make the mouth water, a vigorous, stimulating cascade of freshness. A unique creation that brings together every aspect of bitter orange.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat. (sd alcohol 40-b), Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Linalool, Limonene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Geraniol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Citronellol, Eugenol, Citral, Farnesol, Benzyl Benzoate)
Miller Harris: Tea Tonique
Miller Harris is a major brand and all their products are vegan.
An infusion of Italian bergamot and floral earl grey, the earthy intensity of maté and the smoky facets of birch give Tea Tonique its unique character . A truly masterful and instantly uplifting tea fragrance, Tea Tonique is inspired by a trip to a tea plantation: early morning mist rolling over rows of neatly planted shrubs, bringing with it a sparkling and refreshing zest from the crisp leaves. The cooling spice of nutmeg provides contrast to this delicate and uplifting perfume.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol, Isoeugenol, Amyl Cinnamal, Farnesol)
Nina Ricci: Nina Fleur
Inspired by fashion and brimming with joy, Nina Fleur is the clean and vegan fruity-floral fragrance. Combining a burst of citrus with a natural bloom of orange blossom, Nina Fleur is a new elegant, joyful & full of flowers chapter.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfume (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Limonele, Citral, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamal, Geraniol, Farnesol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal)
Aecop: Tacit
Transport yourself to the Mediterranean coast with this vibrant, fresh fragrance laced with notes of basil and intertwined with warm spices. The fragrance starts with refreshing citrus notes, among which the most prominent one is yuzu. To provide the scents of the Mediterranean the heart offers intense green basil. The spicy, long-lasting base closes with vetiver and cloves flavor to ensure subtle warmth.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum), Water (Aqua), Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, d-Limonene, Linalool, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Eugenol, Isoeugenol)
Stella McCartney: Tocca
Another fully vegan brand on the list – and a major one! Stella McCartney is well known for being an ethical company – she herself is a proud vegan and never uses animal products like leather or fur in her fashions. The company stays true to these values with its range of vegan and cruelty-free perfumes.
Tocca is a fresh, floral fragrance that embraces your flirtatious spirit with notes of blood orange, freesia and spicy lily.
Creed: Acqua Originale Vetiver Geranium
This woody floral musk fragrance is 100% cruelty-free and contains fresh top notes of Granny Smith apple, bergamot and lemon. Its middle notes are geranium, cinnamon and rose, leading to a base of patchouli, cedar, musk and amber.
(Ingredients: Alcool(Alcohol), Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Limonene, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Cinnamal)
Viktor & Rolf: Good Fortune
This floral perfume for women awakens with a bright and aromatic note, magnified by luxurious jasmine at its center and infused with creamy and captivating bourbon vanilla at its base, ethically sourced in Madagascar.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum), Water (Aqua), Diproplylene Glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Benzyl Salycyalte, Benzyl Alcohol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hydroxicitronellal, Methyl Anthranilate, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Coumerin, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Benzil Benzoate, Citral, Tris (Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol), Citrate, Eugenol, Farnesol, CI 60730 / Ext. Violet 2, CI 17200 / Red 33. Code Fil: N284342/1)
Ghost: Eclipse
Ghost recently registered their 10 of their iconic perfumes with the Vegan trademark.
The fragrance opens with edible notes of fresh blackcurrant, marigold and zesty mandarin, threaded with golden freesia and lotus flower. Base notes pulse with amber resin and earthy musk, for an uplifting, positive finish.
(Ingredients: Alcohol denat, Aqua (water), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxbenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bht, Cinnamal, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool)
Moschino: Toy2 Bubblegum
Fun, outgoing and playful notes explore the nuances of her majesty the rose, creating a delicate scent of bubble gum, from which the fragrance takes its name.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Fragrance (Parfum), Water (Aqua), Limonene, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Geraniol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxicitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Tris (Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Citral, Linalool, Cinnamal, CI 17200
Calvin Klein: CK Everyone
The unisex Eau De Toilette blends natural alcohols and all-natural ingredients to be the legendary brand’s first-ever ‘clean fragrance’, and the result is a seductive citrus-aquatic combination of Blue Tea Accord, Organic Orange Oil and Cedarwood suited to everybody.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Propylene Glycol, Parfum/Fragrance, Aqua/Water/Eau, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Linalool, Limonene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Hexyl Cinnamal, Octocrylene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Geraniol, Citral, Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol), Citrate, Coumarin, Evernia Prunastri (Oakmoss) Extract, Bht, Ext. D&C Violet No. 2 (Ci 60730))
Chloe: Rose Naturelle
Chloé Eau de Parfum Naturelle is a modern, irresistible floral perfume for her. Formulated with a 100% natural origin fragrance that combines luxury and nature in a scent. The Eau de Parfum is fresh, floral and woody with a vegan formulation and organic rose at its heart.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfum/Fragrance, Aqua/Water/Eau, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Geraniol, Citronellol, Farnesol, Benzyl Alcohol)
Narciso Rodriguez NARCISO Cristal
NARCISO Cristal eau de parfum for women introduces a new standard of naturality, with more than 85% of its ingredients from natural origin. With a bergamot ethically-sourced from Italy, and a rose note sourced using a new upcycling process of distillation, the fragrance recovers olfactive components from distillation water to create a floral note that evokes the smell of the fresh rose.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfum/Fragrance, Dipropylene Glycol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Benzyl Salycyalte, Ethylhexyl Salycyalte, Diethylamino Hydroxbenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Limonene Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Coumarine, Geraniol, Linalool, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Citral Benzyl Benzoaete, Benzyl Alcohol, CI 14700 (RED 4), CI 60730 (EXT. Violet 2), CI 19140 (Yellow 5)
Issey Miyake: A Drop D’Issey
The heart note is where the lilac’s enveloping floral notes are revealed, harmonising with damask rose to offer a fresh, delicate flowery bouquet. In the base, the sandalwood, cedar wood and musky notes give its depth and roundness to the fragrance.
(Ingredients: Alcohol Denat., Parfum/Fragrance, Aqua/Water/Eau, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salycyalte, Geraniol, Linalool, Citronellol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Farnesol, Citral Benzyl Alcohol)
