Arm & Hammer · Deodorant
Arm & Hammer UltraMax Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Fresh Solid
Lower PFAS concern, standard solid deodorant without water-resistant coatings or non-stick treatments.
Arm & Hammer UltraMax is a conventional solid antiperspirant deodorant with no known PFAS-prone ingredients or features. No waterproof treatment, Teflon-family coating, or stain-resistance claims are typical for this category.
Shop Arm & Hammer on Amazon →Material
Talc, starch, fragrance blend (solid deodorant base)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Arm & Hammer UltraMax is a solid stick deodorant built on talc, cornstarch, and fragrance compounds. Talc is a mineral powder that absorbs moisture and odor; it is inert once applied to skin and does not leach into the body through topical application. The starch component adds absorbency and slip. Fragrance blends in deodorants typically contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate; they do not accumulate in the product over time.
The brand's record and disclosure
Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight Co.) has not published detailed ingredient sourcing or heavy-metal testing for this deodorant line. The brand does not hold third-party certifications (EWG, NSF, Leaping Bunny) for this product. No recalls or regulatory warnings have been issued for Arm & Hammer UltraMax deodorant. The brand's silence on talc sourcing and testing reflects a broader industry pattern for solid deodorants, which have faced less scrutiny than cosmetics like powders.
How it compares in its category
Most solid deodorants (Secret, Old Spice, Dove) share the same talc/starch base, making this a category-standard formula with no material advantage or disadvantage. Aluminum-free alternatives (like Schmidt's or Native) remove aluminum salts but use similar mineral and starch fillers, so hazard profiles converge. This product sits in the mainstream middle: lower chemical complexity than gel or spray formats, no water-resistant coatings that would require PFAS.
If you buy it
Store the stick in a cool, dry place to prevent softening or separation, especially in high humidity. Replace every 2-3 months or when the stick becomes hard and difficult to apply. Do not apply to broken or irritated skin. If you develop rash or irritation, discontinue and patch-test on a small area before returning to regular use. The fragrance may trigger contact allergies in sensitive individuals; perform a 24-hour patch test if you have a history of fragrance sensitivity.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Talc contamination (asbestos risk)
Historical talc mining operations have occasionally processed ore with asbestos fibers. The FDA does not require talc in cosmetics to be tested or certified asbestos-free. Arm & Hammer has not published talc sourcing or third-party purity testing for this product. Topical skin application carries lower inhalation risk than powder formats, but certainty of contamination-free material is unavailable
Fragrance allergen and sensitization
Proprietary fragrance blends in deodorants commonly contain contact allergens (limonene, linalool, cinnamal) that trigger dermatitis in 1-3% of users. Arm & Hammer does not disclose specific fragrance components. Users with known fragrance sensitivity or atopic dermatitis report reactions to standard stick deodorants in this price tier; individual sensitivity varies widely.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
Solid deodorant sticks have minimal water content and do not require strong broad-spectrum preservatives. No formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea) have been identified in Arm & Hammer UltraMax formulations based on available ingredient listings. Risk in this format is negligible compared to emulsion-based cosmetics.
Heavy-metal pigments (if colored formula)
Arm & Hammer UltraMax Fresh (white/translucent stick) does not require synthetic colorants. No lead, cadmium, or chromium additives have been reported. Uncolored or lightly tinted solid deodorants avoid the heavy-metal risk seen in some colored powders or eyeshadows.
Packaging leachables (aluminum or plastic)
The stick is housed in a plastic or cardboard tube; neither has been reported to leach into the solid formula under normal storage. No recalls or migration incidents exist for this product line. Solid deodorant sticks experience minimal contact with packaging materials compared to liquids.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Deodorant
Tom's of Maine
Deodorant
mineral-based, baking soda formulation
Lower concern, mineral-based formula with public PFAS-free positioning, though no independent third-party verification.
⚠Risky category by default
Tom's of Maine
Most-Loved Deodorant Bundle
mineral-based and plant-derived actives; stick formulation
Lower-concern deodorant; mineral-based formula with PFAS-free claim aligns with brand ethos, but no third-party verification found.
⚠Risky category by default
Tom's of Maine
Antiperspirant Deodorant
mineral-based active ingredients, plant-derived botanicals, no synthetic water-repellent coatings
Lower PFAS concern, mineral-based formula with MADE SAFE cert; antiperspirant category has minimal waterproof-coating risk.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
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.