28 Best Vegan Cruelty Free Perfumes | Totally Vegan Buzz
Vegan Perfumes
Image: By Ollyy

Perfume has the power to transport you. A favourite scent can remind you of many things – conjuring up the bliss of a relaxing holiday, the comfort of home or even a butterfly-filled first date. There are so many wonderful scents to choose from, no matter if you prefer musky notes, floral hints or fruity fragrances. And being vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the experience either. We’ve got your back with this list of the 28 best cruelty-free vegan perfumes.  Whether you’re searching for that elusive signature scent or you love to experiment with different fragrances, we have something for you.

1. Eden

Image courtesy: Eden Perfumes

Ok, we’re a little bit obsessed with this Brighton-based company. Started by a vegan family, they believe in making ethical and affordable fragrances. The ingredients are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and ethically sourced. They are also around 80%-90% certified organic. The concept is great too – they will match your favourite designer perfume by mixing high-quality botanicals and oils. So, you don’t have to give up your favourite scent if it’s not vegan, just recreate it! We love ‘No. 007’, their take on the iconic Chanel No. 5.

2. Lush

Image courtesy: Lush

A list of the best cruelty-free vegan perfumes wouldn’t be complete without Lush. They are superstars in the world of cruelty-free cosmetics and never test on animals. Nor do they buy their raw materials from companies who test on animals. They’re also a lot of fun, with funky names and heady fragrances – and their perfume selection is no different. Our favourite is ‘What Would Love Do?’ It’s a fresh, sweet and fruity scent with tangerine oil and lavender oil. 

3. Pacifica

Image courtesy: Pacifica

Pacifica are another great vegan and cruelty-free company. They have a huge selection of oils, sprays, mists and even hair perfumes on their website. The packaging is gorgeous too, making us think of summer days and holidays. Pacifica use natural plant-based alcohol and their scents are formulated without phthalates, parabens and petroleum. Try the dreamy ‘Indian Coconut Nectar’ for a hit of exotic vanilla and creamy vetiver. Or for a subtle, romantic scent, go for ‘French Lilac’, with notes of nectarine and ylang-ylang in a pastel flowery box.

4. Valeur Absolue

Image courtesy: Valeur Absolue

Valeur Absolue say they believe in responsible luxury – and they back this up with an ethical and clean perfume range. Their products are not tested on animals, and aim for sustainability by using natural ingredients. The packaging has a luxurious feel, with classic and simple glass bottles. We love ‘Confiance’ – ideal for putting a spring in your step and helping you take on the world. It’s a woody, oriental scent with notes of vanilla, spice and patchouli. Available as a perfume or dry body oil.

5. Le Labo

Image courtesy: Le Labo

A quote from Le Labo’s website says, “ We believe it’s more humane to test cosmetics on New Yorkers than on animals” and we can’t help but agree. The company also say they believe the future of luxury products like fragrances lies in good craftsmanship, which they pride themselves on. It’s not cheap, but boy does it smell great. We love the packaging that looks more like it belongs in a lab than a on a dressing table. Our top pick is ‘Santal 33’, which brings together sandalwood, cedarwood, cardamom and iris for a warm and inviting scent.

6. Floral Street

Image courtesy: Floral Street

Floral Street make modern, exciting flavours by harnessing the power of flowers. Yes, we know flower power sounds like a hippy 60s throwback, but these scents are gorgeous and bang up-to-date for today’s busy lifestyle. Our favourite is ‘Electric Rhubarb’, which is a collaboration with the Royal Horticultural Society. Summon a summer’s day with rhubarb, frangipani and jasmine in this bubbly and surprising fragrance. Floral Street say, “If you could bottle that feeling of laughing and sipping perfectly chilled Prosecco on a balmy summer’s afternoon – this would be it.” Sounds right up our street!

7. Dolma

Image courtesy: Dolma

Dolma are an independent British company who have been going for over 30 years. They are committed to producing high-quality fragrances and are well known for making some of the best vegan cruelty-free perfumes. They are also eco-friendly and use recyclable materials wherever possible. Our top pick is ‘Anahita’, a classic and sophisticated blend. It is named after a Persian goddess of healing and wisdom, and combines fruity lemon and spicy ginger with a woody base and sweet ylang-ylang.

8. Acorelle

Image courtesy: Acorelle

This French company is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. They also don’t use chemicals in their products, source ingredients sustainably and use recyclable materials. They even use solar power and recover their rainwater at their HQ. So, all round good (vegan) eggs! ‘Absolu Tiaré’ is a light and fresh scent, made with wheat alcohol and organic cornflower water. It features ylang-ylang and orange essential oils for a sensual fragrance, as well as notes of vanilla, jasmine and mandarin.

9. Laboratory

Image courtesy: Laboratory

Another ethical British company, Laboratory uses socially conscious, environmentally friendly and cruelty-free ingredients. They never test on animals and all their perfumes are vegan. They also ensure all their packaging is recyclable and have a small, local supply chain. Try ‘Samphire’ for an invigorating scent that conjures up images of bracing walks by the coast. This scent combines botanical juniper and verbena with herby lavender, basil and rosemary.  It also has notes of white amber and oak moss.

10. Clean Beauty Collective

Image courtesy: Clean Beauty Collective

We love Clean Beauty’s simple and stylish packaging, with classic white labels and clear glass bottles. We also love their philosophy of sustainability, and giving back to the farmers and the planet that provide their natural ingredients. Their products are also 100% vegan and cruelty free, with no toxic nasties hidden inside. Our favourite is ‘Rain’ from their classic collection. This is a fresh, clean and pure scent that is relaxing and easy on the senses, evoking the smell of a soft rain shower and dewy flower petals.

11. Missguided

Image courtesy: Missguided

From the company that brought you #babepower comes a selection of gorgeous vegan, cruelty-free perfumes. For a little bit of girl power and an awesome confidence boost, we love ‘Boss Babe’. The fruity and floral scent is invigorating and surprising, with hints of bergamot, pear and pistachio. Be your own boss with a dab of this, and enjoy notes of sweet tonka, vanilla and musk, along with almond milk, orange blossom and patchouli. This will help you hold your head up high and show them who’s boss.

12. Kierin NYC

Image courtesy: Kierin NYC

One for the rule-breakers, non-conformists and artists, Kierin NYC makes genderless perfumes that are more concerned with individuality than with adhering to the rules. They believe in diversity and inclusion, as well as being cruelty-free, vegan and non-toxic. Their fragrances are inspired by real New York stories and the urban lifestyle. Our top pick is the sassy ‘10am Flirt’ which is floral, woody and green, with vibrant packaging. It evokes a rooftop scene looking out over the cityscape below, full of potential.

13. Superdrug Layering Lab

Image courtesy: Superdrug

Superdrug is a great choice for vegans on a budget. None of their own brand products are tested on animals and they have a good range of vegan products (shout out to our fave Superdrug vegan beauty range B.!) The concept of Layering Lab is great, a sort of mix and match idea, without having to shell out loads for pricy options. You can wear the scents on their own or pick two to layer, giving your own individual touch. We’d layer ‘Paradise’, with its notes of green tea, tangerine and vanilla, together with the spicy and sensual ‘Oriental’.

14. Gallivant

Image courtesy: Gallivant

Gallivant is an indie perfume maker from London. Their products are up there with the best vegan cruelty-free perfumes and are inspired by travelling, wanderlust and unexpected new finds. The full range is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. We love the edgy ‘Tokyo’ in its slick, clean packaging. Its zingy and spicy, with woody hints. There’s a citrusy note from yuzu and bergamot, backed by black pepper and cardamom. A hit of spice comes from a dash of wasabi, while base notes of amber, sandalwood, patchouli and vetiver run underneath.

15. Define Me

Image courtesy: Define Me

Define Me make socially-conscious, vegan and cruelty-free scents that are designed to empower. They like to give back, and because around 31 million girls are out of school around the world, they donate $1 from every bottle purchased to She’s The First. This education charity is all about “Fighting gender inequality through education, by supporting girls who will be the first in their families to graduate from high school and training students everywhere to be global citizens.” Pretty cool, huh? Also, the scents are lovely. Our top pick is ‘Sofia Isabel’ which is sweet, floral and free-spirited.

16. Olivine Atelier

Image courtesy: Olivine Atelier

The founder of this perfume brand believes in self-love, confidence and doing things your own way. That’s a message we can definitely get behind! The perfumes are also 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and available in a range of delicious scents. We love ‘Amongst the Waves’ which makes us feel like frolicking by the sea. It’s inspired by the tropical vibes of Hawaii and features ocean salt and black coconut, as well as stargazer lily, waterlily and tiger lily. It finishes with base notes of tonka bean and sandalwood.

17. Herban Cowboy

Image courtesy: Herban Cowboy

Herban Cowboy have some good green credentials, having been started from a rural cabin in America with the goal of creating clean, eco-friendly shave creams. They’ve since branched out to other products including fragrances, and we’re glad they did because they’re fab! Our favourite is ‘Love Potion’ which comes in cute, recyclable packaging with a lovely heart motif. It is fruity with notes of pink grapefruit and orange oils. It’s also free from phthalates, parabens, and is 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

18. Ecco Bella

Image courtesy: Ecco Bella

Ecco Bella specialise in vegan, cruelty-free and organic beauty. They aim to create a range of products that is ethical and free of toxic chemicals, using natural ingredients and the power of nature. For a hint of luxury, try their ‘Organic Bourbon Vanilla’. This lush scent uses the finest vanilla, from the island of Madagascar. It’s exotic and romantic, with notes of cocoa, rose and jasmine.

19. Arquiste

Image courtesy: Arquiste

This is a luxury brand with a price-tag to match, but their scents have won awards and are thoroughly researched and crafted with the finest ingredients. They’re up there with the best vegan cruelty-free perfumes. We love the vibrant and bold blue of ‘Sydney Rock Pool’, bringing with it images of a summer’s day by the sea on the Aussie coast. It’s a warm, musky scent with Australian sandalwood, coconut, frangipani, jasmine, seaweed and sea salt notes. Embrace your inner surf chick and feel the salt in your hair.

20. DedCool

Image courtesy: DedCool

DedCool make unisex, vegan and non-toxic fragrances in LA. Their products are cool, clean and individual. The brand aims to chance the way the world views fragrances. Our favourite is ‘Fragrance 04’ – we love that this woody and bold scent is unisex and unique. It has rich varieties of pepper and fig, alongside base notes of creamy patchouli. We also like the sophisticated ‘Fragrance 03 Blonde’ with its violet and saffron notes.

21. Walden Natural Perfumes

Image courtesy: Walden Natural Perfumes

Walden perfumes are named after the seminal work of the same name, by Henry David Thoreau. The book has inspired readers all over the world with its message on living simply in nature. The fragrances are also cruelty-free and vegan. Feel romantic with a spritz of the floral ‘See the Moonlight’, inspired by this quote, “I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains.”

22. Florame

Image courtesy: Florame

Florame have been specialising in aromatherapy and essential oils for over 20 years. They use certified organic essential oils in their products, and never test on animals. They also ensure all their packaging is 100% recyclable. We love ‘Belle de Grasse’ which is a delicate and floral perfume. It has notes of orange, pear and hibiscus, as well as jasmine and ylang-ylang, with a sandalwood and vanilla base. It comes in a cute flowery box with a stylish glass bottle.

23. Terra Nova

Image courtesy: Terra Nova

Terra Nova are all about natural beauty, using premium plant-based ingredients in their vegan and cruelty-free scents. It’s a small company that works hard to be eco-friendly and sustainable, using recyclable packaging and never testing on animals. Our favourite is from their original range of signature scents, developed when the company began in 1970. ‘China Rain’ is fresh and green smelling, with Chinese lilies, white moss and clean musk. We love the cute, minimalist design on the bottle too!

24. Stella McCartney

Image courtesy: Stella McCartney

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. We’re in love with the bold packaging of ‘POP Bluebell’ with its purple lid and clean glass bottle. The perfume cleverly mimics the scent of English bluebells, without the need to pick any of the endangered species.

25. Next

Image courtesy: Next

High Street retailer Next has its own range of perfumes which are vegan and cruelty free. Perfect for those on a budget, these won’t break the bank but will still make you hold your head up high and put a spring in your step. Try the gorgeous ‘Just Pink’, with its on-trend rose gold topper and classic design. It’s uplifting and exotic, with zesty and fruity mandarin, green florals and pink blooming jasmine. It also has base notes of patchouli and musk.

26. Ravenscourt Apothecary

Image courtesy: Ravenscourt Apothecary

This is a small UK-run business that focuses on simple, natural skincare and fragrances. The founder says her scents are inspired by Victorian literature and her love of unusual teas – sounds like a match made in heaven! All the fragrances are made with natural essential oils, no chemicals. Jane Eyre was one of the original feminist heroes, and the perfume bearing her name is appropriately individual. It mixes rose, bergamot and clary sage, for an elegant scent that evokes a lovely cup pf Earl Grey.

27. Flaya

Image courtesy: Flaya

Flaya is a small family-run business from the UK. They have a range of seven different perfumes, all 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Ingredients are all ethically sourced. They are also organic wherever possible. We really like the bottle design, and our favourite scent is the cheerful ‘Island’. Its fruity and refreshing, with a hint of ylang-ylang. Guaranteed to make you feel like you’re on a paradise island, walking along the beach with the sea lapping at your toes.

28. Body Shop

Image courtesy: The Body Shop

A list of the best vegan cruelty-free perfumes wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Body Shop. The much-loved brand doesn’t test on animals and has an expanding vegan range. We love the exotic ‘Indian Night Jasmine’ which is a warm and luxurious smelling fragrance, and the bottle is pretty as a picture. The hand-picked Indian jasmine blends with violet and sandalwood for a lovely floral scent.

Do you have a favourite-go to perfume that is vegan and cruelty-free? Where does a spritz or it transport you? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!

Published by Charlotte Coates

Charlotte is a freelance writer who is passionate about veganism and sustainability. Although she is currently living the digital nomad life, she considers Brighton her spiritual home. She has a weakness for vegan cakes and can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.

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