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Whilst I wouldn’t consider myself a cologne connoisseur, I definitely dabble. Certainly enough to create a carefully curated list of the best cruelty-free aftershaves on the market.
After working at the world’s most expensive (now second most expensive) perfume company in the world, I’ve done my time testing hundreds of different varieties of top, middle and bottom notes.
My favourite aftershaves have a woody, smoky bottom note and a more energising top note. I have included a couple of richer, sweeter scents for those vanilla lovers amongst you, but there’s definitely something here for every budget.
- Sirius – best woody scent
- Green Ireland Tweed – best fresh scent
- Scent Organix – best for the planet
- Herban Cowboy – best for country-loving urbanites
- Laboratory EDT – best luxury aftershave
- The Body Shop Arber EDT – best value
- Cannabis – best overall
- Aesop Marrakech EDP – longest-lasting aftershave
- Aesop Miraceti EDP – warmest, most luxurious scent
- The Porter House Fragrance – smoothest aftershave
- Unscheduled Wander Parfum – most ethical option
- Neal’s Yard Men’s Cologne – most invigorating
What is the Best Vegan and Cruelty-Free Aftershave?
Cannabis by MALIN and Goetz is our favourite vegan and cruelty-free aftershave. The rich, earthy notes are very well balanced with softer, floral notes. Whilst it doesn’t actually contain any cannabis it does have a beautiful smokiness to it thanks to the blend of black pepper, sandalwood, bergamot, floral magnolia and muguet. Read the full review here.
The 12 Best Vegan & Cruelty-Free Aftershaves
Dolma Sirius Vegan Aftershave
As a vegan, cruelty-free company who manufacture everything in the UK, Dolma are one of our favourite perfumeries.
The Sirius Aftershave for Men is a clean, quality smelling aftershave scented with spices, pine needles and amber.
The fresh, woodland top notes are expertly balanced by the warm base notes of amber
As a cruelty-free, palm-oil free fragrance that’s free-from traditional chemicals, this woody scent is right up my street.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Pine, bay, cinnamon and amber
- No phthalates, artificial colours, parabens or palm-oil
- £21.50
- 50ml
Such is the quality of the brand (and products) Dolma also feature on our best cruelty-free perfumes page.
Eden Perfumes Green Ireland Tweed
Eden Perfumes have a really intriguing range of aftershave – and each cruelty-free cologne is designed to replace a fragrance.
Green Ireland Tweed is a cruelty-free, vegan equivalent to Green Irish Tweed by Creed.
If you’re like me in anyway, you’ll appreciate how fresh the lemon verbena and grassy violet make this.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Aloe, sage and lavender
- Alcohol-free
- £18
- 30ml
Think grassy, smoky notes. They do also have one called ‘Attractive Man‘ but I couldn’t bring myself to recommend that one to you.
Read our cruelty-free review of Eden Perfumes here.
Scent Organix Perfume
Scent Organix fragrance – the I Am Radiant – is a vegan, cruelty-free EDP that is completely recyclable and biodegradable.
Clean, slightly floral top notes. Earthy, amber and vetiver base notes. It’s a really unique, almost androgynous fragrance that is arguably the best aftershave for the environment.
- £29
- 50ml
- Vegan and cruelty-free – all-natural too!
- Free-from phthalates, sulfates, parabens & synthetic dyes
- Biodegradable, completely recyclable
- Not alcohol-free – although the alcohol is made from sugar cane
Herban Cowboy Men’s Cologne
Cool name isn’t it.
Herban Cowboy’s Vegan Cologne comes in two scents – dusk and Forest. Very apt for a vegan, plant-based cologne aimed at herban men.
I have only tried the dusk and my thoughts went something along the lines of: clean, green and outdoorsy. Fresh, not overpowering. Exactly what I look for in cologne.
- £31.85
- 30ml
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Made with plant-based essential oils
- Paraben and phthalate-free
One thing to note is it is not alcohol-free. So may not be super suitable if you’re prone to sensitivity.
Laboratory Perfumes EDT
An absolute cracker from a relative newcomer to the scene, Laboratory Perfume’s EDT is a cruelty-free, ethical fragrance made to evoke Britain’s countryside and coastline.
As a lover of the Devonian countryside I don’t quite get taken back, it’s not far off!
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Grassy, outdoor top notes
- Spicy, warm middle notes
- Balmy, woody base notes
- £80
- 100ml
This UK manufactured scent is technically gender-free. But gender has never really been high on my list for what defines a good fragrance.
Because I like woody, grassy scents, ‘male‘ dominated scents do tend to suit me better.
And all the glass, card and paper used in Laboratory Perfumes packaging is sustainably sourced and widely recycled. But always check your local recycling.
The Body Shop Arber Eau de Toilette
Arber Eau de Toilette blends a smoky, woody sandalwood base (my favourite!), citrussy top notes and bright, bold middle notes of coriander and mint.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Citrus, coriander, mint and sandalwood
- Alcohol-free
- £18
- 100ml
Body Shop has always produced really good quality products – for the price point – and this scent definitely smells like a high end product.
Typically the higher the concentration of fragrance, the longer-lasting (and more expensive) it is.
And Arber lasts much longer than it’s £18 price point would suggest.
Malin & Goetz Cannabis Eau de Parfum
CANNABIS I hear you cry. What do you think I am, a CRIMINAL. No thanks.
Well quite. In the UK, sure cannabis is still illegal. But Cannabis – this aftershave – doesn’t actually contain any cannabis. Or smell particularly like it. It does have a smokiness to it. And the rich, earthy notes are very well balanced with softer, floral notes.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Black pepper, sandalwood, bergamot, floral magnolia and muguet
- It is not alcohol-free
- £78
- 50ml
On a weight-by-weight basis I think this scent is more expensive than cannabis (the drug), but if you’re after a premium aftershave, you can’t go wrong here.
If you like fresh, peppery scents with a smoky undertone., then this Malin & Goetz scent should be perfect.
Aesop Marrakech Intense Eau de Parfum
Aesop is a premium brand – and that’s normally something I would shy away from too.
However, recently I have made a considerable effort to buy less and spend more.
Quality over quantity.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Clove, sandalwood and cardamom
- Alcohol-free
- £110
- 50ml
And Aesop has recently become a firm favourite of mine. The packaging and product quality will never let you down.
Marrakech Eau de Parfum is woody, spicy and – albeit non-gender specific – my scent of choice. It’s not to Adelle’s taste, but that’s a good thing.
And if you’ve ever been to Marrakech you’ll know exactly why it’s named after the city.
Read our review of whether Aesop is cruelty-free here.
Aesop Miraceti Eau de Parfum
‘But wait, that’s not luxurious enough’ I hear you. ‘We need more.’
Well that is lucky. Because Aesop also do a beautiful (vegan) EDP called Miraceti, which smells incredible.
You’ll still smell it on yourself two days later.
So be sure you like it!
- £140
- 50ml
- Certified cruelty-free and vegan
- A woody, musk-like scent with a warm, honeyed, resin-like aroma to it
- Top note: Pepper and chilli
- Middle note: Resinous
- Base note: Myrrh and cedar
It has a stoic outdoorsy vibe to it. A real I’m a man of the woods, but also I really appreciate quality city living.
Not something an aftershave is normally able to combine.
Scotch Porter The Porter House Fragrance
The Porter House Fragrance is probably the richest, smoothest aftershave on the list. I’ve always been a fan of scents with smoky undertones and a fresher top note.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Coconut, fresh greens, violet, amber, sandalwood and orchid
- Natural Musk was replaced by Musk Molecules
- Alcohol-free
- $69.99 – c. £58
- 50ml
The Porter House describe it as a gentleman’s retreat into a modern oasis.
Whilst I can’t bear to call it that, I will admit the sweet, smooth vanilla does balance the warm spices and fresher green top notes well.
Elementary Scents Unscheduled Wander Parfum
Elementary Scents have been a very recent discovery for me. Its unusual branding and high scent concentration is a refreshing change and as a brand it really stacks up ethically.
Zero waste. Palm-oil free. Paraben and sulphate-free. All-natural. An almost endless list of credentials you want from a brand in the 21st century.
Particularly from a brand in the fragrance industry.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Sandalwood, oudh, geranium, lavender and cedarwood
- Palm-oil free
- Zero waste
- £65
- 50ml
And ultimately Unscheduled Wander Parfum has quality floral top notes, a smoky centre and warm woody undertone.
Neal’s Yard Men’s Cologne
Neal’s Yard is an ever-present on our cruelty-free list. And the Men’s Cologne is no different.
- Certified cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Citrussy top notes
- Alcohol-free
- £28
- 50ml
As a brand more famous for its aromatherapy and skincare, the more recent foray into aftershave and men’s products is great.
Really energising and exciting, the 13 organic essential oils include bergamot, grapefruit and bay. Arguably you won’t find three more invigorating scents than that.
Check out our cruelty-free review of Neal’s Yard.
Wrapping Up
I have tried dozens of cruelty-free aftershaves over the years – and Adelle has tried her fair share of cruelty-free perfumes too.
As a fan of woodier, fresher scents, these may not be your ideal scent solution. However we are confident that these brilliant cruelty-free companies will have the scent for you. If you enjoyed this, you should also checkout the best cruelty-free razors, beard oils and shaving kits.
You just need to do a little digging!
Which aftershave brands are cruelty free?
- The Body Shop
- Aesop
- King’s Grooming
- Neal’s Yard
- Elementary Scents
- Scotch porter
- Malin & Goetz
- Eden Perfumes
- Dolma Fragrances
- Everyman Jack
Which aftershave brands aren’t cruelty free?
Almost any big or designer brand that produces perfumes or colognes tests products on animals or uses musk from animals in its products.
- Burberry
- Dior
- Acqua di Parma
- Calvin Klein
- Diesel
- D&G
- Giorgio Armani
- Hugo Boss
- LaCoste
- Paco Robanne
- Ralph Lauren
- Tom Wolf
- Viktor & Rolf
- Versace
- YSL
- Fendi
- Guerlain
- Aerin
How do we decide the best cruelty-free aftershave?
All aftershaves in this list had to be:
- Cruelty free, either certified by PETA or via a cruelty free guarantee
- Vegan. While not all the brands are vegan, all the products featured here are
- Good quality and readily available to buy (a true necessity)
- Tried and tested by me (Harry)
FAQs
Aftershave is typically a very weak concentration of aromatic compounds – around 1 -3%.
Whereas eau de parfum or toilette is significantly higher and parfum itself even more so. The more expensive products typically have a significantly higher concentration of aromatics (some are as high as 25%) which make the scent last for much, much longer.
Nowadays all male perfume has fallen into the aftershave bracket. Previously aftershave was a weakly-scented alcohol rub men would pat on their cheeks after shaving. It was to prevent infection from cuts and speed up the healing process.
We also have no idea why it is now an umbrella term. Even cologne itself is now an umbrella term for all male perfume(s). And cologne is still a very weak concentration of scent. Eau de parfum is a higher concentration and parfum itself is the highest – typically up to around 25%.
Manufacturers typically say that aftershave will last for up to 3 years. But there isn’t a sell-by-date. If you haven’t used it within 5 years we suggest tossing it anyway as you obviously hate it.
Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. It can be made from animal glandular secretions (such as the musk deer), numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odours.
Animal musk was technically banned from use in many countries in the 1990s and synthetic musks were used. Although they have their own issues.
– Nitromusks eg Moskene, musk xylene (which is banned in the EU)
– Polycystic musks eg Galxaolide (HHCB) and Tonalide (also both banned in the EU)
– Macrocylic musks eg muscone, ambrettolide
– Aclicylic musks eg Helvetolide, Romandolide
Synthetic musks have had their share of health scares over the years. After synthetic musk compounds were found in breast milk in the 19902, Japan banned many synthetic musks. The EU banned them in 2011.
Because they are incredibly cheap to produce, even compared to plant-based alternatives. They can be more than 25 times cheaper to produce and don’t have the same variables as botanical musk production – like weather conditions.
Botanical musk is always the preferred option. Although synthetic musks are very prevalent in air fresheners, cleaners etc
The best thing you can do – particularly with fragrances you put on your skin – is seek out perfumes that use natural compounds like ambrette seed; the truest form of natural musk.
