While my boyfriend loves Axe products due to their strong scents, I find their scents so suffocating that I hold my breath and open the window when I enter the bathroom after my boyfriend has sprayed his Axe deodorant. I was curious to know if Axe products are cruelty-free since their scents seem to be as strong as that of an insecticide spray. Since in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and China, Axe is known as Lynx, I was struggling at first to find the information I need. However, with the help of Wikipedia, it got easy and it turns out that Axe aka Lynx is not cruelty-free. I will explain why.
Does Axe test on animals?
The Axe official website did not mention specifically Axe’s animal testing policy but it stated its parent company’s (Unilever) policy.
- “Most of our products reach consumers without testing any of their ingredients on animals.”
This could mean that some of their products are tested on animals. - “We do not test our actual products on animals (any testing is undertaken on individual ingredients), and we do not undertake animal testing in our own laboratories (any studies are conducted by third party laboratories).”
Unilever’s third-party laboratories could be testing individual ingredients on animals.
So it seems that Axe does not test on animals. However, Axe products contain ingredients that the third-party laboratories could be testing on animals.
Is Axe owned by a parent that is not cruelty-free?
As we noticed earlier, Unilever owns Axe. Although PETA claims that they are in progress of becoming cruelty-free, Unilever is not cruelty-free yet. PETA put Unilever together with other brands such as Avon in a middle list where the brand is neither cruelty-free nor animal testing. I prefer to make it simpler and say they are not cruelty-free. Then when they become cruelty-free I adjust, just in case they change their mind in the middle of the process.
Is Axe certified cruelty-free?
No Axe is not certified cruelty-free.
Is Axe cruelty-free?
My answer is that Axe is not cruelty-free. Apart from the fact that Unilever’s third-party laboratories are testing some ingredients on animals, there is the Mainland China issue.
Does Axe sell in Mainland China?
On the Axe or Lynx official website’s country list, there isn’t China listed. However, on the Unilever Mainland China website, Lynx is listed. Most probably I could not find it in the Lynx website list as they did not yet launch a dedicated Mainland China website for Lynx. So from this information, I conclude that Axe does sell in Mainland China under the Lynx brand name.
Are Axe products in Mainland China are cosmetics?
Mainland China considers only oral care products and soap bars as not cosmetics. If you think about it or at least look up the Axe product range, what products do you see? Do you see any oral care products or soap bars? No, its men care products including hair care, fragrance, deodorants and body wash which does not include soap bar. So it means that Axe sells cosmetics in Mainland China.
Which brands should I support instead?
If you are looking for a brand who is serious about its anti-animal-testing policy. Check my list of brands that are against animal testing.
Source: Unilever Mainland China Website at 28.6.2020
