Finding 'cruelty-free' alternatives for your beauty stash is relatively easy. From shampoo and conditioner to skincare and makeup, there are plenty of products made using eco-friendly ingredients without being tested on animals. Even avoiding plastic isn't all that tricky when it comes to your skincare routine.
One thing that is a little trickier is finding a environmentally-friendly perfume. While others can do without it completely, I certainly cannot. I love fragrance. I use essential oils to scent my home, I light incense in my studio, and I enjoy wearing perfume so finding a zero waste alternative was top of my priority list when it came to replacing wasteful personal items.
I found three options: recyclable bottles, refillable sprays, and solid balms. Hopefully you'll find an option that works for you and can make the switch to a more sustainable, less wasteful fragrance.
Elementary Scents
100% natural fragrances with zero synthetics, inspired by nature and designed to be worn by everyone. Elementary Scents currently have three perfumes, which can be ordered with or without an atomiser meaning you can cut down on waste and refill your bottle once it's empty. Unsure which to try? They offer a sample pack (gifted).
My favourite is Lazy Sage (gifted), a fresh, green scent with floral spice and a little citrus. It reminds me of a botanical garden filled with rose, geranium, lavender, chamomile, bergamot, and vetiver. The other two fragrances are deep and woody (Unscheduled Wander), and spicy and earthy (Lowbrow Jazz).
Eden Perfumes
Fragrance that smells like your favourite perfume, doesn't cost anywhere near as much, and comes in a refillable spray bottle. Eden Perfumes match your favourite branded fragrance to create 100% vegan-friendly perfumes without using any synthetic preservatives, parabens, or phthalates. You can return your empty bottles to have them refilled.
A couple of years go I switched out my favourite perfume by Dior, J'Adore, for their No.015 Adore blend and it smells just the same. I also have No.479 Molecular and it's every bit as wonderful as the original. So if you're struggling to let go of your signature scent, try Eden Perfumes.
LUSH Solid Perfume
As low waste as they get, the LUSH range of solid perfumes come without any packaging at all. There are plenty of scents to choose from whether you prefer light and delicate or deep and rich. At £10 each they're a relatively affordable option that would last you most of the year.
I've always found solid perfume doesn't linger for long so applying it correctly is important. LUSH suggests applying the perfume to your pulse points (neck, inside of the elbows, behind the knees, and on the inner wrists) and to your hair. They also suggest applying it to your jewellery, but as a jeweller I highly recommend avoiding doing this! Perfume (even the natural kind) contains ingredients that can permanently damage metal.
