5 Best Cruelty Free Perfumes in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Perfumes can bring you to places, transport you, and remind you of several things. 

A scent can bring up a relaxing holiday, get you to feel the comfort of your home, or even help you remember a sweet romantic evening. 

It can help you feel loved, warm, confident, and evoke fabulous feelings. 

However, an ethical question arises—would you like to continue smelling good at the expense of animals? 

Or, would you want to steer towards cruelty-free perfumes?   

Not all perfumes are created even and most perfumes contain a plethora of animal ingredients.

Some of the frequently used ingredients include civet, an anal gland secretion from the endangered civet wildcat; castoreum, a leather-like smell extracted from the genitals of the castor beaver; ambergris, derived from sperm whales; and musk, an odor secreted by the musk deer. 

We can assure you that, owing to large demands, the ingredients aren’t extracted and farmed in a cruelty-free environment. 

Fortunately, numerous perfume makers are devoted to manufacturing cruelty-free perfumes. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best cruelty-free perfumes on the market. 

Top 5 Best Cruelty-Free Perfumes – Our Reviews:

1. Abel Green Cedar

Ok, you will need deep pockets to afford a bottle of Abel Green Cedar, but I promise it’ll be worth it. 

Why is it so expensive you ask? 

Well, it is because it comprises only the best ingredients from the most ethical suppliers.  

The plant-derived musk extracted from the seeds of hibiscus flowers cost a lot more than synthetics. 

Luckily, since the longevity of this perfume is beyond exceptional, it won’t need frequent application. 

Abel Green Cedar can last for months. 

This unisex fragrance is primarily the resulting mix of two sustainable, wild-harvested cedars from the Moroccan mountains and Texan forests. 

The mixture is then sweetened by a touch of magnolia. 

This cruelty-free perfume has top notes of cardamom and magnolia, heart notes of cypress and guaiac wood, and base notes of Texas cedar and Atlas cedar. 

Go for this if you want a cruelty-free perfume that gives off an intense aroma. 

Another good thing is that the company donates a meal to the financially deprived for every bottle of Abel Green Cedar sold. 

Pros

• Unisex fragrance
• Contains the best ingredients from the most ethical suppliers

Cons

• Costly

2. Eden No.007

The makers of this cruelty-free perfume are certified by the vegan community. 

No.007 is Eden’s take on the iconic Chanel No.5. 

However, unlike Chanel No.5, No.007 doesn’t contain preservatives, parabens, and animal-derived ingredients. 

How close do they come to replicating the famous line? 

They come mighty close. 

No.007 will give you familiar top notes of ylang-ylang, lemon, and neroli.

Its heart notes are jasmine, iris and rose and the base is patchouli. 

I was particularly impressed with the longevity of this perfume. 

However, I needed to top up after 6 hours for a stronger impact.

If there is any particular designer perfume that you prefer, you can simply visit their site and check for a cruelty-free alternative. 

The brand prides itself on recreating famous designer perfumes through ethical methods. 

Pros

• Impressive longevity
• All-natural ingredients

Cons

• Not the strongest perfume around

3. Lush Amelie Mae

Vowed to never test on animals, Lush is one of the most recognized brands in the realm of cruelty-free cosmetics. 

In fact, they go a step further—they don’t even get raw materials from companies who test on animals.

Out of their perfume line, I am a huge fan of Amelie Mae. 

The head perfumer, Simon Constantine, created it after taking suggestions from his youngest daughter. 

Amelie wanted it to smell like roses, lavender, and raspberries and her father delivered. 

The soft, candied fragrance is further boosted by the presence of ylang ylang oil and the tart scent of raspberries. 

The lavender from the perfume sits well on the skin too. 

My only complaint is that I am rather disappointed with the longevity of the perfume. 

Pros

• Budget-friendly
• Provides stress relief
• Simple, classy design

Cons

• Below-par longevity
• Unimpressive sillage

4. The 7 Virtues Vetiver Elemi

Vetiver Elemi is one of the top-rated perfumes of the Canada-based brand, The 7 Virtues. 

This unisex perfume is versatile and boasts an earthy scent bearing the slight spices of nutmeg and cardamom.  

 Vetiver Elemi is a peculiar fragrance—go for it if you want to stand out.  

It is PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free, hypoallergenic and organic, and free from sulfates, SLS, synthetic colors, formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, and UV inhibitors. 

It also doesn’t contain palm oil or palm oil derivatives.

Since the perfume sits close to the skin, it should be ideal for office wear. 

Vetiver Elemi should also go well on people who don’t prefer strong perfumes.

Pros

• Unique attractive fragrance
• PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free

Cons

• Not ideal for people who like strong perfumes
• Can wear off during the day

5. Le Labo Santal 33

Such is the popularity of Le Labo’s Santal 33 that you must have already smelled it on someone else. 

Loved by all genders for its smoky, sexy, and traditionally masculine fragrance, Santal 33 possesses a strong and alluring sandalwood-led scent with a hint of greenery. 

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to label the scent aged leather too. 

The packaging is a bonafide minimalist’s purchase with its simple bottle, cream label, and typewriter font. 

You can even personalize it with your name. 

I was particularly impressed with its longevity; a couple of spritzes on the wrist and neck lasted me all day. 

The scent even lingered after a hot shower the next morning! 

Santal 33 also comes in solid form and as a roll-on.  

Although this Le Labo perfume is free of parabens and phthalates, it does contain a minute amount of synthetic musk.  

Pros

• Versatile
• Great longevity
• Smoky, sexy, traditionally masculine fragrance

Cons

• Expensive
• Contains a small amount of synthetic musk

My Verdict

I am rather impressed with Eden’s ability to dupe any designer perfume without using animal-derived ingredients. 

The brand’s No.007 does well to capture the scent and essence of Chanel No.5. 

I also like Lush’s Amelie Mae. 

It is affordable and excels in all the departments a great perfume should excel in. 

However, if you are looking for a perfume that has been made with the finest ingredients, you should go for Abel Green Cedar. 

It may be costly but quality comes at a hefty price, doesn’t it?