wild deodorant sold to unilever and people are (rightfully) mad
So, Wild Deodorant just got bought by Unilever. On the surface, that might sound like a win for the eco world — refillable deodorant made more mainstream, right?
Not exactly. And if you’re confused about why everyone’s so annoyed, let’s break it down. Or skip straight to the full video here if you want the full rant:
Isn’t this just helping Wild scale up?
That’s what they’re saying. Wild claim this deal helps them go bigger, reduce prices, and get more people using refillable deodorant. But when a massive company like Unilever ( aka one of the world’s top plastic polluters) buys a small eco brand, most of us know the drill.
It’s rarely about impact. It’s usually about profit.
The cruelty-free catch
Yes, Wild are still cruelty-free.
But Unilever, their new parent company, are not. And a lot of people (myself included) choose indie, ethical brands because they’re not lining the pockets of corporations that still test on animals.
So even if the product hasn’t changed, where your money ends up has.
This doesn’t mean they care about plastic
If Unilever were serious about plastic waste, they’d start with their own bestsellers – Dove, Lynx, Tresemmé. But they haven’t. Instead, they’ve bought the shiny “eco” brand already doing the work.
It’s classic greenwashing: buying up the solution and calling it progress, without fixing the problem they’re actively fuelling.
And let’s be honest — Wild hasn’t been perfect either. All those seasonal cases (Christmas snowflakes, Easter eggs)? They feel more like fast fashion than sustainability.
What to use instead
If you’re done with Wild, here are a few good alternatives:
- Fussy – refillable, gentle, and nice scents
- Nude – zero-waste and well-loved
- Make Waves – reportedly fits the Wild case
- Salt of the Earth – my personal go-to (refillable, vegan, works!)
I go into more detail (and explain why Wild didn’t work for me) in the full video here.
Final thoughts
If you’re frustrated, you’re not alone. This move feels like yet another eco brand selling out. But it’s also a reminder to support the ones still doing things differently. Watch the full video if you want all the tea, receipts, how Ben & Jerry’s ties into this all and recommendations.
And let me know: are you switching deodorants? What’s your go-to now?