Beauty Industry, Beauty Launches, Mergers and Acquisitions

Unilever to Pay $2 Million for Suave Aerosol Benzene Settlement

This settlement comes after claims of harmful chemicals found in products purchased between January 1, 2018, and March 7, 2024.

May 2, 2024

By: Rachel Klemovitch

Assistant Editor

Unilever has agreed to pay a $2 million settlement in the class action lawsuit against the formerly owned brand—Suave—to resolve the allegations that the brand’s aerosol deodorants were reportedly contaminated with benzene—a known carcinogen.

Exposure to benzene has been linked to severe health conditions including leukemia.

The lawsuit is against the Suave 24-Hour Protection Powder Aerosol Antiperspirant and the Suave 24-Hour Protection Fresh Aerosol Antiperspirant. Benzene is said to have been found in products purchased between January 1, 2018, and March 7, 2024.

Unilever initiated a recall of the implicated products in March of 2022 despite denying any wrongdoing.

According to reports, the final approval hearing is scheduled for September of this year. To benefit from the Suave benzene settlement, class members must submit a valid claim by July 15, 2024.