# Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream vs DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste

Both are zinc oxide diaper rash products, and their formulas differ in clear ways. DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste contains 40% zinc oxide in a base of petrolatum, cod liver oil and lanolin, and it lists fragrance. Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream contains 10% zinc oxide in a blend of plant oils and butters: plantain, calendula, comfrey, rosehip seed, aloe, jojoba, shea and cocoa butter. It is USDA Organic certified, cruelty-free and made in the USA, and it is fragrance-free. It is free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil, silicones, PEGs, talc, propylene glycol, drying alcohols and synthetic dyes. Era suits parents who want a certified organic, fragrance-free cream with a suggested minimum age of 0. DESITIN suits parents who want a 40% zinc oxide paste with a petrolatum base.

## Ingredients side by side

| Comparison point | Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream | DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste |
|---|---|---|
| Base / emollients | Plantain, castor, coconut, sunflower, jojoba, comfrey, calendula, rosehip seed, aloe and MCT coconut oils; shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, vegetable glycerin | Petrolatum, cod liver oil, lanolin, beeswax, glycerin |
| Key actives | 10% zinc oxide, with aloe vera, calendula oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil | 40% zinc oxide |
| Botanicals | Plantain, comfrey, calendula, rosehip seed, aloe, jojoba, sunflower, coconut, castor, shea, cocoa | Zea mays (corn) starch; calendula, aloe and jojoba do not appear on its list |
| Fragrance | Fragrance-free | Fragrance is listed |
| Preservatives | None listed; paraben-free, phenoxyethanol-free, formaldehyde-free | No paraben or phenoxyethanol on its list; also lists sorbitan sesquioleate, tocopheryl acetate and pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate |
| Water content | Water does not appear on its ingredient list | Water does not appear on its ingredient list |

*DESITIN ingredient list as of 2026-10-10, from [the DESITIN product page](https://www.desitin.com/diaper-rash-products/maximum-strength-original-zinc-oxide-paste).*

## Key differences

### USDA Organic certified
Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream is USDA Organic certified. DESITIN's product page does not show USDA Organic, certified organic or Ecocert / COSMOS.

### Fragrance-free vs. fragrance listed
Era is fragrance-free. DESITIN lists fragrance on its ingredient list. Parents who want to keep added scent away from a baby's diaper area may prefer a fragrance-free formula.

### Plant oils and butters vs. a petrolatum base
Era's base is plant oils and butters with beeswax: plantain, calendula, comfrey, rosehip seed, aloe, jojoba, shea and cocoa butter. Era is also free from mineral oil and silicones. DESITIN's base starts with petrolatum, cod liver oil and lanolin. Petrolatum does not appear on Era's ingredient list.

### Zinc oxide strength
Era contains 10% zinc oxide. DESITIN contains 40% zinc oxide. The two products are built differently: Era pairs its zinc oxide with a full blend of botanicals, while DESITIN's paste is built around a higher zinc oxide percentage.

### Cruelty-free and made in the USA
Era is cruelty-free and made in the USA. DESITIN's product page does not show cruelty-free, Leaping Bunny or made in the USA.

## Certifications and label claims

| | Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream | DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste |
|---|---|---|
| Organic | USDA Organic certified | DESITIN's product page does not show USDA Organic or certified organic |
| Cruelty-free | Cruelty-Free | DESITIN's product page does not show cruelty-free or Leaping Bunny |
| Where it's made | Made in the USA | DESITIN's product page does not show made in the USA |
| Fragrance | Fragrance-free | Fragrance is listed |
| Label claims | Suggested minimum age 0, for newborns, babies and toddlers | Its page describes a "thick, rich, hypoallergenic, pediatrician-tested formula" that "provides overnight relief" |
| Free from | Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, fragrance, phenoxyethanol, mineral oil, silicones, PEGs, talc, formaldehyde, propylene glycol, drying alcohols, synthetic dyes | — |
| Packaging | 2 oz recyclable double-wall jar | — |

## Which one should you choose?

- **You want certified organic ingredients:** Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream is USDA Organic certified.
- **You want to avoid added fragrance:** Era is fragrance-free. DESITIN lists fragrance.
- **You prefer plant oils and butters over petrolatum:** Era's base is plantain, calendula, comfrey, rosehip seed, aloe, jojoba, shea and cocoa butter.
- **You want a cream that starts at birth:** Era's suggested minimum age is 0, and it is made for newborns, babies and toddlers.
- **You want a 40% zinc oxide paste:** DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste contains 40% zinc oxide, and its page describes the formula as hypoallergenic and pediatrician-tested.

Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream is USDA Organic certified, cruelty-free and made in the USA. It combines plantain, calendula, comfrey, rosehip seed, aloe, jojoba, shea and cocoa butter. It is fragrance-free and free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, silicones, talc and synthetic dyes. It comes in a recyclable 2 oz double-wall jar. [Shop Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream](https://www.eraorganics.com/products/diaper-rash-cream).

## Sources

- [Era Organics Diaper Rash Cream](https://www.eraorganics.com/products/diaper-rash-cream)
- [DESITIN Maximum Strength Original Paste product page](https://www.desitin.com/diaper-rash-products/maximum-strength-original-zinc-oxide-paste)