Too often, body wash fragrance dissipates in mere minutes, leaving you reaching for heavy spritzes of perfume before you head out the door. We believe a body wash should pull its weight, leaving a scent that lingers long after you’ve toweled off. We’ve gathered the best smelling body washes—formulas that elevate your shower routine and keep you smelling so good you could skip perfume altogether.
The Best-Smelling Body Washes
Cyklar Sensorial Body Wash Vanilla Verve ($35)
If you want to smell like a sultry dessert, look no further. We love all the scents this oil-infused body wash comes in, but our sweet tooth is partial to this grown-up vanilla that will make your partner want to take a bite of you.
Oak Essentials Awaken Body Wash ($38)
Oak Essentials elevates every aspect of our self-care routine. This deeply nourishing body wash brings spa-level luxury to the shower with soothing, yet invigorating notes of lavender and cedarwood.
Native Body Wash Coconut & Vanilla ($11)
Native is constantly launching innovative, unique, limited-edition scents, whether they’re partnering with Dunkin’ or welcoming your senses into a winter wonderland. It’s fun to try all the delectable scents they create, but we also love the classic Coconut & Vanilla.
Phlur Missing Person Body Wash ($30)
If you’re not familiar with the viral Missing Person fragrance from Phlur, you’re missing out. They translated the iconic perfume with notes of white musk, jasmine, orange blossom and soft woods into a body cleanser packed with skin-care ingredients.
Nopalera Cactus Shower Gel, Dulce De Cuerpo Scent ($24)
Mexican prickly pear oil blended with cactus flower extracts cleanses and nourishes skin in this silky green gel. The unique smoky scent with notes of vanilla and amber pays homage to Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos and copal, an ancient ceremonial resin.
Sidia The Wash – Soaked ($39)
Indulge in the beloved Soaked scent from Sidia with notes of juniper, lemon, oregano, cypress, cedarwood, amber, leather and musks. The brand calls the scent a tribute to the meditative magic of morning and life’s little wonders.
Wonder Valley Hinoki Body Wash ($34)
Notes of Japanese hinoki, cedarwood and Siberian fir promote a forest bathing sensation from the coziness of your own shower. It promotes calm, relaxation and groundedness. “The scent is wonderful! I’m always asked what I’m wearing whenever I use it,” writes one reviewer. Another says the woodsy scent makes her quick 10-minute showers as a mom feel like a half-day trip to the spa.
Beekman 1802 Milk Chocolate Hand & Body Wash ($36)
Hear us out. This limited-edition collaboration between Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup and our favorite goat milk skin-care brand is not overpowering but rather lightly delectable with notes of vanilla fudge, cocoa and caramel. Have a little fun and add this to your shower routine.
California Naturals Classic Clean Body Wash ($12)
The food-grade fragrance of toasted coconut will transport you to a tropical getaway, making you feel like you’re on vacation, if only for just a few moments in the shower.
Youth To The People Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser ($39)
We love when our favorite facial skin-care brands create products for the body. This body cleanser promotes smoother, clearer, hydrated skin while dousing you in a fine fragrance that many users liken to a spa-like experience.
Nature of Things Awakening Santal Body Wash ($48)
Nature of Things recently relaunched with a fresh take, elegant packaging and intoxicating scents. The Awakening Santal Body Wash is bright, yet grounded with a unique earthiness we can’t get enough of.
Fresh Sugar Lychee Body & Hand Wash ($28)
Lychee lovers and beyond will fall for this body wash at first sniff. The sweet, fruity scent is a fan favorite for a reason. “One of the best smelling things I’ve ever smelled in my life,” writes one reviewer.
Nerrā Body Wash – Jasmine Wood ($36)
This formula is deeply hydrating and promotes cellular regeneration for soft, glowing skin, but the scent is still the superstar. Reviewers call the Jasmine Wood scent calming and elegant, with one noting, “I want to smell this forever.”
DedCool Hand + Body Wash 01 Taunt ($28)
DedCool is one of the hottest brands in fragrance, so if this is spotted in your shower, you’ll get major points. Taunt is one of the brand’s most popular perfumes, and it’s available in body wash. Once you smell the mix of bergamot, fresh dew, cassis, vanilla and amber, you’ll understand why the scent is such a hit.
Iota Supervitamin Body Wash+ Detoxifying ($23)
This body wash is packed with skin-care goodies, including superfoods, multivitamins, multiminerals, prebiotics and postbiotics. The lemongrass and eucalyptus scent is earthy and unique, balanced by spearmint, citrus, May Cheng and peppermint.
Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Cleansing Wash with Vitamin C & Niacinamide ($25)
This brightening body polish scrub is infused with vitamin C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, so dull, dry skin doesn’t stand a chance. The energizing scent features a blend of grapefruit, pineapple and apple blossom.
OffCourt Deep Cleansing Body Wash Coconut Water + Sandalwood ($9)
OffCourt’s body washes are made with post-sweat skin in mind. It uses glycolic and lactic acids to gently exfoliate skin. All three scents smell divine, but the Coconut Water + Sandalwood is our favorite.
Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Foaming Gel Body Wash ($11)
As a long-time fan of Tree Hut’s scrubs, there’s no surprise the body washes are just as good. Moroccan Rose is one of their best classic scents, and it lingers well after you rinse off.
Beauty Pie Soil Providers Energizing Body Wash ($32)
This invigorating body wash has the same intoxicating scent as the widely beloved Dry Oil Sugar Scrub ($32), so you can now flow it into your daily routine seamlessly. Sweet orange, lemon, grapefruit, black pepper and pine team up to create a truly unique scent.
Molton Brown Re-charge Black Pepper Bath & Shower Gel ($36)
Variety is the spice of life and this uniquely spicy fragrance is here to shake up your shower routine. This shower gel is packed with the vibrant scents of piquant black pepper, coriander and vetiver.
Dermalogica Conditioning Body Wash ($39)
The soothing, relaxing scent of eucalyptus, lavender and sandalwood essential oils bring this natural botanical cleanser to life.
Maison Margiela ‘REPLICA’ Lazy Sunday Morning Shower Gel ($40)
Looking for a scent that’s as easy to love as a Sunday morning? This Maison Margiela shower gel is decadent and flowery. The scent lingers like a perfume—it’s hard to miss it.
Flamingo Estate Garden Essentials Body Wash ($50)
Turn your shower into a California garden with the awakening aroma of this body wash. The fragrance comes from 100 percent essential oil of clary sage, Australian eucalyptus, Mediterranean rosemary and California lavender.
Kai Body Wash ($38)
Kai’s beloved signature scent of white florals can be found in this bottle. It creates a deeply fragrant foam in the shower that will carry into the rest of your day.
Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser ($49)
For those that love a fresh, citrus scent, this cleanser is a one-stop shop. Geranium leaf, mandarin rind and bergamot rind work together to create a scent that will follow you long after you rinse.
Being Frenshe Renewing Body Wash Cashmere Vanilla ($11)
Ashley Tisdale’s line, Being Frenshe, has a handful of tempting scents. Luckily, at just $11, you can afford to try them all. Fun fact: Tisdale based the Cashmere Vanilla scent on the smell of Trader Joe’s Jasmine Rice fresh out of the microwave.
Oribe Cote d’Azur Replenishing Body Wash ($54)
If you’ve used Oribe hair products, you know how heavenly the smell is, so it’s no surprise the body wash delivers on the olfactory front. This wash is infused with the brand’s signature Côte d’Azur fragrance, and reviewers say the smell lingered until the next morning.
Salt & Stone Antioxidant Body Wash ($36)
Smell like a luxury spa every time you step out of the shower after using this silky body wash. The zen-inducing scent will stick around for a while.
Esker Restorative Body Wash ($28)
This unique, invigorating scent comes from natural ingredients. The combination of frankincense, bergamot, rosemary and ylang ylang will have you hooked.
Weleda Hydrating Body Wash – Sea Buckthorn ($10)
“If you could fill your shower with sunshine, it would smell and feel like this,” claims Weleda, and they’re not wrong. The uniquely fruity and bright scent is a welcome surprise in a creamy formula.
Ouai Dean Street Body Cleanser ($28)
Experience Ouai’s beloved “Dean Street” scent, inspired by the brand’s favorite street in London, in the form of a body cleanser. This scent promises to boost your mood with notes of citrus, apricot, rose, magnolia, amber, linden blossom and musk.
Jo Malone London Wood Sage & Sea Salt Body & Hand Wash ($32)
This Jo Malone scent is perfect for those that want to be reminded of the best bits of the great outdoors throughout the day. The scent is woody and earthy, perfectly grounding.
European Wax Center Coconut Body Wash ($17)
The fresh coconut scent immediately transports you to a beachside boutique and that’s not even the best part. This body wash slows hair regrowth using naturally derived narcissus bulb extract.
Philosophy Fresh Cream 3-in-1 Bath & Shower Gel ($28)
Philosophy has many unique scents, from Pink Frosted Animal Cracker to Warm Cashmere, but the Fresh Cream is a classic, comforting scent that stands the test of time. You’ll smell straight out of a bakery when using this shower gel.
Diptyque Revitalizing Shower Gel for Body and Hair ($62)
Widely known for its beloved candles, it’s no surprise that Diptyque makes a beautifully scented body wash. Bergamot, peppermint essence and almond extract collide to create a long-lasting, classic scent.
Drunk Elephant Scrubbi Bamboes Body Cleanser ($26)
This exfoliating, antioxidant-rich body cleanser comes from the creators of top-notch skin care, so you know it’s good for your skin. The sweet vanilla scent that accompanies the jelly-to-foam cleanser is an extra treat.
Mario Badescu Rose Body Soap ($9)
This body soap features the same scent that appears in other beloved Mario Badescu products. Infused with rosewater and rose oil, you’ll be smelling like a bouquet when you step out of the shower.
Lush Good Karma…Everybody Needs Some ($14)
The moment you walk into a Lush store, you’re overwhelmed by delectable scents and bright pops of color, so it can be hard to pick a product. While many of their body washes have amazing scents that stand the test of time, we like this citrusy, earthy scent of patchouli and orange. While Lush rotates many scents in and out, this one has been a mainstay for over 20 years.
Corpus Santalum Body Wash ($30)
Sandalwood is the heart of this body wash, with strong hints of Texas cedarwood and amber. You’re bound to get compliments when using this one.
Kosas Good Body Skin AHA + Enzyme Exfoliating Body Wash ($22)
This body wash is formulated specifically with those battling body acne in mind, but it’s great for everyone. It’s exfoliating and includes active ingredients to promote skin health while giving a fresh tropical scent Kosas calls Beachy Clean.
Bathing Culture Mind and Body Wash ($36)
In this body wash, warm, woodsy and earthy scents combine to create a comforting aroma. The notes of vetiver, balsam, frankincense, cedar, juniper, ylang ylang and maritime pine stay with you post-shower.
Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Hand + Body Wash ($28)
Your hands and body can share the same sumptuous scent of eucalyptus. Snag this body wash if you want to feel fresh and energized every time you leave the shower.
Moroccanoil Shower Gel Oud Minéral ($22)
Moroccanoil describes this scent as “invigorating and unexpected.” You can expect to feel like you’re on the coast in the Mediterranean with hints of Mediterranean sea salt, charred cedarwood and petitgrain.
Saltair Santal Bloom Body Wash ($14)
Saltair has a variety of intoxicating scents, but we’re partial to the Santal Bloom. It features warm notes of sandalwood, sheer amber and sensual musks.
Byredo Gypsy Water Body Wash ($60)
Notes of pine needle, sandalwood, amber and fresh citrus are just the beginning of this dynamic scent that aims to evoke the ambiance of a night spent in the forest.
L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil ($29)
The warm, soothing smell of this classic shower oil wraps around you while you’re in the shower. You’ll notice that the nutty, sweet scent will leave you smelling like you just stepped out of a French bakery.
Odele Clarifying Body Wash ($12)
This invigorating AHA body wash features a 100% natural fragrance. The main notes of bergamot and mint will leave you smelling like a full-bodied cup of earl grey tea.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel ($26)
Just like the brand’s delicious smelling lotions, this shower cream-gel delivers a yummy scent. It’s scented with Sol de Janeiro’s Ceirosa ‘62 fragrance, which has notes of pistachio and salted caramel.
Alo Mega-C Body Wash ($24)
One reviewer said this body wash from Alo smells like Trix cereal, and we don’t disagree. It has a light, energizing fruity scent to it that we can’t get enough of.
Necessaire The Body Wash – Eucalyptus ($28)
This beloved body wash will transform your shower into a spa and leave you feeling relaxed and smelling great for hours.
Maude Wash No. 1 ($24)
This gentle, pH-balanced body wash is scented with amber, cedar leaf, clove, lemongrass, Medjool date and tonka bean. It also doubles as a bubble bath, so you can soak in the scent.
