The 14 Best-Smelling Body Lotions Our Editors Can't Get Enough Of
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When it comes to lotions, the first thing that comes to mind is moisture since we rely on them to hydrate our skin. The second most important thing (at least to us) is scent. After all, if something smells good, we’re more likely to reach for it, right? Whether it’s earthier scents from Grown Alchemist, fresh aromas from Philosophy or tropical fragrances from Sol de Janeiro (which is our best overall pick, BTW), we picked the 14 best-smelling body lotions to suit everyone’s preferences ahead.
The Best-Smelling Body Lotions at a Glance
What to Look for in Scented Body Lotion
Plain and simple, you want to find a fragrance that tickles your senses. Ask yourself: Are you into warm and musky scents like vanilla, sandalwood or amber? Or do you prefer crisp notes like eucalyptus, mint or cedar? Maybe fruity scents with apples or berries are more up your alley? Or floral notes like rose, lavender or jasmine? There are so many combinations out there, so don’t be afraid to try a few to find the right choice for you.
How We Chose the Best-Smelling Body Lotions
We polled 12 PureWow editors to share their favorite scented body lotions. To beef up our selection, we also spent hours researching top sellers on retailers like Amazon, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Target to compile a comprehensive list of the 14 best-smelling body lotions, so you can smell fresh throughout the dog days of summer.
The 26 Best Body Lotions for Your Poor, Parched Skin
1. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Body Cream
This body cream is like vacation in a tub. The blend of warm and sweet notes (aka vanilla, salted caramel and pistachio) has us wishing we were on a Caribbean Island. And the benefits don’t just stop at the heavenly scent—just look at the stacked ingredients list. Mixed with guaraná, a native Brazilian plant loaded with antioxidants to tighten and smooth skin, it also contains cupuaçu butter to lock in moisture and improve elasticity, as well as, açai oil to brighten. Plus, it adds a touch of shimmer to your skin, so you can glow all day long.
2. Flamingo Light Hydrating Spray
If you’re a fan of sunscreen sprays then you’re going to enjoy this body lotion by Flamingo. The hydrating spray is praised for its easy application, which offers ample coverage and quick absorption. The brand claims it can provide up to 24 hours of hydration, thanks to squalane, an emollient derived from sugar cane that boosts moisture, along with white willow bark for exfoliation and apple extract for even more moisture and an instant glow.
3. Grown Alchemist Intensive Body Cream
This body cream packs a punch when it comes to hydration, but it's the light floral scent that give it an edge over some of its competitors. Shoppers say it leaves a rosy scent with a hint of pomegranate—making it deliciously pleasing on the skin. Scent aside, the formula also features pomegranate and cupuaçu butter, which are both rich in antioxidants that soften, protect and hydrate the skin. As one reviewer says, “As someone who typically uses body oil (which can only really be applied to damp skin), being able to use this cream anywhere at any time has been such a luxury. I can't believe how soft and not tacky my skin feels. I couldn't recommend it more!”
4. HEMPZ Body Lotion
If you love the smell of candy, this classic lotion should be in your cart. While it might be too strong for some, others love the blend of fruity and floral notes (like sweet banana). The formula contains 100 percent hemp seed oil, which promises intense hydration, controls oil production and reduces the appearance of fine lines. You’ll also find sunflower seed oil to help retain moisture, shea butter to soften and hydrate the skin, as well as ginger to soothe irritation. For Curtis, the body lotion has been a godsend for their skin: “It does wonders on my legs, which are always prone to those strawberry patches of bumps and irritation.”
5. Philosophy Pure Grace Body Lotion
Love the smell of fresh laundry? Well, here it is in lotion form. Its blend of clean notes, like water lily, leafy green and frosted musk, is a light delight for your skin. While the scent is what draws people in, the formula holds its own, too. You’ll find ingredients such as vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects against environmental aggressors and aloe vera to soothe, hydrate and protect the skin. For one buyer it's the best-smelling body lotion they’ve ever tried: “I love the smell of this lotion. It smells like freshly dried laundry that's been hanging on a line outside. It's very subtle and smells clean—not like so many scents that are so obviously fake. The lotion itself is also really good and moisturizes my dry skin even in the depths of winter.”
6. eos Shea Better 24H Moisture Body Lotion
A fruity body lotion that doesn’t overpower our senses? Yes please. This one has over 1,300 5-star reviews so you know it’s good. Shoppers rave about the lightweight formula and delicious scent (aka sweet pomegranate and tart raspberries) and how it doesn’t leave your skin greasy or sticky. Thanks to shea butter and shea oil, the blend promises to soothe dry skin and offer lasting hydration for up to 24-hours without having to reapply during the day. For one shopper, they couldn’t believe this body lotion held up on its claim: “Reading the reviews I figured the lotion would be smooth, but I did not expect my skin to feel as smooth as it did for as long as it did!! [It has a] great formula that isn't too oily or sticky [and it] works for my textural issues.”
7. Capri Blue Volcano Hand Cream
If you’ve ever stepped into an Anthropologie store, you’ll know the distinct scent it has. The signature volcanic scent features tropical sugary fruits (like orange, lemon and lime) and woodsy mountain greens. It’s also formulated with coconut oil and shea butter, which are both rich ingredients that can leave the skin looking and feeling silky smooth. Although it’s technically made for your hands, shoppers enjoy applying it all over. One happy reviewer said it best: “Quintessential Anthro scent in a lotion, what’s not to love?”
8. Summer Fridays Summer Silk Body Lotion
Fans flock to Summer Friday for their moisturizing lip balms and face masks, so it’s no surprise their body lotion is a heavy hitter, too. Loaded with a blend of cocoa and shea butters and natural oils (grapeseed, argan, rosehip, to name a few), this creamy formula offers endless moisture. You’ll also find ceramides, lipids that help strengthen and support the skin’s natural barrier, in the ingredients panel. Shoppers love its non-greasy texture and subtle scent (of vanilla blossom, warm almond and coconut) as it wears nicely on the skin in every way.
9. St. Ives Nourish and Soothe Body Lotion
This nourishing cream by St. Ives has been around for years, cementing its place as a classic body lotion people can rely on (as the more than 1,500 5-star reviews on Amazon attest). Its key ingredients are oatmeal and shea butter, which come together to nourish and soothe dry skin. The rich blend is lightened up with glycerin and soybean oil, which fans say help the product absorb instantly, while offering a smooth, non-greasy finish.
10. Mutha Body Butter
This body butter is loved and praised by reviewers (especially mamas-to-be) for its rich formula. Formulated with 100 percent natural ingredients, it offers moisture from head-to-toe. It starts with shea butter, which is known for nourishing and soothing dry skin. Next, there’s cocoa butter, an ingredient high in fatty acids that improve elasticity. Last but not least, it has mango butter, which improves skin tone and softens stretch marks. The lightweight blend also contains vitamin A and E to add even more moisture, and the subtle citrus fragrance is gentle and calming.
11. Maui Babe After Browning Lotion
Spent all day basking in the sun? You might want to keep this post-sun lotion nearby. This body moisturizer promises to enhance and protect your fresh tan. The main ingredient, aloe vera, has been clinically proven to soothe burns and minimize redness (in case you accidentally fell asleep on the beach). Along with purified Hawaiian water and macadamia nut oil, it provides deep hydration, while preventing any potential peeling from sunburn. Plus, the coconut scent transports us back to vacay mode every single time. The brand recommends reapplying as often as you like to protect your skin, especially after swimming.
12. Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter
This body butter looks to replenish and smooth parched skin over time. A quick peek at the ingredients list shows undaria seaweed, a superfood that balances moisture levels in your skin and shea butter to soften and smooth over rough patches. There’s also dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline (DPHP), which is known to repair and firm skin, in addition to ceramides, which support the skin barrier. The brand claims it can hydrate for up to 72 hours, which reviewers are backing up in Ulta Beauty’s comment section, along with praise for its fast-absorption, moisturizing finish and clean scent that’s not too strong.
13. Dove Body Love Body Lotion
The best way to describe this scent is that it smells like a warm vanilla candle at a luxurious spa. But the relaxing scent isn’t the only thing we love about this body lotion. We’re also crazy about the creamy blend of coconut oil, ceramides, shea and cocoa butter that leaves our skin feeling impossibly silky. Customers can’t stop raving about the non-greasy texture and how it’s a safe pick for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
14. Dr. Teal’s Body Lotion
If you’re curious about trying a body lotion to help you sleep, we recommend this one by Dr. Teal’s. It’s packed with melatonin, a naturally-occurring hormone that can help promote better sleep. You’ll also find key players like shea butter, cocoa butter and vitamin E in the formula, which help moisturize and soften your skin while you fall into dreamland. The soothing lavender and chamomile scent certainly don’t hurt either.
Here's Why I Moisturize My Entire Body
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Chelsea Candelario is an Associate Editor at PureWow. She has been covering beauty, culture, fashion and entertainment for over a decade. You'll find her searching the internet for the latest beauty trends (and testing the coolest products out herself), informing you on ways to be a better ally and offering a native New Yorker perspective on what to do in the Big Apple. When she's not writing, she's spearheading PureWow Cultures that focuses on uplifting and highlighting the BIPOC community.
PureWow is the best friend you never had when it comes to finding the best, most useful lifestyle products online. Founded in 2010, our company’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series, which sees each and every item we test being ranked on a 100-point scale of awesomeness, to the painstakingly curated lists our fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family editors create as vertical experts, you can trust that our recommendations include some of the greatest items you’ll find on the internet. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
