A Definitive List of the Best-Smelling Shampoos for Every Hair Type and Concern

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Here at Cosmo, we are v passionate about things that smell good. We can tell ya all about the best-smelling candles, the best-smelling perfumes, and even the best-smelling hair perfumes because, yes, that is a thing. So while we can't say what *the* best-smelling shampoo in the whole damn world is (smell is subjective, after all!), you better believe we've got LOTS of good recs, whether your scent family of choice is floral, fresh, fruity, spicy, or something else entirely. (And yep, our fave best-smelling shampoos will also benefit your scalp and hair health, 'cause we don't settle for mediocre shampoos over here.)

To help you find the nose-pleasing shampoo of your dreams, I asked my fellow editors at Cosmo about the shampoos they consider to be an ~olfactory delight~, and let me tell ya, they delivered. In addition to spanning a variety of scent profiles, these selects address hair and scalp concerns of all kinds, whether you're looking to banish buildup or provide your strands with some much-needed hydration. We got you, bb! Go ahead and take a lil sneak peek at our winners.

Ahead, all the best-smelling shampoos on the market right now, as well as some tips on choosing a fragranced shampoo from a cosmetic chemist. Get ready to suds up and receive all the compliments!!

The One Signature Shampoo

TBQH, it's tricky to find a sulfate-free shampoo that *actually* leaves your strands feeling squeaky clean—but celeb hairstylist Kristin Ess managed to make that happen with this lightly clarifying formula. Deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo loves how this shampoo makes her hair "feel super clean but not straw-like," and the rich sandalwood and amber scent is just the cherry on top.

• Scent: Sandalwood and amber

• Good for: All hair types

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I love the smell of Kristen Ess shampoo and conditioners. It’s such a fresh smell and the scent stays with you. I always get compliments on how fresh and clean my hair smells. I use these as a clarifying treatment every few days to avoid product buildup, and my hair feels great."

Ghost Shampoo

Whenever my fine, low-porosity hair is looking flat and limp, I suds up with this weightless formula, which includes only the lightest of oils—like moringa seed and sunflower seed—to hydrate my hair. In addition to moisturizing strands without weighing 'em down, this one leaves hair smelling so damn fresh, thanks to its light grapefruit and oatmeal scent. (Ya, it sounds strange, but trust me, it's delicious.)

• Scent: Grapefruit and oatmeal

• Good for: Dry, frizzy hair

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have very fine hair, and not a whole lot of it. I love this shampoo and conditioner. I feel like it doesn’t weigh my hair down. It smells good and I don’t need to use a lot of product."

Moisture Repair Shampoo

Ofc I had to include the internet-famous Moroccanoil shampoo, which is a must-have for anyone whose hair could use a lil TLC. According to Cosmo beauty writer Lisa DeSantis, "The moisture-boosting formula not only smells incredible, it has hair-repairing properties (thanks to argan oil, keratin proteins, and fatty acids) that my color-treated strands love, too."

• Scent: Floral and amber

• Good for: Color-treated or damaged hair

• Size: 8.5 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I adore Moroccanoil products, and this shampoo is perfection. My hair is very long, color-treated, and curly/wavy with a definite mind of its own. The scent is beyond awesome, and it leaves my hair feeling brand new. I'm even tempted to skip the extra conditioner on the ends of my hair. Great stuff!!"

Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo

Another great shampoo for damaged hair: this creamy-lather option from Sol de Janeiro, which is a fave of sex and relationships editor Veronica Lopez. Great for fine to medium hair, this shampoo boasts plant-based keratin for fighting frizz and mending split ends, and the warm and spicy scent is strong without feeling overwhelming.

• Scent: Warm gourmand

• Good for: Color-treated or damaged hair

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I really like this Sol de Janeiro Joia shampoo. It’s sulfate-free but still lathered well. My hair tends to get oily/heavy at the roots if a shampoo is too hydrating, but the Joia shampoo is just right and pairs well with my other hair products. After blow drying, my hair feels soft and smooth—not weighed down—and the lovely scent lingers for a couple of days."

Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo

Dealing with brittle, straw-like hair? Then you probs wanna skip the sulfates and use a gentle shampoo instead, like this one from sweet-smelling one from Amika, which relies on hair-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and squalane to nourish strands. According to associate editor Chaise Sanders, "It's been good for my natural hair, and I found it works great for dry hair."

• Scent: Vanilla and citrus

• Good for: Dry, damaged, or coarse hair

• Size: 9.2 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "The very first time I used this shampoo, I swear it worked some magic to seal over the majority of my noticeable broken ends, [and it] made my hair stronger and looking and feeling healthier. Plus, it smells so good and you only need a tiny bit to lather your scalp."

Detox Shampoo

No matter your hair type, you could stand to use a clarifying shampoo from time to time, and this formula from Ouai reeeeally gets the job done (all while smelling like fresh-cut roses). Apple cider vinegar and chelating agents work together in this one to give you a thorough AF clean without sulfates, and it works so well that several Cosmo beauty writers have dubbed it their fave clarifying formula.

• Scent: Floral

• Good for: Oily hair and buildup

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I love it! I have very porous hair and it is often sticky because of some components in hair products and build up difficult to clean. This has been a lifesaver. I could tell the difference after just one use. It gets all the leftover products on your hair and leaves it fresh and lightweight. It also smells divine. 100% recommend."

Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo

A favorite of Cosmo beauty writer Brooke Shunatona, this volumizing shampoo uses a blend of biotin, argan oil, and ginseng to encourage blood flow and stimulate the scalp—and as you probably already know, a healthier scalp = happier hair. The fact that it leaves your hair smelling lemony fresh (in a good way, ofc) is def a bonus.

• Scent: Lemon

• Good for: Fine, thin, or limp hair

• Size: 8 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I have extremely fine hair that's also quite thin. I've never been able to find something that cleans my hair thoroughly enough to let me skip a day of shampooing. Blossom and Bloom is the best option I've found. It leaves my hair clean, soft, and smelling wonderful; and I'm finally able to shampoo every other day without looking like I slept on a pillow of grease. But more than that, it's cut my 'shedding' in half."

Signature Shampoo

Beauty editor Beth Gillette loves using this gentle formula on her fine, straight hair—and it's not just because it smells as pretty as it looks. Designed to gently cleanse and refresh all hair types, this plant-based formula uses soothing aloe vera and deep-cleaning hibiscus extract to promote healthier hair, and it's gentle enough for everyday use, which is good news for frequent washers.

• Scent: Citrus and vanilla

• Good for: All hair types

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "What I appreciate most about this shampoo is how well it hydrates my hair and scalp. My hair tends to be on the dry side, and this shampoo has done wonders in restoring moisture and leaving my hair feeling soft and manageable. I also love how the shampoo lathers well and has a pleasant, subtle scent that is not overpowering."

All Day Frizz Control Shampoo

FTR, there is *nothing* wrong with your frizz and flyaways. However! Cosmo beauty writer Valeriya Chupinina suggests giving this papaya and neroli-scented formula a shot if you're looking to smooth your waves or curls. It's positively packed with frizz-fighting ingredients—such as nourishing lauric acid and conditioning shea butter—to keep flyaways at bay (plus, it'll leave ya smelling like a tropical beach).

• Scent: Papaya and neroli

• Good for: Frizzy waves and curls

• Size: 13 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I ordered [the] wrong product by mistake but ended up LOVING this. My hair seems significantly less frizzy and my curls have tightened up. I love the smell, too."

Curl Shampoo

Want to gently cleanse and condition your waves without stripping them? Ya, Living Proof has got you covered. Made with methiopeptides for boosting elasticity and conditioning agents for adding slip, this citrus-scented one is v effective at enhancing natural waves. And it's not just a shampoo for wavy hair—assistant news editor Sam Olson loves this one for her tight curls.

• Scent: Orange and tangerine

• Good for: Wavy, curly, and coily hair

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "This Living Proof curl shampoo is really amazing. The smell is very fresh and clean and light. It is a light lather and really clean my roots and ends. It makes my hair soft. I have thick, wavy hair, and I loved the way it made my hair feel. The bottle is a beautiful color, too."

Hair-Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser

If you have damaged, dry, or curly hair (think: types 3a to 4c), this milky cleanser is a must-try. Gentle but effective, this bb is packed with emollients that help seal in moisture, and according to Cosmo beauty editor at large Julee Wilson (who gave this shampoo a 2023 Holy Grail Beauty Award), "This milky cleanser keeps my hair clean and juicy—I'm in love." BTW, it legit smells like Fruit Loops, so there's that.

• Scent: Sweet milk

• Good for: Dry or damaged curls and coils

• Size: 8.4 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "Wow. Absolutely amazing! Super gentle and barely foaming. I love the smell—it really does smell like Fruit Loops. My 2b hair is left shiny and soft and very clean. My scalp feels soft, and I have no flakes or dandruff. I follow with the mask, and my waves are very defined and touchably soft."

Weightless Hydration Shampoo

Another one of my faves: this volumizing shampoo from Ceremonia. It's packed with witch hazel for minimizing excess scalp oil so I can go longer in between wash days (though, FYI, it's gentle enough to use everyday), and it's also got plant-based keratin for improving hair strength. The best part: the soft, woody fragrance with a liiiiittle hint of lemon zest.

• Scent: Woody and fruity

• Good for: Fine, thin, or oily hair

• Size: 8.45 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing customer review: "I love this shampoo. It's nothing like the usual shampoo for fine hair. It leaves your hair feeling thicker without weighing your hair down. I love the scent of this shampoo and conditioner. The only way I can describe this scent is floral with a woody, smokey scent. I truly can't stop smelling my hair—I love it."

Clarify Shampoo

If you hate excess oil and love citrusy scents, then I've found your new hair hero, bb. This budget-friendly shampoo includes several sulfate-free surfactants to banish buildup from oily scalps, and supervising video producer Abbey Adkison is a big fan of this one for its deep cleansing abilities, v reasonable price point, and yummy (but subtle!) grapefruit scent.

• Scent: Grapefruit

• Good for: Oily hair and buildup

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "I love this shampoo! I love the light clean smell, [and I] like the way it suds up on contact with just a few rubs of the scalp! I love that it leaves my hair feeling moisturized and clean and not dry and tangled."

Honey Infused Hair Wash

Feeling a lil dry? Give this honey-infused shampoo a try. Honey is a natural humectant, and with the help of argan oil and hydrolyzed proteins, this formula works to strengthen follicles and improve moisture retention. Oh, and according to associate editor Siena Gagliano, the honey (which is made by founder Negin Mirasalehi and her family) truly smells good enough to eat.

• Scent: Honey

• Good for: Dry, frizzy hair

• Size: 11.5 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "The Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash is a game-changer for my hair care routine. The honey-based formula leaves my hair feeling nourished, soft, and healthy. The subtle floral scent is a nice touch without being overpowering. I've noticed a significant improvement in my hair's texture and shine since I started using it."

Shampoo for Magnificent Volume

Listen, I know she isn't cheap. But several Cosmo editor sang the praises of Oribe hair products, and I can personally attest that this volumizing shampoo is worth that $50 price tag. This one provides weightless moisture and plumping polymers to hydrate and thicken my fine strands—and best of all, the signature Cote d'Azur citrus floral scent smells like ~money.~

• Scent: Bergamot and sandalwood

• Good for: Dry or flat hair

• Size: 8.5 fl oz

• Sulfate-free? Yes* (*but still contains strong, sulfate-free cleansers that can be a bit drying)

Glowing Customer Review: "Nothing outperforms this shampoo for fine, thin hair. It produces a super shiny, soft, natural clean. Fresh scent and does exactly as it advertises! Worth the splurge."

Is fragranced shampoo bad for hair?

When it comes to beauty products, you've probably heard that fragrance = bad...but FTR, fragranced shampoo is not inherently bad for your hair, scalp, or skin (unless, ofc, you are allergic to it). Since shampoo is a rinse-off product, a fragranced formula likely won't cause irritation, as long as you pick a product that's body-safe. According to cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline, "It’s important to choose products that use safe fragrances. Fragrances that are hypoallergenic and made without lilial and phthalates are important considerations."

What ingredients can make shampoo smell good?

While synthetic fragrance (usually listed in the ingredients as "fragrance" or "parfum") are used to mimic certain scents, there are plenty of naturally-derived ingredients that make shampoo smell good, too. According to Koestline, essential oils can give shampoo a v pleasing scent (and usually, they're a bit subtler than synthetic fragrances). "Tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and rosemary oil are some natural ingredients that can help a shampoo smell good, as well as help the hair look and feel healthy," she says.

How to choose the best-smelling shampoo

Consider your fragrance preference

Not to state the obvious, but what smells good to your bestie may not smell great to you. If you can, do a sniff test before investing in a shampoo to make sure it speaks to you before lathering up—otherwise, you might be stuck smelling it for days. Not sure what shampoo scents people find attractive? Koestline says tropical scents (like the one in the Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Joia Shampoo) are the most popular, followed by floral scents (like the one in Ouai's Detox Shampoo).

Decide between synthetic or natural fragrance

Again, fragranced products are not inherently bad...but if you do go with a synthetic fragrance, then you'll want to make sure it's free from lilial, phthalates, or any other potentially harmful ingredients. All of our selects contain fragrance from synthetic perfumes, but they're all hypoallergenic and both lilial- and phthalate-free, so most folks can feel pretty confident using 'em. That said, if you are allergic to fragrances, have a v sensitive scalp, or would rather steer clear of synthetic fragrances all together, then stick with a formula that's only scented with essential oils, such as a tea tree shampoo.

Keep your hair type and texture in mind

When choosing a new shampoo, it's always helpful to understand your hair porosity (aka your hair's ability to absorb and retain hydration). For instance, those with low-porosity hair will typically wanna stick with formulas that use lightweight serums to moisturize and soothe (like Verb's Ghost Shampoo), while those with high-porosity hair can usually handle heavier oils and butters (like the ones in SheaMoisture's All Day Frizz Control Shampoo). Not sure about your hair porosity? Take the Curls Bot porosity quiz.

Likewise, it's also good to know your hair type and determine what kind of formula will work best for your texture. (Did you know there are 12 distinct hair types??) Cosmo's got a helpful hair type guide to get ya started, 'cause knowledge is power.

Meet the expert:

• Krupa Koestline is a clean cosmetic chemist and the founder of KKT Consultants, where she consults with brands on clean guidelines, as well as new and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.

Why trust 'Cosmo'?

Corinne Sullivan is an editor at Cosmopolitan and has five years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news, including the best salicylic acid shampoos and the best caffeine shampoos. Her best-smelling shampoo picks were based off of reviews, editor suggestions, and product testing.

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