Upgrade Your Shower Experience with One of These Yummy-Smelling Body Washes

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There's a time and a place for fragrance-free skincare, but even as someone with annoyingly sensitive, easily irritated skin, I love a good-smelling beauty product. I can tell ya all about the best-smelling shampoos and best-smelling body lotions out there, and you better believe my shower is chock-full of yummy-smelling body washes. Ofc, smell is subjective, so while I can't point you to *the* best-smelling body wash in the world, I can give you lots of recs, whether your scent family of choice is floral, fresh, fruity, spicy, or something else entirely.

To help you find the best-smelling body wash for your needs and nose, I tested countless shower gels and polled fellow Cosmopolitan editors for their faves, ranging from gentle body washes for dry skin to exfoliating formulas for tackling acne. And while these great-smelling body washes and shower gels run the gamut from sweet to savory, they're all sulfate-free, 'cause I'm not here to compromise your precious skin barrier, bb!! Now let's get into the good stuff, shall we? Here's a sneak peek at our elite-smelling shower heroes.

Ahead, all the best-smelling shower gels you can use on your body, as well as some tips for choosing a scented body wash.

Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Body Wash

If you <3 a warm gourmand fragrance, then you absolutely need to add this moisturizing body wash from Sol de Janerio to your lineup. It's packed with nourishing coconut oil and acai oil to make your skin feel silky smooth—plus yummy notes of vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio (aka the signature Cheirosa '62 scent).

• Scent: Vanilla, salted caramel, and pistachio

• Size: 13 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil, acai oil

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I love this product! It smells amazing and is very moisturizing. I have sensitive skin that can get irritated very easily by fragrances and certain products, [but I] had no problems with this. Love it and will buy again."

Body Wash

My increeedibly sensitive skin is triggered by damn near everything, but this creamy gel (which is made from 90 percent naturally-derived ingredients, like soothing saw palmetto and hydrating blue lotus flower) is gentle enough for me to use everyday. Oh, and the warm, woody, citrusy fragrance is just *chef's kiss.*

• Scent: Dreamwood, bergamot, eucalyptus, and orange blossom

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, blue lotus flower, saw palmetto

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I'm not typically a fan of more floral or 'soapy' scents for lack of a better word, but I really enjoy the shower experience with this. Scent is a very personal preference, but I find that it really perks me up on the morning, and it's more invigorating and outdoorsy rather than cloying and old-fashioned. I actually look forward to using it."

Egyptian CocoShea Body Wash

Ideal for *super* dry skin types (aka, those who are prone to cracking and flaking), this fresh, floral body wash contains a whole bunch of hydrating heavy-hitters, including marshmallow root extract, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter. Tbh, it's so moisturizing that you may even be able to skip body lotion after using it.

• Scent: White lily, rose, white musk, and vanilla

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Marshmallow root, shea butter, cocoa butter

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I have tried almost every generic, non-generic, inexpensive, and expensive body wash on the planet. I constantly struggle with my dry skin. With this, it's no longer a problem. My skin is so smooth after every use and the scent is PHENOMENAL."

Good Body Skin Beachy Clean Body Wash

Looking for a deep clean that doesn't leave ya feeling stripped? Give this exfoliating formula a try, which uses an AHA blend (made up of glycolic, lactic, and mandelic acids) to gently unclog pores and smooth skin so you're left soft and glowing...and also smelling like a tropical vacation. Yes, pls!!

• Scent: Jasmine, orange flower, vanilla, and sandalwood

• Size: 9 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I looooove this body wash. I have extremely sensitive skin and am extremely sensitive to fragrances. The scent in the bottle is strong but it goes on very light. Smells heavenly and gives me no headache and no skin reaction (sooo rare for me)."

Everyday Shea Body Wash

Alaffia has developed a cult following for its incredibly clean and effective body wash—mostly because you get so much great product for so little price! The all-star ingredient: neem leaf extract, which helps to soothe and balance skin while shea butter and coconut oil give it a major dose of moisture. And while it comes in a few scent options, lavender is my personal fave.

• Scent: Lavender

• Size: 32 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Neem extract, shea butter, coconut oil

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "Smells amazing! Definitely smells like real lavender. Not too overpowering, either. I have mild eczema, and it doesn't irritate or dry out my skin. I will definitely be buying more of this when it runs out!"

Smoothing + Coconut Coffee Scrub & Wash

I'm truly obsessed with the scent of my OGX caffeine shampoo, so it only makes sense that I love this scrub as well. It uses arabica coffee to oh-so-gently slough away dry, dead skin (instead of the super-harsh microbeads found in a lot of scrubs), and the fact that it smells like a tropical Frappuccino is just a bonus.

• Scent: Coconut and coffee

• Size: 19.5 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil, coffee seed extract

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "This body wash locks in moisture and has a gentle exfoliate that leaves your skin so soft. The scent is great for morning showers. The coffee scent awakens your senses so that you're ready to tackle the day."

The Body Wash

It may be pricey, but testers with sensitive skin (and noses!) rave about this one for good reason. Formulated with niacinamide and vitamin E (which are both great for inflammatory skin issues) as well as moisturizing glycerin, this gentle formula will leave ya glowing—and the eucalyptus scent will give you alllll the spa vibes.

• Scent: Eucalyptus

• Size: 8.4 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, glycerin, niacinamide
  

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "Not only does this body wash leave me feeling clean without stripping the skin—it smells amazing. I’ve tried all the scents, and they all smell so clean, fresh, and natural. There’s nothing I hate more than an artificial-smelling scent [that] gives me headaches, so I love this stuff. Definitely worth the splurge."

Moisture Body Wash

From the packaging to the price point to the pretty gardenia scent, everything about this moisturizing body wash is gold. A giant bottle will cost ya less than $10, and the formula contains tons of skin-loving superstars, including deeeeply hydrating hyaluronic acid, soothing shea butter, and rejuvenating grapefruit extract. A steal, truly.

• Scent: Gardenia

• Size: 27 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, shea butter, grapefruit extract

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "Loved the sleek and lovely packaging, and it smells so so good on your skin. Scent lingers nicely. And it is surprisingly affordable when you compare to drugstore brands."

Dean Street Body Cleanser

Listen, I know everyone is hooked on Ouai Melrose Place, but if powdery, floral scents aren't for you, then you rlly need to give Dean Street a whiff. Citrusy and not too sweet, this cleanser smells D-I-V-I-N-E—and in addition to making skin smell incredible, it leaves you deeply hydrated (but not greasy!) with the help of rosehip and jojoba oils.

• Scent: Citrus, apricot, magnolia, and amber

• Size: 10 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, jojoba oil

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "The best smelling body wash I’ve ever used. Smell lingers for hours after a shower, too. Also makes my skin silky smooth without exfoliation or lotion. Highly recommend. It’s pricey but it will last a few months and it’s worth it!"

Wash No. 2

UTI-sufferers know that bubble baths are usually a disaster waiting to happen—but you can make an exception for this two-in-one formula. Made using citric acid as a pH balancer, this skin-softening body wash is gentle enough to use legit all over your body (yep, even down there), and it even doubles as a bubble bath. Plus, the balsam, lemon, and cedarwood fragrance of Scent No. 2 is srsly hot.

• Scent: Balsam, lemon, and cedarwood

• Size: 12 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Glycerin, citric acid, panthenol

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "This is my go-to wash & bubble bath! The subtle earthy and wood scents are refreshing and clean. My skin always feels smooth and fresh after using."

Fragrance Originale Shower Gel

Ya can't go wrong with a classic, and this shower gel from Moroccanoil is a fan fave for a reason. It uses argan oil (which is loaded with unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants) to soothe, soften, and plump skin, and the signature Moroccanoil scent will cling to your skin long after you finish showering.

• Scent: Magnolia, woods, and amber

• Size: 8.4 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Argan oil, glycerin

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I love this body wash. The smell lasts for a long time after showering, and it leaves skin very soft. The gel is very thick and luxurious-feeling. I will buy again."

Lilac & White Tea Body Wash

You may know the brand best for its aluminum-free deodorants, but Native makes an incredibly clean body wash as well. Available in tons of fresh scents (with my go-to being Lilac and White Tea), this simple yet effective option uses just eight ingredients to get you squeaky-clean, including citric acid to support your skin's natural pH. No angry, irritated skin here!!

• Scent: Lilac and white tea

• Size: 18 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Coconut oil, citric acid

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I get regular spray tans, and this is the perfect body wash to help maintain those and get clean without stripping my color away. It doesn’t hurt that the Lilac & White Tea scent smells fantastic!"

Confidently Clear Body Cleanser

There's nothing fun about battling body acne...except maybe for the fact that you have an excuse to use this fruity-fresh body wash. This one uses the powerful trio of lactic acid, mandelic acid, and salicylic acid to dissolve dead skin cells and pore-clogging buildup—and better yet, these acids have brightening benefits that help fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

• Scent: Orange, jasmine, patchouli, and almond

• Size: 11.15 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Lactic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "After first smell, I was in love with the fruity and summery scent. I have been using the body wash with the other products in the line and really feel it has helped clear the blemishes and clogged pores on my body. I will be repurchasing this in the future."

Forest Awakening Hinoki Body Wash

Want an exfoliating body wash that won't absolutely destroy your skin? Pls turn your attention to this gentle scrub, which I use once a week for the most satisfying skin-buffing imaginable. Rather than microplastic beads (ick), it relies on cellulose to lift away dead skin cells, leaving you with brighter skin and a citrusy, woody aroma.

• Scent: Hinoki wood

• Size: 6.8 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Cellulose, squalene

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "Ooh la la, this body wash takes your shower to the next level! The smell is so relaxing and therapeutic in a hot shower. And the wash is cleansing without being stripping."

Superfood + Niacinamide Body Cleanser

Is it cheap? Lol, nope, sry. But if you're really looking to treat your skin, it's worth your hard-earned coin, trust. This splurge-worthy cleanser is ideal for unclogging stubborn pores and controlling oil production (thanks to skincare superstar niacinamide), and the earthy, woody scent is *so* unique.

• Scent: Fresh greens, cedarwood, and black pepper

• Size: 16.4 fl oz

• Key ingredients: Niacinamide, sodium PCA

• Sulfate-free? Yes

Glowing Customer Review: "I regularly get backacne, and this helps with soothing the big pimples and fading the darks spots. I can already see so much difference! it also doesn't smell like chemicals—it smells beautiful, like essential oils and natural fragrances. I think I have finally found the perfect product for my body!"

How to choose the best-smelling body wash

Consider your fragrance preference

Here's the thing: What smells good to me may not smell great to you. If you can, do a sniff test before investing in a body wash to make sure it speaks to you before lathering up—otherwise, you might be stuck smelling it for days. Not sure what kinda scent will appeal to you? As cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline previously told Cosmo, tropical scents (like the one in the Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian 4 Play Body Wash) are the most popular, followed by floral scents (like the one in Monday's Moisture Body Wash).

Decide between synthetic or natural fragrance

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. Most 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 v sensitive skin, or would rather steer clear of synthetic fragrances all together, then stick with a formula that's only scented with essential oils.

Skip the sulfates

When it comes to choosing a body wash, the only hard-and-fast rule is to avoid soaps and washes with sulfates (typically noted as sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate on ingredient lists). As dermatologist Heather Rogers, MD, previously told Cosmo, they can strip away your skin’s natural oils and compromise its protective skin barrier—so just you do your skin a favor and stick with a sulfate-free formula, mkay?

Meet the experts

• 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.

• Heather Rogers, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle, WA. Dr. Rogers is the co-founder of Modern Dermatology and the CEO of Doctor Rogers Skin Care.

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 drugstore sunscreens and the best feminine washes. Her best-smelling body wash picks were based off of reviews, editor suggestions, and product testing.

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