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Let’s be honest: Nothing feels more indulgent than stepping out of the shower surrounded by a dreamy, irresistible scent that lingers long after you’ve toweled off. The best-smelling body wash doesn’t just cleanse—it transforms your daily routine into an aromatic escape, making even the quickest rinse feel luxurious. Whether you’re craving tropical vibes, cozy warm notes, or a burst of fresh florals, the perfect scent can uplift your mood and awaken your senses. Plus, a great-smelling body wash does double duty as self care, turning your bathroom into your personal spa.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Wash, $25
- For Vanilla Lovers: Saltair Salt Water Vanilla Body Wash, $13
- A Clean Classic: Dove Body Wash Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea, $7
- Best for Dry Skin: Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Moisturizing Shower Oil for Dry Skin, $26
- The Luxury Pick:D.S. & Durga I Don't Know What Body Soap, $80
- Best Oil: Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash, $28
- Best Lather: Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel, $16
- Best Texture: Moroccanoil Shower Gel, $20
From classics like Dove to surprising scent sensations—looking at you, Sol de Janiero—we’ve rounded up the best-smelling body washes that will make your shower the highlight of your day. Ready to meet your new signature scent? Lather up and let’s dive in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Wash
Why we love it: Meet Nécessaire’s The Body Wash, the luxurious, minimalist cleanser that elevates a simple shower into an experience. On top of plant-based oils, the formula is infused with nourishing ingredients like niacinamide and vitamin C, leaving skin brighter and more even in tone. And the smell? We’ll let commerce producer Sarah Hoffmann explain. “I’m a certified Hinoki Head™,” she says. “As I saw that Nécessaire was adding a hinoki scent to its already lovely body wash formula, I knew I had to get my hands on it. As evidenced by my well-loved bottle, I adore it, but I'd still be hoarding these body washes even if they hadn't added my favorite woody, slightly spicy fragrance to it. It forms a nice, medium lather and the trio of exfoliating acids—AHA, BHA, and PHA—smooth out rough patches of skin—and has definitely made a difference in the KP on my upper arms. I am not an early riser at all, but having my morning shower smell like a lush, tree-lined spa makes waking up with my alarm a little easier.”
Fragrance notes: basil, magnolia, vetiver | Key ingredients: niacinamide, vitamins C + E, omega fatty acids, gentle exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA/PHA)
For Vanilla Lovers: Saltair Salt Water Vanilla Body Wash
Why we love it: Energizing and zesty, this body wash wakes you up faster than your morning espresso. Take it from senior news editor Nicola Dall’Asen. “Saltair has yet to make a body wash scent that I don't like, and its new Salt Water Vanilla Body Wash is no exception,” she says. And, just as its name suggests, this super sudsy gel offers a beachy, laid-back take on traditional vanilla by giving it a dash of saltiness, she says—perfect for someone who likes vanilla but hates sugary-sweet stuff.
Fragrance notes: vanilla | Key ingredients: glycolic acid, niacinamide, jojoba oil
A Clean Classic: Dove Body Wash Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea
Why we love it: Dove’s Body Wash Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea is like a spa day in a bottle, with a creamy lather that feels as indulgent as it smells. It leaves your skin hydrated and refreshed, perfect for kickstarting your morning or winding down your day. Shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis says it’s the only body wash she’ll use, since it doesn’t irritate her sensitive skin and makes her feel squeaky-clean every time.
Fragrance notes: : cucumber, green tea | Key ingredients: cucumber extract, green tea essence, moisturizing glycerin
Best for Dry Skin: Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Moisturizing Shower Oil
Why We Love It: Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Moisturizing Shower Oil is a luxurious, silky formula that gently cleanses while deeply hydrating the skin. The scent is a warm, tropical blend of salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla, reminiscent of the brand’s Cheirosa ’62 fragrance (which fueled the rise of the iconic Bum Bum cream. What sets it apart from the rest is its ability to cleanse without stripping, delivering intense hydration and a radiant glow, making it ideal for soothing dry skin. According to senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor, this decadent formula dispenses as a clear gel before it melts down into a milky foam. “I usually let it sit for a minute or two before washing it away. It leaves my skin feeling so soft and smooth and its sweet, fruity scent lingers,” she says.
Fragrance notes: vanilla, pistachio| Key ingredients: cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, squalane
The Luxury Pick: D.S. & Durga I Don't Know What Body Soap
Why We Love It: An enigma in a bottle, D.S. & Durga’s I Don’t Know What body wash is a one-of-a-kind scent that layers into your routine like a finishing touch you didn’t know you needed. The warm, skin-like scent lightweight, luxurious, and neutral enough to share with all the loved ones in your house (though, you’ll probably want it all for yourself–we’re not judging!)
Fragrance notes: bergamot, iso e super, ambrox super | Key ingredients: glycerin, vitamin E
Best Oil: Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash
Why we love it: Part body wash, part self-care ritual, Glossier Body Hero Daily Oil Wash transforms into a silky lather that leaves your skin feeling nourished but never greasy. This unique gel-to-oil formula cleanses while deeply nourishing the skin. It lathers lightly on contact with water, effectively removing debris from the day without stripping natural oils. The blend of seven oils leaves skin feeling soft, hydrated, and smooth, making it perfect for dry or sensitive skin types.
Fragrance notes: orange blossom, neroli | Key ingredients: grape seed oil, sunflower oil, coconut oils
Best Lather: Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Wash
Why We Love It: A classic for a reason, Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom is a floral dream that turns your shower into a stroll through a blooming garden. It’s loaded with skin-loving ingredients, too, so this body wash is way more than a pretty bottle and a yummy smell. Plus, the lather is next-level on Bath & Body Works body washes, giving your shower bubble-bath vibes.
Fragrance notes: cherry blossom, jasmine, sandalwood | Key ingredients: aloe, shea butter, vitamin E
Best Texture: Moroccanoil Shower Gel
Why We Love It: If you know the iconic Moroccanoil scent—it’s warm, floral, and impossible to resist—chances are you want more. This body wash has the same blend and its formula is a rich, creamy texture that leaves skin feeling oh-so-soft. If you have dehydrated skin, this is also a great pick for you as the glycerin in the formula hydrates ashiness in no time.
Fragrance notes: spicy amber, sweet florals | Key ingredients: argan oil, glycerin, aloe vera
Frequently Asked Questions
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of best-smelling body washes, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists we interviewed for the piece. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Your skin deserves the very best from head to toe:
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