It can feel impossible to find a fragrance-free body wash in a drug store aisle that’s often filled with overly masculine or feminine smelling washes, but we’ve scoured the long list of body washes available and found great options. No more putting up with Warm Summer Rain or Spring Breeze if you don’t want to.
There are many reasons to use an unscented body wash. The most common is skin sensitivities, with many body washes including added fragrances that can irritate the skin and cause itchiness, hives or painful swelling and red areas. Fragrance-free body washes often boast additional pros for users with sensitive skin, like added moisture elements and natural ingredients. Even if you have normal skin, these are great benefits to have in your body wash.
If you don’t have sensitive skin, you may have a sensitive nose. Aggressive fragrances can be irritating for those with average sensitivity, but they can cause a more serious allergic reaction for some.
Even if you don’t have sensitive skin or are scent-averse, there may be other reasons why you would want a fragrance-free body wash. If you regularly wear perfume or cologne, you’ll want to make sure your fragrance doesn’t clash with the scent from your soap or deodorant. The best way to do that is to make sure your body wash has no added scents.
Fragrance-free body washes are also great for people who simply don’t like added scents. If you’re sensitive to fragrance you shouldn’t have to compromise on having a great body wash. Even though it may feel like the world is filled with floral-friendly body washes, there are still great unscented body washes that will clean, moisturize, and be gentle on your skin. Here are some of our favorites.
1. CeraVe Body Wash
CeraVe is a hydrating fragrance-free body wash designed for anyone with normal to highly sensitive and dry skin. Ceramides are lipids that act as the skin’s barrier, locking in moisture and protecting against outside irritants, like harsh environments. CeraVe contains three essential ceramides that act as a guard for your skin, keeping the good stuff (moisture) in and the bad stuff (everything else) out.
Pros: CeraVe Body Wash is absent of soap, parabens and sulfates, which makes it perfect for anyone who suffers from dry skin.
Cons: CeraVe Body Wash is made with a thick formula that can make it difficult to squeeze out of the container. It can take a large amount of the wash to create a lather.
2. The Seaweed Bath Co. Body Wash
Using organic, sustainably harvested seaweed, which is packed full of more than 60 vitamins and minerals, The Seaweed Bath Co. Body Wash can detoxify, hydrate and replenish skin all without any aggravating scents. The body wash is made with an essential oil blend, including Hawaiian kukui oil, coconut oil and aloe vera, which leaves skin looking and feeling smooth and healthy. Antimicrobial neem oil is also included, which can provide moisture for extremely dry, cracked skin. The body wash is free from dyes, parabens, SLS, gluten, and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Pros: The Seaweed Bath Co. Body Wash doubles as a shaving gel, making the eco-friendly body wash a great two-in-one bath item.
Con: Like the CeraVe body wash, the Seaweed Bath Co. Body Wash is also thick and can be difficult to create a lather with when showering.
3. Eucerin Advanced Cleansing Body and Face Cleanser
Cleanse your entire body with the Eucerin Advanced Cleansing Body and Face Cleanser. The two-in-one product is gentle enough that it can be used as a face cleanser and rinses clean without leaving any residue. The soap-free formula hydrates skin, helping to preserve the skin’s natural pH5 and leaves a protective layer to help seal in moisture. Eucerin is free from fragrance and dyes and is appropriate for users with normal, dry and sensitive skin.
Pros: The Eucerin body and face wash is non-comedogenic and shouldn’t clog pores, making this a great option for users with sensitive skin.
Cons: The Eucerin body wash is technically unscented, but a slight chemical smell may be there.
4. Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash
Aveeno’s fragrance-free body wash comes in a bottle with a pump-top, rather than a flip-top, making it a convenient option. Plus, it comes in a generously-sized 33 FL oz bottle, meaning it’ll last a while. The standout ingredient is oat, which helps soothe and restore irritated skin. It’s also a good option for those with sensitive skin or allergies.
Pros: Sensitive skin option, includes oats for soothing relief. Generous 33 FL oz bottle makes this a good bulk buy.
Cons: Body wash is a somewhat slick liquid that doesn’t rinse as easily.
5. Vanicream Gentle Body Wash
This body wash from Vanicream is designed as a gentle option for those with sensitive skin. There are no dyes, fragrances, lanolin or parabens, and it’s also sulfate-free. The 12-ounce bottle has a disc-lid cap for easy dispensing. The formula is designed to lather and cleanse as effectively as regular body wash, without the added irritants.
Pros: Free of chemical irritants and scents. Ideal for those with sensitive skin. Leave skin feeling clean.
Cons: Somewhat expensive.
6. Quinn’s Pure Castile Organic Liquid Soap
If you’re unfamiliar with castile soap, it’s one option that’s worth considering. It’s made using traditional methods, resulting in a formula that is free of artificial ingredients and animal byproducts. This bottled castile soap from Quinn’s is a concentrated formula. If you’re using it as a body wash, it’s recommended that you mix it with equal parts water. It’s unscented, certified organic and vegan.
Pros: Certified organic and vegan formula. Naturally derived antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
Cons: It needs to be diluted first, which some may find tedious.
7. Dove Fragrance-Free Body Wash
Moisturize and clean your skin at once with the Dove Fragrance-Free Body Wash. The mild body wash is ideal for users with dry and itchy skin. Tested by dermatologists, Dove’s body wash is unscented and non-sticky, leaving skin feeling hydrated. Safe for all skin types, the body wash is fragrance-free, soap-free and hypoallergenic.
Pros: Dove advertises its body wash as ten times more moisturizing than competitors.
Cons: The pump top can easily get backed up with body wash, making it difficult to dispense.
8. Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash
If you suffer from sensitive skin on your body, you may want to switch things up with Cetaphil Ultra Gentle Body Wash. Cetaphil is non-comedogenic and shouldn’t clog pores, which can cause more breakouts. The fragrance-free body wash is hypoallergenic and won’t aggravate sensitive skin.
Pros: Cetaphil is made with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and vitamin B5, which leave skin feeling moisturized.
Cons: It can be difficult to squeeze the thick liquid out of its container.