Best Scented Body Washes: 10 Affordable Options That Cleanse, Hydrate, Have a Lingering Scent and More

Picture this: After a long day — whether a summer day at the beach, a day at the office or a day spent running errands — you get home and all you want is a nice, long shower (perhaps an everything shower if you really want to decompress). We all know this feeling: the feeling of just wanting to relax, take a breather and feel nice and clean. The warm steam surrounding you, a good hair wash and getting out of the shower smelling fresh is an unmatched feeling. One of the best ways to elevate your shower is with a delicious smelling scented body wash. You'll leave loving the way your skin feels and smells after using one, the scent lingering for sometimes even hours after. Why not make your shower as luxurious as possible? That's why we rounded up the best scented body washes for women over 50 that deliver a squeaky clean feeling while smelling irresistible.

What to look for in a scented body wash

Y ou may think it just comes down to which fragrances you like and don't like when choosing a scented body wash, but there are actually a few more factors we suggest considering. For starters, you'll want to look for gentle ingredients/fragrances. That’s because sometimes scented products can irritate the skin — especially those with a sensitive skin type — and even more so when they are synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances don't bother everyone, but if you are prone to eczema, dry skin or other sensitive skin conditions, it’s best to avoid these and stick to natural fragrances or even fragrance-free options.

Another thing to look for when choosing a scented body wash is hydrating and/or nourishing ingredients. Since fragrance can be drying as mentioned above, looking for soothing ingredients will help to avoid irritation. A few to consider are coconut oil, jojoba oil, oat derivatives, argan oil, glycerin and shea butter.

Lastly, at the end of the day, the most important thing a body wash should do is cleanse. As much as we love a good-smelling body wash, you'll want to make sure it's thoroughly washing away any dirt, grime, sweat and bacteria. Surfactants are commonly used to cleanse and rid skin of unwanted dirt and grime.

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The benefits of scented body wash

There are many benefits to using a body wash as opposed to bar soap or some other cleansing agent. For one, body washes are often more moisturizing and hydrating than bar soap, and have a lower pH, making them less drying.

Even more, many of us apply body wash with a loofah or some sort of scrubber. These can be great for exfoliating skin, ridding dry patches and really getting that deep cleanse you're chasing.

When it comes to specifically scented body washes, they're great mood boosters. Studies show that certain scents have the ability to bring back memories , lift our mood, make us feel more relaxed and more. Using a scented body wash will leave us not just smelling divine, but feeling great, too.

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The 10 best scented body washes for women over 50

Keep reading for our top picks for scented body washes that add a little luxe to your suds.

Native Body Wash

Talk about gentle, Native Body Wash packs a powerful punch full of clean ingredients. Users rave about the scents, and the brand has gone viral on TikTok for how great they smell. They have 24 scent options available, so there's no doubt you'll find one you love.

Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Foaming Gel Wash

This brand is beloved for their cult-favorite body scrubs, but did you know Tree Hut has affordable, nourishing body washes as well? Tree Hut Foaming Gel Wash is full of moisturizing oils that leave skin feeling buttery-soft. Ingredients include Moroccan argan oil to improve skin elasticity and hydrate, rosehip oil to help with texture and radiance and shea butter to moisturize. There are multiple scents to choose from, but we like the Moroccan Rose scent, which has notes of bergamot, tea rose and amber.

OUAI St. Barts Gentle Body Wash

You'll feel like you've been transported to a tropical island when using OUAI St. Bart's Body Wash . With notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose and musk, it smells like paradise. And, it's made with brightening and nourishing rosehip oil, vitamin C and vitamin A, as well as hydrating jojoba oil. It is a bit of a splurge for a body wash, but we think it's well worth it.

Dove Body Wash Unwinding Blueberry & Moon Milk

Dove is considered the OG go-to when it comes to body wash, so it's no shock it made our list for the best scented body washes. It's available at the drugstore for less than $10, and whatever mood you're trying to achieve, they have a scent for that. We particularly like Dove Unwinding Body Wash with blueberry and moon milk to help us relax after a long day. It's made with 24 hour skin renewal technology, and will leave skin feeling moisturized and clean.

Billie Bounce Hydrating Body Wash in Creamy Vanilla Cedar

Another great drugstore option, Billie Bounce Body Wash costs just $8 and is shockingly hydrating. It contains hyaluronic acid, one of the best hydrators for skin, peptides to improve skin elasticity and firmness and vitamin C and antioxidants to brighten and protect skin. The Creamy Vanilla Cedar scent smells warm and comforting, and as a bonus, the body wash is also dermatologist-approved.

Moroccanoil Shower Gel Fragrance Originale

Moroccanoil is known for their signature scent, a blend of " spicy amber and sweet florals " that you may have smelled if you've tried their hair products. And Moroccanoil Shower Gel is just as good, with nourishing and antioxidant-rich argan oil and hydrating glycerin.

Olay Cleansing & Renewing Nighttime Body Wash

You may have heard by now that retinol is the anti-aging superhero ingredient, and perhaps you use it during your nighttime skin care routine — but have you tried it in your body wash? Olay Cleansing and Renewing Nighttime Body Wash is made with retinol and vitamin B3 to promote skin health, and retinol is known to be firming and smoothing.

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Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Renewing Body Wash

This scented body wash smells just like summer, with fruity-floral notes that will instantly put you in a good mood. Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Renewing Body Wash doesn't just smell great, it's also gentle and renewing. It's made with cacay oil, which is a gentler alternative to retinol (that anti-aging superhero we love), flower acids to exfoliate and smooth and vegan squalane for hydration. Follow it up with one of their iconic body butters post-shower for the ultimate moisturizing experience.

Saltair Pink Beach Serum Body Wash

The formula of this scented body wash is unlike many others, as it’s a serum body wash. It has a great lather and feels as soft as butter. Saltair Pink Beach scent smells of coconut, almond blossom and vanilla, and is made with coconut oil to support a healthy skin barrier. Plus, it also contains coconut phospholipids to replenish skin’s moisture levels.

The Body Lab by Strands Anti-Aging Body Wash

The best part of this body wash, The Body Lab by Strands Body Wash , is that the scents are totally customizable. You can choose two fragrance doses, ranging from relaxing lavender to warm sandalwood (and just about everything in between) so that you can have a scented body wash you truly love. There are four "bases" to choose from, but our favorite is the anti-aging body wash made with retinol and lactic acid.

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