The 10 Best Scented Lotions That Will Make You Smell Amazing, According to Derms

Best Overall

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Body Cream

$26 at Amazon $26 at Sephora $26 at Glowrecipe.com

Scent: Watermelon | Size: 6.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow skincare line is one of our favorites in terms of scent, and you can bet this body cream smells delectable. It’s inspired by the Korean tradition of rubbing watermelon rind onto the skin to soothe irritation, so it’s formulated with watermelon seed butter, watermelon extract, and hyaluronic acid, the ultimate moisture-retainer. Dr. Shokeen stands behind HA for lotions. “This powerful humectant helps draw moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated and plump,” she tells Byrdie.

Pink Dream Body Cream also contains a form of exfoliating AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) derived from hibiscus. This helps encourage cell turnover to reveal smooth, glowing skin underneath, making this a great pick for those looking to smooth skin texture. What’s more, the lightweight formula dries quickly without a sticky feel, so you can get dressed right after slathering it on. The fresh, fruity fragrance is not as long-lasting as others on our list and requires reapplication if you want a scent top-up. We do recognize that not everyone loves a watermelon scent, but if you do, you’re sure to fall for this cream.

Best Budget

Flamingo Daily Moisturizing Lotion

$12

$10 at Amazon $12 at Shopflamingo.com

Scent: Vetiver, bergamot | Size: 10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You don’t have to spend a ton to get an amazing scented moisturizer. Fragranced with notes of earthy-green vetiver and citrusy-fresh bergamot, this daily lotion will leave you smelling like you just stepped out of the spa, and reviewers note that the scent lasts throughout the day. Beyond smelling amazing, it’s formulated with squalene to hydrate thirsty skin for up to 24 hours. Meanwhile, white willow bark and papaya enzymes gently exfoliate, sloughing off dead cells to make your skin super soft and supple, and its lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly for all-day moisture. This is an excellent pick if you’re looking to hydrate and smooth away skin texture at the same time. We do wish it came out of its tube a bit easier, though.

Best With Perfume Match

Byredo Gypsy Water Body Lotion

$80 at Nordstrom $71 at Spacenk.com $80 at Bloomingdales

Scent: Woody, citrus, vanilla | Size: 7.6 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re addicted to Byredo’s beloved Gypsy Water perfume like a few of us here at Byrdie (or obsessed with high-end fragrance in general), you might consider getting the accompanying body lotion. Fragranced as delicately as the perfume, this down-to-earth, woody scent blends notes of pine, sandalwood, lemon, vanilla, and bergamot to transport your senses to late-fall forests and campfires. It’s also incredibly lightweight, absorbs quickly, and nourishes the skin with shea butter, glycerin, and vitamin E. Our only complaint? We’d love to see Byredo improve the cap for easier dispensing and have the gorgeous scent last longer.

Best Firming

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream

$48 at Amazon $44 at Sephora $48 at Ulta

Scent: Salted caramel, pistachio, vanilla | Size: 2.5–16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Brazilian Bum Bum (pronounced boom-boom) Cream’s all-star ingredient is guaranà extract, a potent source of caffeine that encourages circulation and constricts blood vessels to temporarily tighten and firm your skin. The ultra-creamy, deeply moisturizing formula leaves you feeling supremely smooth and supple, and the brand’s signature sweet, nutty fragrance is pretty delicious if you want a gourmand fragrance that will last all day. Although it’s thicker than most of the options on our list, this lotion spreads easily and is fast-absorbing, perfect for those looking to lift and tighten skin while boosting hydration. However, we don’t love that it comes in a screw-top container.

Best Fast-Absorbing

Kora Organics Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion

$60 at Amazon View on Sephora $59 at Koraorganics.com

Scent: Floral, basil | Size: 10.1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This quick-to-absorb lotion boasts a lightweight consistency and a nongreasy feel—perfect for when you’re running late and need to get dressed right after you shower. It consists of ceramides, aloe vera, and antioxidant-rich algae to soothe inflammation, replenish the skin barrier, and provide long-lasting hydration. It also smells wonderfully floral, with a rose, geranium, and basil fragrance, but the scent doesn’t last super long. Not a fan of heavy, greasy lotions? This one is fast-absorbing, so it won’t slow you down.

Best for Dry Skin

Moroccanoil Body Lotion

$30 at Amazon $30 at Sephora $30 at Dermstore

Scent: Original, Spa du Maroc, Oud Mineral, Bergamote Fraiche, Ambiance de Plage, Ambre Noir | Size: 12.2 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you need intense hydration, this body lotion contains multiple plant oils (argan, Tsubaki, and evening primrose) to provide thirsty skin with much-needed moisture. It also contains aloe, one of Dr. Shokeen’s go-tos. “Known for its soothing and hydrating properties, aloe vera can help calm and moisturize the skin,” she says. It’s definitely something to pack for your next sunny vacation since it’ll help soothe sunburns. We love how the formula absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy residue, but we’d prefer it if the scent hung around a little longer.

Best Long-Lasting Scent

Philosophy Pure Grace Body Emulsion

$49 at Amazon View on Ulta View on Jcpenney.com

Scent: Floral, herbal, musk | Size: 16 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

There’s nothing better than that freshly showered feeling, and this hydrating lotion helps it linger a bit longer with a signature floral fragrance that marries water lily, leafy greens, and frosted musk. Better yet, you can count on the scent to last all day. We also like that it contains shea butter, sunflower seed oil, vitamin E, and glycerin to hydrate and firm the skin. “Glycerin helps attract and retain moisture in the skin, keeping it soft and supple,” says Dr. Shokeen. The formula is lightweight and fast-absorbing, but it can be tiresome getting the lotion to come out of the bottle. Still, this is a great choice for those who want to use scented body lotion instead of traditional perfume.

Best Multitasker

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream

$65 at Revolve $65 at Charlottetilbury.com $65 at Bloomingdales

Scent: Sweet floral, mint | Size: 1.6–6.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love a body lotion that does it all, and that’s Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Body Cream in a nutshell. Not only does it hydrate well with a blend of shea butter, hyaluronic acid, aloe, and vitamin E, but it’s been shown to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of cellulite in a clinical trial. It even includes vitamin C to combat skin dullness and boost radiance, making this a great pick if you want lifted, hydrated skin.

Instead of synthetic fragrance, the lotion draws its scent from hydrating ingredients and essential oils. According to the brand, frangipani flower extract not only moisturizes but also offers a light, calming aroma, while magnolia oil lends a refreshing, sweet floral scent with notes of green mint. The fragrance is subtle, and reviewers note that it dissipates over time. Keep in mind that the consistency of this lotion means it’s more work to spread it evenly over the skin.

Best Vegan

Saltair Pink Beach Body Lotion

$14 at Target $14 at Saltair.com

Scent: Sweet floral, coconut | Size: 14 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It can be tricky to find a body lotion that is vegan, cruelty-free, and paraben-free, but Saltair does it. The brand has so many scrumptious body lotions to choose from, but Pink Beach transports us straight to a sunny beachside locale with notes of coconut, almond blossom, and vanilla that last long on the skin. Besides smelling heavenly, it leans on murumuru seed butter, allantoin, and coconut oil to make your skin softer and more supple, all while absorbing quickly. The only thing to note is that those with severely dry skin may prefer a heavier formula, but if you want to take the beach with you everywhere you go, we think this is an excellent pick.

Best Unisex Fragrance

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Body & Hand Lotion

$68 at Bloomingdales $68 at Nordstrom $68 at Saks Fifth Avenue

Scent: Fruity, spicy, floral | Size: 8.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Jo Malone’s beauty counter fragrances are instantly recognizable, and this lotion allows you to enjoy one of its most popular ones, which also happens to fit all genders, all day long. It features delicate notes of pomegranate, pink pepper, and Casablanca lily and uses coconut oil to intensely hydrate the skin. Massage it onto your body after a morning shower, and leave it on your desk to moisturize your hands throughout the day. The brand’s signature packaging also makes it the chicest gift. Do note that this formula’s consistency leans lightweight, which may not be ideal if you need intense hydration.