The 20 Best-Smelling Shampoos That'll Make You Never Want to Leave the Shower

This shampoo has a devoted following for a reason: It turns volume all the way up on fine locks, while also serving up a fruity, floral and musky scent that smells like a fancy perfume. "I really like how this shampoo leaves my hair feeling more nourished. I have naturally fine/thin, oily hair but after using this [for] the past couple weeks, I can feel how soft my hair has become. I like that it’s made specifically for fine hair. I can see more volume in my hair when I use this shampoo compared to others," a Sephora reviewer who gave the product 5-stars says.

Additionally, it's packed with biotin, which is proven to strengthen strands, keratin to add softness and shine, and nourishing chia seed oil to help address hair damage and dryness

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: Italian lemon, jasmine and white musk
• Benefits: volumizing, nourishing

If you're looking for a protein-based shampoo that also smells like calming aromatherapy, look no further than this shampoo. The formula features B-silk protein, which aims to improve shine and protect strands. It also includes phytoactives that enhance thickness and reduce shedding—plus, karmatin, which has been proven to strengthen and restore damaged cuticles. "OMG, the natural bergamot scent of the Vegamour GRO Shampoo is so light and botanical. It’s not at all the [typical] overwhelming (sometimes nauseating) scented shampoo experience. It’s so uplifting, clean-smelling and thickening, which is great, says PureWow senior Editor Dana Dickey." While the shampoo has an impressive ingredients list, it's the fresh citrus scent that has users excited for their next wash day.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: bergamot
• Benefits: strengthening, restoring

This hydrating shampoo not only restores damaged hair to healthy conditions, but smells incredibly great while doing so. Appreciated by buyers for its hydrating properties, the silky formula delivers double the protein and lipid protection, which assists in preventing excess frizz and breakage. Infused with cocoa butter to strengthen your hair and scalp, it also smells wonderful according to the over 2,600 buyers who have given it a 5-star rating. One Target buyer shares, "After using this product, my hair smelled really good. It did not weigh my hair down, which can always be a problem with some shampoos because I have thick hair. I hate products with strong scents, and the scent was not strong at all."

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: coconut
• Benefits: strengthening, restoring, hydrating

Like its name suggests, this shampoo is made with—and thus, smells like—peonies. As a result, you'll find this hair cleanser smells fresh, bright and lovely on your locks. Catrina Yohay, executive managing editor at PureWow says, "It smells just like peonies without being overly sweet or artificial. It's light, bright and reminds me of an early spring day." Shoppers say the pH-balanced formula helps soothe irritated and sensitive scalps, while keeping the rest of your hair squeaky clean and free of product build-up.

Fast Pub

• Scent Notes: peony extract
• Benefits: soothing, deep cleansing

With over 3,100 five-star reviews, customers enjoy the pleasant fragrance of this shampoo every time wash day comes along. Featuring avocado and castor oil, the formula adds shine and moisture back to dull strands without weighing down finer strands. And if you can't get enough of the scent, the brand also sells it in perfume form. Win-win. "The shampoo isn't too heavy for my fine hair, and the scent is elevated. It's floral and lightly fruity—more like a fragrance than your typical shampoo—but it doesn't linger once your hair has dried," says Candace Davison, VP of Editorial at PureWow.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: fruity
• Benefits: moisturizing, lightweight

This drugstore shampoo is a true classic—and has over 1,000 five-star reviews that attest to its greatness. Editor Olivia Dubyak said in her review, "It may not be luxurious or trendy, but Aussie always smells incredible. I recently switched over to drugstore shampoos after spending so much money on brands that weren't doing anything for my highlighted hair. Not only is Aussie giving me volume, shine, softness and length to my locks, it smells like a summer vacation with a splash of nostalgia (since I also used this when I was a kid)."

Infused with avocado and jojoba oil, it offers intense hydration to super dry strands and leaves a light citrus scent in its wake. Plus, the budget-friendly price tag is a bonus.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: citrus
• Benefits: hydrating, affordable

Who knew mango and cherry would smell so good together? Our editors, of course. "It smells like fruit stripe gum in the best way—very nostalgic and sweet but not cloying at all," says editor Katherine Gillen. Delia Curtis, PureWow's assistant editor adds, "The scent is divine! The pairing is so unexpected, but fun. It smells tropical and brings me back to the shampoos I used as a kid. But it has an elevated flair that's not overpowering." The nutrient-rich blend includes mango extract, papaya enzymes and cherry extract to support scalp and hair health, balance oil production and improve dullness.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: fruity
• Benefits: nourishing

This gentle shampoo is loved by reviewers and editors alike, thanks to its main ingredient: colloidal oat. In fact, Rachel Gulmi, PureWow's operations director of branded content, enjoys using this herself. "It's very light and fresh and doesn’t smell like fake roses. [This shampoo] leaves my hair feeling so soft and honestly, it makes me smile whenever I use it because of how good it smells," she says. This key component is known to soothe and cleanse the scalp. Add rose water and chamomile to the mix and you have yourself a spa in a bottle. It's safe for all hair types but works especially well on fine hair and for those with sensitive scalps, as it cleanses and nourishes without causing irritation or dryness.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: bergamot, rose and blackberry musk
• Benefits: soothing, nourishing

If you're familiar with Shiseido's skincare, you're going to appreciate their haircare offerings, starting with this rich shampoo that has a dedicated Reddit following. Formulated with oleic and linoleic acid, two fatty acids that soften and smooth hair, it reduces frizz and leaves dry, coarse strands feeling like spun silk. "I'm a longtime fan of Shiseido's Tsubaki Premium Moist Shampoo. The scent is fruity, fresh and clean and makes me happy whenever I get a whiff of it. I also like that it comes with a pump top applicator," says editor Jenny Jin.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: floral
• Benefits: smoothing, softening

Any hair type will appreciate having this shampoo in their rotation. The creamy formula includes hyaluronic acid and ashwagandha to hydrate and soothe the scalp. It also contains pink lotus, hibiscus and amla to soften, condition and strengthen strands. "The woodsy fragrance adds a nice touch," explains Yohay.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: warm and woodsy
• Benefits: hydrating, softening

You deserve the fancy hotel treatment and this shampoo by Aēsop would look great on your shower shelves. The clarifying formula promises to remove build-up, condition hair and smooth down flyaways. "I find all Aēsop products irresistible despite their high price, but their classic shampoo is a really nice woody-citrusy scent that's gender neutral but not overly cologne-y—call it a "quiet luxury" shampoo. I have been nursing a tiny travel size bottle that I snuck from a hotel, but I just might splurge when that runs out," Gillen says.

This shampoo is also infused with an earthy scent—aka a blend of frankincense, cedar and bergamot—that adds a crisp freshness to your locks. 

Fast Facts

• Scent notes: frankincense, cedar, bergamot
• Benefits: clarifying, smoothing

Dealing with super dry strands? This salon-approved shampoo will add moisture back to your hair. It's formulated with white truffle and marula oil for a deep cleanse that restores strands from root to tip. There's also rose water and ginseng in it to improve scalp health and biotin to encourage hair growth. With rose water, vanilla bean and marula oil in the mix, we’re not surprised that customers continue to shoutout the luxurious scent in their reviews.

PureWow's former commerce director Nicole Briese tested this out saying, "This stuff smells better than any shampoo I've ever used in my life. It's fruity, but not sickeningly so, and it doesn't overwhelm you post-shower. It smells good enough that you want to just stand in the shower and luxuriate in it."

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: citrus
• Benefits: hydrating, soothing

If you're working with flakes and/or an irritated scalp, this clarifying shampoo promises to give you a soothing, deep cleanse. Its key ingredient, salicylic acid, is known to exfoliate the scalp and eliminate dandruff with every wash. Also blended with bilberry fruit and sugar maple extracts, the shampoo works to soothe, protect and restore your hair and scalp. And let's not forget Oribe's signature scent: an otherworldly blend of bergamot, jasmine and sandalwood that makes the whole washing experience that much better. PureWow's associate sales and deals editor Destinee Scott says in her review, "If I had to describe the scent, I would say it has the perfect balance of earthy and floral notes. It's like a spa in a beautiful bottle."

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: bergamot, white jasmine and sandalwood
• Benefits: clarifying, nourishing

Shampoo bars are a great sustainable option and this bar has rave reviews for cleansing and restoring the scalp and hair, including a stellar one from PureWow's associate SEO editor Marissa Wu. The main ingredient, longsheng rice, has a history of renewing and repairing hair. The formula also features cocoa butter, shea butter and aloe vera that aims to condition and strengthen strands. With over 10,000 five-star reviewers, customers enjoy having the fresh-smelling bar in their routine. 

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: grapefruit, orange, lemon and vanilla
• Benefits: restoring, conditioning

Fans say this shampoo smells warm and romantic with hints of cardamom, pineapple, citrus, lavender and bamboo. The scent mixed with its formula, which promises to nourish and strengthen strands, is a top pick on our list for thin and fine hair. It's formulated with biotin, which promotes healthy hair growth and pro-vitamin B5 that offers intense hydration. Or as one Amazon reviewer puts it, "This shampoo has been great! I have fine hair, but LOTS of it! I'm a natural blonde, so my hair tends to be dry and flat. This shampoo has allowed me to cut down washing to every 5-6 days and provides so much volume than I had before!"

It's also infused with coconut oil and saw palmetto berry extract, which intends to promote overall scalp health.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: cardamom, pineapple, citrus, lavender and bamboo
• Benefits: nourishing, strengthening

If you prefer something that won’t overwhelm your nostrils in the shower, this cleanser makes hair feel next-level soft, while smelling practically edible. "This shampoo leaves my hair soft yet manageable, and my hair feels thicker. My hair types tends to get oily at the roots and I have to wash it every day. Kiehls is one of the few shampoos that allows me to go two days without a wash and my hair still looks and feels fresh," raves one Amazon reviewer.

Mixed with coconut oil and amino acids, it adds fullness and body to limp locks and you’ll also find wheat proteins to condition, soften and strengthen strands for a more voluminous 'do.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: coconut oil
• Benefits: softening, strengthening

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of shea butter. Not only does it improve softness, but it also deeply moisturizes your strands. So, of course, I'm obsessed with this one by Fekkai. The formula aims to smooth strands, eliminate frizz, reduce split ends and add softness. According to reviewers, it's best for curly and coily hair.

• Scent Notes: musky, toffee and citrus
• Benefits: moisturizing, smoothing

Fast Facts

What does this shampoo smell like? The long answer is masculine cologne with a sophisticated scent that lingers. The short answer? Luxury. Reviewers say this 'poo reminds them of a very expensive perfume that you simply can't get enough of. "[It] makes my hair feel amazingly soft. I thoroughly enjoy the smell as well. I have naturally coarse curly hair and this has really made my hair texture look and feel softer while not impeding my curl pattern. This also helps me when I straighten out my hair. It looks healthy not brittle and dry," says Sephora reviewer who bought the product. As for the formula, it was formulated with hyaluronic acid to target signs of aging hair and scalp—aka it helps strengthen and hydrate roots and strands over time.

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: musky
• Benefits: strengthening, hydrating

Let's start things off with a little nostalgia. As youths, this Paul Mitchell formula got the chlorine out of our hair post-swim. As adults, the energizing lemon scent delights us just as much during the 500th wash as it does the first. "I absolutely love this shampoo. It cleans [my hair] so well and gets all the oily grossness out of your scalp without drying your hair out," raves an Ulta reviewer. The vegan and color-safe formula aims to minimize oil production, remove product build-up and deeply cleanse your hair."

Fast Facts

• Scent Notes: lemon
• Benefits: clarifying, energizing