The 11 Best-Smelling Shampoos of 2026, Tested and Approved

Scent Notes: Apricot, Lily of the Valley, vanilla, pink grapefruit, sandalwood | Hair Type: Medium to thick | Size: 9.2, 16.9 oz | Key Ingredients: Coconut acid, sea buckthorn | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Amika’s beloved Normcore Shampoo somehow manages to smell fruity, warm, sweet, and musky all at once, which is why we crowned it best overall. Notes of apricot and pink grapefruit give it a fruity profile, while vanilla and sandalwood offer warmth. Even more, it has Lily of the Valley for a hint of floral. The overall composition is strong, so if you’re looking for a shampoo that lingers for days, this is it.

Our tester couldn’t say enough good things about this nourishing shampoo, so much so that she says it doesn’t compare to any other shampoo she’s tried. She adored how hydrating it was on her dry, thick hair, enough that she cut down on styling products and days between washes. The formula contains coconut acid to help remove product buildup, along with sea buckthorn, which is rich in fatty acids to nourish and hydrate.

Joie, tester with thick, 2A-2B hair (not pictured): “ Truly, my favorite smelling hair product I’ve come across. It’s hard to explain, but it has hints of vanilla and clean, crisp notes like citrus, yet it’s still somewhat masculine and perfume-like. Even between washes, I could smell the product for days, which I loved!”

Scent Notes: Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, sandalwood | Hair Type: All | Size: 2.5, 8.5, 33.8 oz | Key Ingredients: Biotin, plant collagen, caffeine, niacinamide, Mediterranean Cypress extract, Oribe Signature Complex | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Oribe products are well-known for their signature scent, Côte d’Azur (it’s a big pull to the luxe brand). The fragrance has notes of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood, making it a slightly woodsy, citrus scent. It smells fresh and crisp, but also a bit musky, creating a beautiful harmony of scent profiles.

As for the shampoo’s effectiveness, Oribe’s Gold Lust is a prestige formula made with biotin, plant collagen, and Mediterranean Cypress extract, among other moisturizing and protective ingredients. It helps repair damaged, brittle hair and imparts moisture into dry strands. Our tester found her hair looked and felt healthier overall. One thing to note: The formula is on the thicker side, so it may be too heavy for those with very fine and thin hair.

Sophia, tester with type 1, dry hair (not pictured): “It smells very fresh and sweet, but sweet in a citrus way. It’s pretty and not really overpowering.”

Scent Notes: Rose, bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, white musk | Hair Type: All | Size: 3, 10, 32 oz | Key Ingredients: Chelating agents, apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a divine-smelling clarifying shampoo, or your scent preference is a warm floral, the Ouai Detox Shampoo is a must. Since it’s a clarifying formula, it’s not meant to replace your regular shampoo. But it is useful for when you need a deep, thorough cleanse to remove product buildup, or if you’ve gone an extended time between washes and have more dirt, grime, and oil than usual. It’s also a great shampoo for hard water. Our tester says his scalp and hair felt very clean after washing, even less itchy, and it removed all his styling products and hair paste.

Ouai is well-known for its incredible scents (in addition to their great formulas), and the Melrose scent of their Detox Shampoo is no exception. With notes of rose, bergamot, lychee, cedarwood, and white musk, it’s the perfect mix of floral and warm musk.

Alfredo, tester with thin, dry hair: “I was surprised to find out this shampoo has apple cider vinegar because I couldn’t smell it at all. I’m sensitive to smell and this was pleasant. The best way I can describe it is as if you have walked into a salon. It’s a clean and fresh smell.”

Scent Notes: White pear, spearmint leaf, lemon essential oil | Hair Type: Fine and medium, straight to wavy | Size: 2, 8 oz | Key Ingredients: Phospholipids, Alpha Keratin 60ku | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s nothing like the smell of a refreshing citrus scent to wake you up during your morning shower, which is what you’ll get with Virtue’s viral Full Shampoo. You’ll get notes of white pear, spearmint, and lemon, which make your hair feel and smell clean. 

Those with fine, flat, or thin hair will love this volume-enhancing shampoo, a lightweight formula that removes buildup without leaving behind residue. It gives strands a boost and lift thanks to its patented Alpha Keratin 60ku, a bio-identical keratin protein, making it appear fuller and more voluminous. Our tester says it “has earned a permanent spot” in her routine, claiming it to be one of the best shampoos she’s ever tried. 

Ashley, tester with 2C hair: “I’ve never met a shampoo with a scent I enjoy as much as this one. It has a fruity, clean smell that lingers in my curls for several hours. It’s hands down the best-smelling shampoo I’ve ever used.”

Scent Notes: Rosemary, eucalyptus, peppermint | Hair Type: All | Size: 2.5, 10 oz | Key Ingredients: Biotin, batana oil, rosemary oil, oat protein | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Not only is rosemary an excellent ingredient for hair growth, but it smells incredible, too. I’m a big fan of the Rizos Curls Biotin Shampoo, made with biotin (as its name suggests), rosemary oil (which gives it its incredible, invigorating scent), batana oil, and oat protein. Its herbaceous scent makes you feel refreshed and squeaky clean.

This shampoo worked really well on my dry, curly hair. It has a very lightweight, gel consistency that didn’t weigh down my curls at all. What stood out to me most about this formula, aside from its addicting scent, was how soft it made my hair feel immediately. Even while washing it out, my hair felt noticeably silkier. And again, ingredients like rosemary, as well as biotin and batana oil, encourage longer, stronger, and thicker hair.

Scent Notes: Green apple, peach, coconut water, amber, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple | Hair Type: Damaged, thin | Size: 12.5, 33.8 oz | Key Ingredients: | Apple extract, ceramide | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You don’t need to spend big bucks to find a shampoo that smells luxe. Case in point: the Garnier Fructis Grow Strong Fortifying Shampoo. A large bottle costs less than $15 and lasts months, depending on how frequently you wash your hair. Most of us probably know that signature Garnier scent, the fruity, apple-forward fragrance that has a way of lingering long after exiting the shower. It’s very strong, so if you’re sensitive to scent, you may want to skip this one; however, for our tester, she couldn’t get enough of the intense, fruity smell.

The Grow Strong Fortifying Shampoo is an excellent pick for anyone who experiences breakage and has split, damaged ends. It’s formulated with apple extract and niacinamide for hydrated, strong, knot-free hair. Our tester appreciated the shampoo’s thick, rich lather, which left her hair so moisturized that, for some washes, she skipped conditioner altogether.

Ashley, tester with 2C, thin hair: “The scent is addicting. It is very overpowering and lingers for hours after a wash, but it’s such a pleasant smell that keeps me coming back. It leaves my hair feeling hydrated, bouncy, and smelling like a tropical, fruity apple blend.”

Scent Notes: Amber, sandalwood, musk | Hair Type: All | Size: 2.4, 8.5, 16.9 oz | Key Ingredients: Argan oil, algae, vitamin A | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

People love Moroccanoil’s signature scent so much that the brand bottled it into a perfume last year. That said, it’s safe to say their Hydrating Shampoo smells divine, a musky, citrus scent that our tester says she could smell for days post-washing. Even when she layered a leave-in conditioner after showering, she could still smell the shampoo.

The Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo is, as its name suggests, a great pick for dry hair that needs moisture and hydration. Our tester was impressed with the definition it gave her waves, as well as how shiny it looked after use. It has a thick, rich consistency, and the formula contains argan oil for deep moisture. It’s worth noting that our tester found it didn’t help much with frizz, but we think the scent makes up for it.

Cecily, tester with thick, coarse, wavy hair: “The scent is really lovely—sandalwood with what smells like a touch of cinnamon and citrus, but not overpowering. I like how the scent lingers, so I can still smell it a day or two later. Even using some leave-in conditioner on top didn’t diminish the scent.”

Scent Notes: Sparkling orange, orange blossom, vanilla | Hair Type: All | Size: 3, 10, 32 oz | Key Ingredients: | False daisy extract, hibiscus flower extract, moringa seed oil | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Byrdie’s Senior News Editor, Bella Cacciatore, describes the scent of Dae’s Signature Shampoo as reminiscent of an orange creamsicle. It’s citrusy, sweet, and floral, thanks to notes of orange, vanilla, and orange blossom.

It has a creamy consistency that lathers excellently, hydrating Cacciatore’s hair without weighing it down. While she found the shampoo nourishing and hydrating, some reviewers noted dryness while using it, so perhaps avoid it if you already have dry hair.

Bella Cacciatore, senior news editor with 1C hair (not pictured): “This is a great no-frills shampoo that makes my hair feel soft and clean and smells really, really good.”

Scent Notes: Cocoa, ginger, cardamom | Hair Type: Dry hair | Size: 1.7, 8.5, 33.8 oz | Key Ingredients: Pomegranate oil, coconut oil, mango butter, oat extract | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you tend to reach for sweet and spicy fragrances, the Aveda Nutriplenish Shampoo may be your new favorite. With notes of cocoa, ginger, and cardamom, it delivers a delicious, unique scent you don’t typically find in a shampoo. Our tester adored the smell, as do hundreds of reviewers online.

Aveda is beloved for prioritizing natural ingredients; 94% of this shampoo’s formula contains naturally-derived ingredients, like pomegranate oil, coconut oil, mango butter, and oat extract. Our tester had amazing things to say about this shampoo, even calling it one of the best she’s used in a long time at the time of testing. Her hair felt smooth, soft, and thoroughly cleansed, and she loved how the shampoo helped manage her frizz.

Lisa, tester with long, wavy, dry hair: “The scent did not disappoint. The aroma opens with a warm, sweet cocoa note, like the rich scent of a high-quality dark chocolate. There is a sense of purity and organic simplicity, an inviting, beautiful aroma that evokes a sense of well-being.”

Scent Notes: Thyme, pine, musk, amber | Hair Type: All, dry hair | Size: 3.04, 9.47, 16.9 oz | Key Ingredients: Roucou oil | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When I first sniffed the Davines Oi Shampoo, I immediately knew it was going to become one of my absolute favorite scents. I always gravitate toward warm, ambery, musky fragrances, so this pick is right up my alley with notes of thyme, pine, musk, and amber. If there were such a thing as a designer shampoo, this is what I imagine it would smell like. It’s luxurious and lingers long after rinsing.

This option can be used on all hair types, but it’s especially great for dry hair, thanks to its star ingredient, Roucou oil, derived from the Amazonian Achiote plant. The ingredient is packed full of antioxidants, beta-carotene, and vitamin A, which help protect your hair from environmental factors and soften it.

Scent Notes: Pistachio, salted caramel, vanilla | Hair Type: Fine to medium, damaged hair | Size: 3.04, 10 oz | Key Ingredients: Brazil nut oil, buriti fruit, plant-based keratin | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

How could I write about the best-smelling shampoos without including one of the most beloved fragrance brands, Sol de Janeiro? Their Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo is made with their iconic Cheirosa 62 fragrance, a sweet and nutty gourmand scent with notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla. Gourmand fragrances smell reminiscent of desserts, or “edible,” in the best way.

In a clinical study, the shampoo reduced breakage by 58%, making it a worthy choice for damaged hair and split ends. The formula is also hydrating and nourishing, due to its Brazil nut oil. While it’s designed for fine-to-medium hair, some reviewers say it can leave hair feeling greasy, so consider skipping if you’re prone to oil.