Grooming Experts Tested Over 75 Body Washes — These Are Their Favourites (2024)

In our rigorous testing process for our annual Grooming Awards, our panel voted Acqua di Parma's Fico di Amalfi body wash as the best in its class.

Italy is a land of olfactory delights and this vitamin E-rich body wash bottles the scent of la dolce vita. Italian lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, fig nectar, pink pepper and cedar wood make your morning ablution feel like a weekend in Positano. Well, almost.

Throughout our tests, Nivea's was one of the rare body washes that didn't cause breakouts or redness after using it consistently. That's thanks to its star ingredients: almond oil and bamboo extract, which provide added moisture while soothing skin. But even with its gentle formula, we found that Nivea still cleaned our skin effectively. We found that it wiped away grime and sunscreen as strongly as any soaps we've tried.

What also makes it great is that you don’t have to have sensitive skin to reap the benefits of this wash. If you do, you’re going to love the creamy texture and gentle lather. But if you don’t, you’ll still love how well this wash cleans your body while still leaving your skin soft and moisturised, never dry or tight-feeling.

If there is such a thing as status body wash, this would be it. Aesop, the purveyor of uber-luxe hand soaps dispensed at five-star hotels, also makes some premium cleansers for the rest of your body. Take this Coriander Seed wash, which our editors report has a rich, earthy scent, which one editor says, 'smells like money'.

'Keep this in your shower to impress anyone who might see it,' says another tester, 'even if it's just you.' Plus, while our other fragrance-heavy body washes irritated some of our testers with sensitive skin, this one did not. That's because it's sourced from natural ingredients like coriander seed oil, glycerin, and castor oil, so you can feel good about putting it on your body.

This body wash dispenses a pearly, rich gel that looks and feels super luxurious. Inside is a beautiful blend of starflower oils, meadowfoam, and sweet almond that cleans, hydrates, calms, and leaves your skin with a tropical, fruity aroma that smells like a five-star resort, and the scent stays on your skin for hours after you've used it.

For most days Garrett uses Oribe's body wash in lieu of a cologne, since it stays on his skin so long after showering. 'I've received tons of compliments on my "perfume", which is why I've been an Oribe fan ever since,' he says.

This scent from Harry’s comes to life through invigorating notes of yuzu, bergamot, and dry notes of charcoal. Harry's body washes have been a standby favourite amongst Men's Health editors for a few years now thanks to their pleasant, but not overpowering, scents. One tester noted: 'The scents of the shoulder gel fade quickly, especially when competing with the strong smells of deodorant and cologne.'

But even though this body wash isn't all overpowering, it has lasting power. One tester received more compliments using this body wash than any other fragrance he's used. 'It feels luxurious and feels my skin soft,' he said. 'It feels like a good spa day than a necessary bathing ritual. I don't mind the cycle of lather, rinse and repeat when the repetition feels fun and indulgent.'

Method Men Body Wash –Cedar Cypress

Our testers found that thisCedar + Cypress soap offered a lot of value for the price point. It contains naturally derived ingredients (sodium lauryl sulfate, citric acid, etc), which provide the thorough clean that we want from an everyday wash.

One tester found that the soap's outdoorsy scent 'made me feel like I just came back from a hike, even though all I did was wake up and stumble to the shower.' Though other testers noted that its fragrance was too strong and woodsy for them, and competed with their colognes.

Use this body wash to soothe super dry skin—even eczema. It works because it contains a combination of the specific ceramides that are predominant in the skin and replenishes them to build up your skin barrier, according to Dr. Zeichner.

Honestly, skin barrier support is important for everyone, not just those with dry skin. Using this wash, even if you don’t have chronic dry skin, is a great way to bolster your skin’s protective barrier, which is why our testers loved this creamy, ultra-soothing wash even if they didn’t have dry skin. There’s also niacinamide and hyaluronic acid in the formula to aid in calming and hydration, respectively. If you do suffer from chronic dry skin, however, this wash is a must. Our testers noticed a near-immediate improvement in their dryness and inflammation, with a compounded effect the longer they used it.

The BW1 body wash is void of parabens, phthalates, and sulfates and creates a rich foam that soothes the skin. As for the scent, we'd be hard-pressed to find anything more pleasant at the moment. It's the perfect amount of sophistication without being too overbearing, which means you'll smell amazing only to those who come within close contact.

Look, we understand that it can be hard to justify such a high price for a body wash, but if you’ve ever used a luxury body wash, you probably know what a difference it makes. With washes like this one, the lather is richer and the formula doesn’t strip your skin and make it feel dry or tight after you use it, which is a sign that it’s stripped away all the natural oils on your body. That sort of clean takes time and care (and money) to formulate, which is why you typically get that feeling with cheaper body washes that use harsher cleansing agents. If it’s any consolation, we suggest saving this body wash for extra special occasions (the cologne-like smell is perfect for date night prep).

For those a part of the sensitive skin tribe, Necessaire has you covered with this perfect fragrance-free body wash. The brand's offering is designed to clean without any of the overpowering scents or irritants that can cause flare-ups or discomfort. Instead, it's formulated with gentle, soothing ingredients that clean without stripping away your skin or leaving it feeling bone-dry.

Our editors who can't handle strong scents found this one to be the most straightforward, yet effective option for them. They didn't experience any breakouts or redness like with others tested. Instead, it has a luxurious lather that glides smoothly on. Plus, the nozzle that pops up lets you easily control the amount dispensed into your hand or washcloth.

Nivea's 'sunshine' scented shower gel is summer in a bottle. Its smell transported us back to summer holidays as kids, evoking memories of long afternoons spent by the pool. Sure, there's far more masculine smells out there, but if you're in need of a winter pick me up, this is a surefire way to start your day off on a positive note – yes, it really does smell that good.

As for its ingredients, it's enriched with vitamin C and E to gently cleanse the skin and leave it feeling smooth and healthy.

Is It Ok to Use More Than One Body Wash?

The short answer: yes! Having a few different body washes in your rotation can be beneficial based on when and why you would use them. Many washes that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, for instance, shouldn’t be used every day because they can be harsh on skin. Other reasons you might want to change up your body wash include the weather outside, how dry or sweaty your skin is, whether you just worked out, whether you’re showering in the morning or at night, or just what scent you’re in the mood for.

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