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To keep skin glowing from head to toe, dermatologists recommend moisturizing immediately after showering—and the best-smelling body lotions make the ritual even better. Whether you prefer to nourish your skin with a drugstore-aisle gem that has a fluffy texture and a cozy vanilla scent, or want to uplevel your routine with a luxurious French body balm that smells like spicy leather, it’s time to add a new lotion to your olfactory playground. To help you whittle down the selection of the best scented body lotions, we’ve done the legwork for you, testing dozens of options at every price point. Happy moisturizing!

Our Best-Smelling Body Lotions

• Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Lotion in Cyprès-Citronné, $52
• Best Woody: Cyklar Nutrient-Rich Body Cream in Sacred Santal, $29
• Best Floral: Saltair Santal Bloom Body Butter, $21
• Best Citrus: Colleen Rothschild The Ritual Body Cream, $48
• Best Vanilla Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Bean, $36
• Best for Subtle Shimmer: Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream, $45
• Best Budget: Eos Shea Butter 24H Moisture Body Lotion in Vanilla Cashmere, $11
• Best Splurge: Diptyque Eau Rihla Body Balm, $102

Frequently Asked Questions

• How we test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Lotion in Cyprès-Citronné

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Nécessaire

The Body Lotion in Cyprès-Citronné

$52

Amazon

$52

Nordstrom

$52

Sephora

Why we love it: All scents of Nécessaire’s 2025 Best of Beauty-winning Body Lotions are standouts, but if you’re craving something light and fresh, Cyprès-Citronné is a deep breath in a cream. Notes of cypress, citron, bergamot, and cedar atlas swirl together into a crisp, just-showered scent that lasts longer than you’d expect for a cream. We love it layered under perfume or smoothed on as the final step post-shower. The silky, skin-softening formula pulls its weight, too, with a hearty dose of hydrating peptides and vitamin E, plus brightening vitamin C and smoothing niacinamide.

Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor

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“Nécessaire fragrances are all grounding and comforting, but the brand's new Cyprès-Citronné is chef's kiss. Bright and citrusy, it’s like a squeeze of lemon you add to a Diet Coke—a little extra, but incredibly uplifting. It adds a subtle zing to my overall scent as I use it to moisturize my shoulders, arms, and chest.”—Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: niacinamide, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-6, omega-9, peptides
• Scent Options: Cyprès-Citronné, Hinoki, Olibanum, Santal, Eucalyptus, Fragrance-Free

Best Woody: Cyklar Nutrient-Rich Body Cream in Sacred Santal

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Cyklar

Nutrient-Rich Body Cream in Sacred Santal

$29

Amazon

$29

Cyklar

Why we love it: While Cyklar’s Perfume Oil was the first to take home an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2025, another product we reach for just as often is the Nutrient-Rich Body Cream. This indulgent moisturizer comes in five dreamy scents that pair perfectly with the brand’s fragrance roll-ons, but Sacred Santal—featuring warm, woody notes of cashmere, vanilla, amber, and bergamot—is a clear team favorite. Ingredient-wise, this formula is all about serious hydration, thanks to banana flower extract, squalane, and prickly pear water to soothe and moisturize, plus niacinamide to smooth texture.

Tester feedback from associate beauty editor Annie Blay-Tettey

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“I've been a fan of Cyklar since I tried their body cream in Crescent back when the packaging has a heavy paper weight-like jar. I was so pleasantly surprised to see them repackage the cream into an equally luxe tube that's notably lighter. Also notable? The dreamy scent of the Sacred Santal cream. I love how woody and spicy it is without being overwhelmingly aromatic. My hands itch to reach for it in the morning.” —Annie Blay-Tettey, associate beauty editor

More to know

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• Key ingredients: banana flower extract, squalane, prickly pear water, niacinamide
• Scent options: Vanilla Verve, Sacred Santal, Bergamot Bond, Naked Neroli, Crescent, Fragrance-Free

Best Floral: Saltair Santal Bloom Body Butter

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Saltair

Santal Bloom Body Butter

$21

Amazon

$21

Ulta Beauty

Why we love it: Melding notes of sandalwood, rose, and jasmine, Saltair’s 2025 Best of Beauty-winning Santal Bloom Body Butter smells like a boho-luxe retreat with massages on the beach. And, just like those spa services, the fluffy butter pampers and nurtures the skin with a soothing ceramide complex and moisturizing sea buckthorn oil. Also impressive for this budget-friendly pick: It’s formulated with a carefully balanced ratio of phospholipids, fatty acids, and phytosterols to support the skin barrier and lock in hydration.

Tester feedback from former content director Kara McGrath

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“This smells like a fancy spa, but it only costs 21 bucks. It starts out (olfactorily) strong with a coconut butter base, which creates a slightly sweet foundation on top of which sit notes of sandalwood, rose, and jasmine. The result is a light, floral scent that lasts for hours and layers well with other scented products.” —Kara McGrath, former content director

More to know

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• Key ingredients: ceramide complex, sea buckthorn oil, phospholipids, fatty acids, phytosterols
• Scent options: Pink Beach, Seascape, Island Orchid, Salt Water Vanilla, Exotic Pulp, Black Tide, Golden Hour, Green Grapefruit

Best Citrus: Colleen Rothschild The Ritual Body Cream

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Colleen Rothschild

The Ritual Body Cream

$48

Colleen Rothschild

Why we love it: With nourishing shea butter, smoothing jojoba oil, plumping hyaluronic acid, and brightening niacinamide, Colleen Rothschild’s The Ritual Body Cream is rich without feeling heavy and melts into skin on contact. The hydration lasts for hours, and so does the scent, which smells like you’ve been sitting under a citrus tree, thanks to notes of citron, bergamot, and pink grapefruit. For extra moisture, mix in a few drops of the Ritual Body Oil before applying—it turns your routine into a mini sensory moment.

Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner

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“An industry groundbreaker (and quite possibly the nicest person I’ve ever met), Colleen Rothschild’s expertise really shows in her products: They’re effective without being overcomplicated or overdone. I’m especially obsessed with the Ritual Body Cream and Body Oil: Both of them are no-frills, never heavy, deeply hydrating, and dreamy-smelling. They’re the kind of everyday staples you keep reaching for because they just work. The cream specifically is so light and melts into the skin in what feels like one second. I keep it on the tub of my shower so I never forget to apply it.” —Lily Wohlner, commerce writer

More to know

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• Key ingredients: ceramides, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, jojoba oil, tripeptide
• Scent options: The Ritual

Best Vanilla: Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Bean

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Josie Maran

Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Bean

$36

Sephora

$36

Josie Maran

Why we love it: From the perfumer (Jerome Epinette) behind Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique and Gypsy Water, the Vanilla Bean scent of Josie Maran’s Argan Oil Body Butter mixes velvety vanilla and caramel for a sweet treat in every sense. If you've ever wanted to smell like a bakery churning out fresh pastries in the early morning, this is for you. Made with argan oil to smooth the skin, the lightweight formula—as airy as the foam on that cocktail—also has shea butter and avocado oil to drench the body in moisture that makes every inch of it glow. Pairing this with a bikini and some SPF would be a dream beachside ensemble, though Allure editors find that it also pairs deliciously with an everyday body-care routine.

Clearly, vanilla is a fan-favorite because you have options if a more purist vanilla isn't quite your vibe. Literally, there's Vanilla Vibezz, Vanilla Apricot, and Bohemian Fig (vanilla orchid is one of the notes).

Tester feedback from executive beauty director Jenny Bailly

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"I slather Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Topless Tangerine all over my limbs (also my butt) every morning. Except when I reach for the Bohemian Fig. It's always one or the other—unless it's the Vanilla Bean. Every scent of this luscious cream is more irresistible than the next—not surprising since they were dreamed up by perfumer Jerome Epinette, who also created some of my (and probably your) favorite scents from Byredo, Phlur, Victoria Beckham, and many more." —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director

More to know

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• Key ingredients: argan oil, avocado oil, shea butter, white and green tea extracts
• Scent options: Always Nude (fragrance-free), Topless Tangerine, Golden Hour, Bohemian Fig, Vanilla Vibezzz, Vanilla Bean, Vanilla Apricot, Sweet Citrus

Best for Subtle Shimmer: Fenty Skin Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream in Fenty Fresh Shimmering

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Fenty Beauty

Butta Drop Whipped Oil Body Cream in Fenty Fresh Shimmering

$45

Sephora

$45

Fenty Beauty

Why we love it: Fenty’s Whipped Oil Body Cream is not only RiRi-approved and a 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, but it’s also dermatologist-approved. “It is a light formulation with powerful natural moisturizing oils such as Kalahari melon, sunflower, and jojoba, which are proven to be beneficial for nourishing the skin and maintaining the proper hydration needed,” Calvin Williams, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Bedford, Texas, says. “And with the powerful antioxidant effects of mango butter, this product has helped my patients achieve that soft, supple skin they've been wanting all along.” The silky body treatment has since expanded to include a soft-gold shimmer edition of Fenty Fresh (bergamot, jasmine, and white orchid) that adds extra sheen to your limbs without looking too obvious.

Tester feedback from creative director Amber Venerable

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“I love the smell and the richness of this cream, but most of all the fact that it melts into my skin without feeling oily or greasy. Thank you, Rih, for bringing this greatness into our lives.” —Amber Venerable, creative director

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• Key ingredients: Kalahari melon, sorrel, baobab, sunflower, rice bran, coconut, jojoba oils, shea butter, mango butter, glycerin
• Scent options: Fenty Fresh, Fenty Fresh Shimmering, Vanilla Dream, Citrus Sorbet, Salted Caramel

Best Budget: Eos Cashmere Whipped Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Cashmere

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EOS

Shea Butter 24H Moisture Body Lotion in Vanilla Cashmere

$11 $10 (9% off)

Amazon

$10

Walmart

Why we love it: Eos Vanilla Cashmere Whipped Oil Body Butter is that treat that’s way richer than you’d bargained for, in the best possible way. The 2025 Best of Beauty Award winner has a whipped cream-like texture that slips silkily into every limb, nourishing the skin with a creamy blend of shea butter, cocoa butter, and argan oil. The extra-cozy scent melds notes of vanilla, soft musk, and caramel for a fragrance that’s luxuriously warm and sweet. If you’ve seen it going viral on TikTok, we’re here to confirm the hype is real.

Tester feedback from senior director of commerce audience & analytics Lexi Herrick

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“I am an absolute sucker for a whipped vanilla body butter, and this one is excellent. I love the soft, fluffy texture and how smoothly it glides onto my skin. It locks in moisture, smells amazing all day long, and feels like luxury at a drugstore price.” —Lexi Herrick, senior director of commerce audience & analytics

More to know

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• Key ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, argan oil, coconut oil, glycerin
• Scent options: Vanilla Cashmere

Best Splurge: Diptyque Eau Rihla Body Balm

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Diptyque

Eau Rihla Body Balm

$102

Nordstrom

$102

Diptyque

Why we love it: Eons more luxurious than a typical body lotion, Diptyque’s Body Balm has a melting texture that sinks slowly into the skin, turning moisturizing into a moment of self-care that’s impossible not to look forward to. The formula is almost like an oil and cream in one, moisturizing and softening the skin with a blend of mango butter and camelia wax. Perfume plays a starring role in the whole sensory experience: The Rihla scent pairs notes of leather, iris, and cedarwood for an earthy, spicy, and warming scent inspired by travels through the Middle East.

Tester feedback from social media director Kassidy Silva

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“As a new mom, there are very few moments of self-care in my day, making them all the more precious. I slather on Diptyque's Eau Rihla Body Balm as my little bit of luxury every night. Drifting off to the woodsy, smoky scent is now a nonnegotiable in my bedtime routine.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director

More to know

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• Key ingredients: mango butter, candelia wax
• Scent options: Fleur de Peau, Philosykos, Do Son, Orphéon

Frequently Asked Questions

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best-smelling body lotions, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team of in-house writers and editors, as well as contributors, along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more about our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.