The 8 Best Smelling Shampoos Without Added Fragrances Or Perfumes 

If your current hair care routine leaves you with a red, itchy, irritated scalp or symptoms of fragrance sensitivity, it may be time to switch to a more natural hair product. Though added fragrances and perfumes make your beauty routine smell more exciting, they rarely offer true skincare and hair care benefits.

But going fragrance-free is no easy feat these days, especially when it comes to shampoo. For most shoppers, the scent is one of the most important factors in deciding which shampoo to use. That's why most shampoos on the market are packed with added perfumes and fragrances to create a more pleasurable experience while you lather up.

Searching for fragrance-free and unscented hair care products (especially ones that actually work) can be a laborious task. So to help you find the best-smelling shampoo for your sensitive scalp, perfume allergy, or sensitivity, we have put together a buying guide to help you find one that suits your personality. We've tried a few shampoos ourselves and rounded up the best-smelling shampoos without added fragrances or perfumes.

Why You May Want to Avoid Shampoos with Added Fragrances

Though most commercial shampoos contain scent additives and make your hair smell delicious, there are many reasons why you may want to avoid shampoos with added fragrances and perfumes. 

For one, the cosmetics and beauty industry has alarmingly few health and safety regulations, especially when it comes to fragrance. According to the FDA, companies are only required to label the components as "Fragrance" and do not have to disclose the exact ingredients used to create the aroma, as not to reveal "trade secrets." Many commercial shampoos use synthetic fragrances made from chemicals (the most common being diethyl phthalate or DEP) whose long-term health effects are relatively unknown. 

Even though beauty products can cause allergic reactions, the FDA does not require allergen labeling for cosmetics. Added fragrances and perfumes may cause scalp irritation and other health concerns, especially for individuals with a perfume allergy or fragrance sensitivity. In addition to a red, itchy scalp, the added fragrance may leave users with everything from classic allergic reactions like headache, runny nose, and sneezing to skin reactions like itching, hives, and rashes to respiratory issues such as wheezing or difficulty breathing. 

Unscented vs. Fragrance-Free Beauty Products

Though the words unscented and fragrance-free are often used interchangeably by consumers, they mean different things in the cosmetics world. Fragrance-free means that no fragrance materials or masking scents were used in the product, while unscented means that the product may contain chemicals or additives that mask or neutralize the smell of other ingredients. Individuals with allergies or health concerns should look for products labeled hypoallergenic. 

To help shoppers identify fragrance-free products, the EPA created the Safer-Choice Fragrance-Free label, verifying the product meets strict human health and environmental safety regulations set by the EPA and does not contain chemicals that add or mask the scent. 

Added Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils

Most mainstream hair care products are scented using fragrance oils, a vague term for synthetic scents containing chemical ingredients. On the other hand, natural hair products typically add scent using essential oils and potent plant extracts with a strong aroma. This means you can still find some of the best-smelling shampoos for your hair.

If you're looking for the best-smelling shampoos but don't have added fragrances or perfumes derived from chemicals, opt for natural ones that use essential oils instead of fragrance oils. Many individuals with fragrance sensitivities can tolerate products containing scents from other natural oils or essential oils. While essential oils are derived naturally from plants, they are potent ingredients and can cause allergic reactions. If you are unsure if you may be allergic to essential oil or not, check with your doctor.

How To Choose the Best Smelling Shampoos?

Scent

If you want your hair to smell amazing all day long, then a good-smelling shampoo will get the job done. Many brands on the market offer natural shampoos without fragrance or perfume while keeping the shampoos smelling amazing. Everyone's taste in shampoo smells and scents is different, so choose a scented shampoo that you personally enjoy and find pleasant.

Fragrance strength

When selecting a shampoo, it's important to take into account the strength of the fragrance. If you have a sensitive scalp or skin or are prone to allergies, you may prefer a shampoo with a more subdued scent.

The ingredients

Look for shampoos that contain natural, botanical ingredients like lavender, peppermint, or rosemary, as these often have a pleasant scent. If you are unsure if the shampoo is natural or not, you can check EWG (Environmental Working Group) and see the safety score. 

Moisturizing

The best-scented shampoo keeps your hair smelling amazing and hydrates, moisturizes and restores your hair. And leaving you with healthy-looking hair with a shine.

Hair Types

Most shampoos and conditioners on the market are suitable for all hair types, but knowing your hair type will help you choose the best shampoo that is for your particular hair type. Some of the common hair types include color-treated hair, oily hair, dry hair, fine hair, thick hair, curly hair, and normal hair.

For dry and damaged hair, seek ingredients like nourishing chia seed oil, coconut oil, argan oil, and other types of oil that will help hydrate each strand of hair.

8 Best Smelling Shampoos Without Added Fragrances or Perfumes 

Beautycounter Daily Shampoo in Bright Grapefruit

Best overall

Looking for a shampoo that will leave your hair feeling clean, fresh, and full of life? Look no further than Beautycounter's Daily Shampoo in the Bright Grapefruit scent. This luxurious shampoo is made with a blend of natural ingredients, including Provitamin B5 and grapefruit peel oil, that work together to cleanse the hair while providing hydration and nourishment gently. The refreshing and energizing scent of bright grapefruit makes this shampoo a great option for those who want a revitalizing hair care experience.

This shampoo not only effectively cleanses and nourishes the hair, but it's also free from harmful ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, which can cause damage and irritation to brittle hair. In addition, it's a vegan and cruelty-free product, so you can use it with confidence, knowing that it's both effective and ethical.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8/5 Scent Level: 4.9/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.8/5 Value for Money: 4.8/5

Seaweed Bath Co. Hydrating Balancing Shampoo with Eucalyptus & Peppermint

Best Nutritious Shampoo

Is your hair in need of a boost of vitamins and nutrients? Give it the nourishment it needs with Seaweed Bath Co.'s all-natural Hydrating Balancing Shampoo. This luxurious shampoo is infused with a blend of natural ingredients, including nourishing argan oil, detoxifying bladderwrack seaweed, and invigorating eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils. The combination of these ingredients works together to gently cleanse and hydrate your hair while imparting a refreshing, minty fragrance.

The Leaping Bunny Certified cruelty-free vegan cleanser is made with sustainably-harvested bladderwrack seaweed that infuses hair with over 65 vitamins and minerals. It also contains argan oil, coconut, and avocado oils that add even more moisture to your strands and help maintain a healthy scalp. So if you're looking for a high-quality shampoo that will leave your hair feeling soft, shiny, and full of life, give The Seaweed Bath Co.'s Eucalyptus & Peppermint Argan Shampoo a try. Thanks to its natural ingredients and invigorating scent, this shampoo is sure to become your new favorite.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8/5 Scent Level: 4.2/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.3/5 Value for Money: 4.5/5

ACURE Curiously Clarifying Shampoo with Lemongrass & Argan

Best For clarifying shampoo

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo

Best hydrating shampoo

SheaMoisture's Intensive Hydration Shampoo was designed for Black hair and type 4 hair with a very tight curl pattern. Unlike some shampoos that strip curly hair of much-needed moisture, this hydrating cleanser keeps your hair soft, shiny, and manageable. Thanks to restorative shea butter, baobab, and Mathura oil, the sulfate-free shampoo provides the hydration curly hair needs, leaving you with the same softness as a deep conditioning mask. Manuka honey and African rock fig offer powerful antioxidants that lock in moisture and fight frizz in humid conditions. 

This shampoo provides exceptional hydration and nourishment to the hair and is also devoid of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals that can damage hair and irritate the scalp. Additionally, this shampoo is cruelty-free, which means that it has not been tested on animals. This makes it an excellent choice for those who prioritize ethical and sustainable products. If you're searching for a shampoo that will deeply hydrate, soften, and smooth your hair, be sure to give SheaMoisture's Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo a try.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.6/5 Scent Level: 4.2/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.2/5 Value for Money: 4.6/5

Drunk Elephant Laini Latherless Conditioning Co-Cleanser

Best cleansing oil shampoo

Though Drunk Elephant is best known for its award-winning skincare products, their haircare line deserves equal praise. It applies a skincare philosophy to the scalp, focusing on products that deep clean and remove build-up while nourishing your scalp and hair. 

Drunk Elephant Laini Latherless Conditioning Co-Cleanser is the perfect choice for anyone looking for natural and non-toxic ingredients in their shampoo products. Crafted with a fusion of natural ingredients such as sacha inchi seed, rose hip fruit, marula, and argan, this cleansing oil shampoo provides nourishment and hydration to the hair. Its gentle cleansing action effectively detangles the hair, leaving it smooth and lustrous. Not only is this product incredibly effective at cleansing and hydrating the hair, but it's also free from sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals that can damage the hair and cause irritation. In addition to its many benefits for your hair, this cleansing oil shampoo is also cruelty-free, meaning it has not been tested on animals. You can use it with confidence, knowing that it is both effective and ethical.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.6/5 Scent Level: 4.4/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.8/5 Value for Money: 4.6/5

Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo

Best Smelling shampoo for aging hair

Avalon Organics Nourishing Lavender Shampoo is one of the best-smelling shampoos for aging hair. It will leave your hair feeling soft, nourished, and smelling great. This luxurious shampoo is made with a blend of natural ingredients, including lavender essential oil, quinoa protein, aloe vera, and vitamin E, that work together to nourish and strengthen the hair from the inside out. The lavender essential oil provides a relaxing, soothing scent that can help to calm the mind and reduce stress, while the quinoa protein and aloe vera work to hydrate and strengthen the hair.

In addition to being incredibly effective at hydrating and nourishing the hair, this shampoo is also free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals that can cause hair damage and scalp irritation. This shampoo is not only effective at leaving your hair feeling soft and nourished, but it is also vegan and cruelty-free. This means that you can use it with confidence, knowing that it is produced without harm to animals. If you're searching for a pleasant lavender scent that nourishes your hair, look no further than Avalon Organics' Nourishing Lavender Shampoo.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Scent Level: 4.9/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.8/5 Value for Money: 4.8/5

100% Pure Burdock and Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo

Best-smelling shampoo for a healthy scalp

Are you looking for a shampoo that cleanses your hair and promotes a healthy scalp? Look no further than 100% Pure Burdock & Neem Healthy Scalp Shampoo. This shampoo and scalp treatment is formulated to purify and unclog pores, promoting healthy hair growth by stimulating circulation and balancing the scalp. Created with a special formula, this shampoo is uniquely designed to nourish and soothe the scalp, while also providing effective cleansing and hydration to the hair.

The combination of burdock root and neem oil works together to help relieve dryness, itching, and irritation, leaving your scalp and hair feeling refreshed and balanced. This natural dandruff shampoo is infused with hydrating rose hydrosol and aloe, which work together to nourish and replenish dry hair and scalp. In addition, it contains vitamin E and provitamin B5, which help to strengthen and soften the hair. Free from sulfates, this gentle formula is safe to use on colored hair, ensuring that your hair color remains vibrant and long-lasting.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.6/5 Scent Level: 4/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.5/5 Value for Money: 4.6/5

Ethique Heali Kiwi™ Calming Solid Shampoo Bar

Best-smelling Shampoo Bar

If you suffer from dry scalp or scalp problems, you know how frustrating it can be to find a shampoo that effectively addresses these issues without causing further irritation or damage. That's where Ethique's Heali Kiwi Shampoo comes in. Crafted from natural ingredients such as ground oatmeal, neem oil, karanja oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and lime oil, which work together to calm touchy scalps and nourish hair for softness and shine. Despite its name, this shampoo bar does not contain any kiwifruit. 

Its innovative eco-friendly packaging sets this shampoo apart from other best-smelling shampoos. Instead of a traditional plastic bottle, it comes in a long-lasting, easy-to-use solid bar form. With each bar providing at least 80 uses, it's convenient and sustainable. This shampoo bar is one of the best-smelling shampoos on the market and comes in ten different scents to suit a variety of preferences. This shampoo is vegan-friendly and formulated without harmful chemicals such as plastics, parabens, phthalates, preservatives, dyes, synthetic fragrances, waxes, and silicones. You can enjoy clean and healthy hair without the worry of harsh chemicals. Although some shampoo bars can also be used as body wash, it's essential to note that this shampoo bar is designed exclusively for hair. Nonetheless, it is highly effective at cleansing and nourishing your hair, resulting in soft, shiny, and healthy-looking hair.

Our Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.6/5 Scent Level: 4.5/5 Moisturizing Level: 4.4/5 Value for Money: 4.6/5

How We Picked

We've put together a thoughtfully curated collection of the best-smelling shampoos, based on our own experiences, extensive research of customer reviews across multiple retail platforms, and input from beauty experts. We've prioritized key factors such as ingredients, moisturizing and volumizing properties, and scent to ensure that we recommend only the very best products to our readers.