The 12 Best-Smelling Shampoos That Always Result in Compliments

All of Oribe’s products are infused with their signature scent, which is called Côte d’Azur. It’s a hypnotic blend of citrus, white florals, and woodsy notes. This shampoo is also hydrating and works wonders on dry, damaged hair.

Key scent notes: Bergamot, jasmine, sandalwood

Amazon rating: 4.5/

An ELLE editor says: “Oribe has some of the best-scented hair products on the market, and I stand by that. This shampoo’s formula is luxurious, and my hair loves it, but the scent is truly noteworthy. Called Côte d’Azur, the fragrance features a blend of bergamot, jasmine, and sandalwood that transports me to the French Riviera. If I could bathe in this scent, I would—and by using this shampoo, I kind of am.” —Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer

This is one of the best-smelling shampoos out there, and part of the reason is that it smells like it could be a high-end perfume. It has top notes of orange flowers, pink grapefruit, and honeysuckle; heart notes of rose, blackcurrant, rhubarb, and jasmine; and base notes of white musk, labdanum, and tonka bean. It’s also gentle on hair and leaves the cuticle smooth.

Key scent notes: orange flowers, pink grapefruit, honeysuckle, rose, blackcurrant, rhubarb, jasmine, white musk, labdanum, tonka bean

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

An ELLE editor says: “This is one of my all-time favorite shampoos. I love how good it makes my hair smell—it’s really subtle and clean floral. Plus, it makes my hair look incredibly shiny and frizz-free, like I just got a blowout.” —Katie Berohn, beauty editor

Not only does R+Co’s Television shampoo have every benefit you could want in a hair product (juniper berry extract, glycerin, and babassu seed oil hydrate, detox, and restore), but it also smells incredible. The fragrance in this shampoo is called “Dark Waves,” which features cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, and blonde woods.

Key scent notes: cardamom, pineapple, tangerine, lavender, bamboo, blonde woods

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

An ELLE editor says: “I’ll admit, at first, I was drawn to this shampoo because I love the design on the bottle. I’m nothing if not a sucker for a beautiful product! But the scent is so incredible, I’ve actually had people ask me what shampoo I use.” —Katie Berohn

If you want a shampoo that smells good but unique, this rosemary shampoo from Necessaire is the perfect formula. It smells incredible, and the rosemary oil helps strengthen hair and nourish the scalp.

Key scent notes: rosemary, mandarin, jasmine, cedarwood

Sephora rating: 4.6/5

An ELLE editor says: “I share shampoo and conditioner with my boyfriend, and the second I tried this, I knew he would love it. It’s the perfect unisex-scented shampoo, which is honestly pretty hard to come by! It’s such an invigorating scent, and it also leaves my scalp feeling incredibly clean.” —Katie Berohn

Beyoncé’s hair care line is as functional as it is beautiful. Created with textured hair in mind, the entire line is highly moisturizing and perfect for curl care. The line’s signature scent is warm, floral, and complex—exactly how you might imagine Beyoncé herself smelling.

Key scent notes: Oud, Australian sandalwood, warm musk, night-blooming jasmine, Haitian vetiver, violet leaves

Cecred rating: 4.8/5

An ELLE editor says: “I will admit, I was interested in this product because—duh—Beyoncé and Ms. Tina, but when I tried Cécred, the results blew me away. My hair was so soft and it left my curls hydrated. In addition, the smell is incredible. It’s an amber floral, so it’s fresh but sultry. Anytime anyone got close to my curls, they complimented the scent.” —Danielle James, ELLE.com beauty director

Amika’s hydrating line is perfect for adding a burst of moisture to parched hair. This shampoo is formulated with hyaluronic acid and squalane, which help hair hold onto moisture and tame flyaways and frizz. As an added bonus, the vanilla and amber fragrance smells divine.

Key scent notes: Vanilla, amber

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

An ELLE editor says: “I have type 4, zig-zag curls, which makes my hair vulnerable to breakage. To combat this, hydration is a must. Amika’s hydrating shampoo has hyaluronic acid, which leaves my curls moisturized. It also has this beautiful vanilla and amber scent that envelops my shower on wash day.” —Danielle James

If you’re looking for the most luxurious haircare products, Guerlain has you covered. The luxury French beauty brand’s haircare line is infused with four different types of honey to nourish and repair hair and has a subtle, sweet scent to match.

Key scent note: Honey

Sephora rating: 4/5

An ELLE editor says: “Guerlain’s secret ingredient in this revitalizing shampoo? Honey. Honey is a humectant that draws and keeps moisture into your hair. It also gives this product a soft, sweet smell, which I love.” —Danielle James

Most shampoos have a floral or sweet scent. This one from Malin & Goetz smells like invigorating peppermint, which helps make your scalp feel extra clean. It’s also formulated with amino acid-based cleansers, so your hair won’t feel stripped or dry.

Key scent note: Peppermint

Amazon rating: 4.4/5

An ELLE editor says: “The peppermint gives this such a refreshing scent, and I love how invigorating it feels on my scalp.” —Danielle James

If there’s one celebrity known for smelling impeccably good, it’s Rihanna. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Fenty’s foray into haircare smells just as good as their often sold-out fragrances. It’s bright, slightly tropical, and warm, and the formulas are intensely moisturizing.

Key scent notes: Yuzu, golden amber, florals, coconut, vanilla, sandalwood

Fenty rating: 5/5

An ELLE editor says: “The Rich One makes your hair smell wealthy. Buy it and see for yourself, you will not be disappointed!” —Danielle James

Cake Beauty’s hair products help nourish hair without weighing it down. This specific formula has sweet almond oil to deeply moisturize hair. It also smells like coconut cream pie.

Key scent notes: Strawberry, coconut, crème fraiche, butterscotch, caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar

Amazon rating: 4.8/5

A Cake Beauty reviewer said: “This shampoo has been just what my somewhat dry, slightly curly hair has needed. It has a perfect combination of ingredients to leave my hair feeling moisturized without being weighed down. The smell is amazing, but if you aren’t a fan of coconut, then it might not be for you. Not only did it smell great while using it, but a subtle scent was left behind so that people around me asked what they were smelling. Also, the packaging is cute, and the price is affordable.”

Blessed Banans products are all infused with banana oil, which works as an antioxidant to protect hair. It also has antibacterial properties, which makes it perfect for anyone with dandruff. Their products smell like coconut and rosemary, a unique scent combination.

Key scent notes: Coconut, rosemary

Amazon rating: 3.7/5

An ELLE editor says: “Yes, it’s called Blessed Bananas, but it doesn’t have a strong banana scent. It actually has a soft, tropical, herbal aroma. I’m not a huge fan of the smell of bananas, so I like that I get the benefits of the fruit with an interesting tropical scent.” —Danielle James

For the most gentle wash experience imaginable, Carol’s Daughter’s Wash Day Delight shampoo is made with a micellar base to cleanse hair. This helps reduce any unnecessary friction to ensure hair doesn’t get frizzy.

Key scent note: Aloe

Amazon rating: 4.5/5

An ELLE editor says: “I’m a lazy beauty girl, meaning I prefer products that do all the hard work so I don’t have to. Carol’s Daughter’s Wash Day Delight is exactly that. The nozzle tip makes for seamless application to my braided hairstyles and lathers like a dream, so I know my hair is being cleansed properly. Of course, the scent elevates my wash days further, thanks to its fresh, almost floral-like aroma that adds a sweet finishing touch.” —Nerisha Penrose, beauty commerce editor