Who wouldn’t want to have gorgeous, radiant skin that also smells amazing? Seems like a no-brainer. And luckily, achieving skin that smells just as good as it looks doesn’t require a ton of time and attention when you have this secret weapon: scented body oil.
Body oil is a blend of oils and other nourishing ingredients designed to hydrate and moisturize the skin. Throw in a relaxing lavender scent or an energizing citrus-packed aroma along with high-quality plant oils and botanicals and you’ve got yourself a luxurious moisturizer to wear on its own or layer over your go-to body lotion. Either way, you’ll want to wear these scented body oils all day.
Below, you’ll find 10 of the best smelling body oils. Some formulations are so lightweight you don’t feel like you have any oil on at all, while others are uber indulgent. There’s no bad one in the bunch, so go ahead and invest in your self-care.
Why Scent Matters
Few things in life are better than smelling good. So why not include a little scent into your favorite products and routines. Body oil is all about adding some everyday indulgence to self-care, and a quality scent adds to that luxurious experience.
A whiff of musk and white florals can make us feel clean and confident, while notes of vanilla and amber make us feel sexy. Whether you’re drawn to citrus, florals, or woods, a great scent can leave a lasting impression.
The 10 Best Smelling Body Oils
1. Blu Atlas Hair & Body Oil ($45)
(Blu Atlas) This multi-purpose product can be used on the hair, face, body, and cuticles—essentially, you can put it anywhere you have dryness or want an extra glow.
The perfect everyday body oil, Blu Atlas’ Hair & Body Oil leaves skin soft, supple, and smelling phenomenal. This multi-purpose product can be used on the hair, face, body, and cuticles—essentially, you can put it anywhere you have dryness or want an extra glow. The formula is lightweight, ultra-hydrating, and never greasy, thanks to its star-studded cast of clean, natural ingredients.
We’re impressed by its high-potency blend of nutrient-rich plant oils and botanicals that are ripe with benefits for skin and hair. At the top of the list are squalane, argan oil, and sweet almond oil, which moisturize, smooth, and strengthen skin with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids. You’ve also got saw palmetto fruit oil, pumpkin seed oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and more.
A blend of lavender, rosemary, and geranium oils packs serious hair and skin benefits while smelling like a day at the spa—there’s not much else you could want. The scent is sparkling and uplifting without being in your face, making it a seamless addition to your morning or evening routine.
2. Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil ($120)
(Tata Harper) All of Tata Harper’s skincare products are derived from natural origins at the brand’s farm, meaning there are no synthetic ingredients, fillers, GMOs, or toxins—they’re essentially the queen of green beauty.
The Revitalizing Body Oil by Tata Harper is a true favorite amongst body oil aficionados. It’s packed with youth-preserving vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support healthy, nourished skin. Key ingredients include evening primrose oil to hydrate and smooth skin texture, sunflower seed oil to support the skin barrier, and camellia seed oil for a beneficial dose of antioxidants.
The scent is natural smelling in the best possible way, thanks to extracts of jasmine, neroli, grapefruit, geranium, and sandalwood. All of Tata Harper’s skincare products are derived from natural origins at the brand’s farm, meaning there are no synthetic ingredients, fillers, GMOs, or toxins—they’re essentially the queen of green beauty. Apply post-shower onto slightly damp skin and let its blend of 20 high-impact botanicals relieve stubborn dry patches and leave behind smooth, supple skin.
3. Senteurs d’Orient Fleurs d’Oasis Multi-Purpose Oil ($40)
(Fleurs d' Oasis) Eight hydrating plant oils (including safflower seed, grapeseed, macadamia, and sesame) give the body oil its lightweight yet nourishing texture.
This best selling (and best smelling) body oil is a fan favorite, mainly because it smells so dang good. A heavenly blend of 14 pure essential oils is universally loveable and exudes a soft, spa-like fragrance from the skin. The central accord is neroli, jasmine, cypress, red thyme, and musk, but you’ll also pick up hints of basil, ylang ylang, lavender, and Brazilian orange. According to wearers, the scent is decadently divine and will have you coming back time and time again.
Eight hydrating plant oils (including safflower seed, grapeseed, macadamia, and sesame) give the body oil its lightweight yet nourishing texture. Like the Hair & Body Oil from Blu Atlas, this body oil is multi-purpose, meaning you can use it to moisturize the face, add a few drops to your bath, or give your hair some extra shine.
4. Ellis Brooklyn SALT Soothing Scented Body Oil ($70)
(Ellis Brooklyn) Once the body oil has fully absorbed into your skin, you’re left with the pleasant scent of musk, ambergris, and creamy sandalwood.
One whiff of the SALT Soothing Scented Body Oil and you’re instantly transported to a tropical beach with salty waves lapping at its shore. Based on the brand’s top-rated EDP, this body oil evokes all things fresh and beachy. It opens with notes of ylang ylang and violet leaves to captivate the senses before the clean white florals of Tahitian Tiare and magnolia. Once the body oil has fully absorbed into your skin, you’re left with the pleasant scent of musk, ambergris, and creamy sandalwood.
The aroma of this body oil is top-tier, but so are its hydrating powers. Nourishing plant oils like squalane, rosehip seed, pumpkin seed, pomegranate seed, and soybean soften and moisturize skin for a healthy glow. Meanwhile, algae extract and vitamin E support anti-aging with their army of antioxidants.
5. Bathing Culture Heat Wave Body Oil ($35)
(Bathing Culture) The formula itself is lightweight, fast absorbing, and deeply moisturizing.
If you’re drawn to a fresh, beachy scent, you’ll love this best smelling body oil by Bathing Culture. Named ‘Nude Beach,’ the aroma is composed of 11 plant-based essentials oil, extracts, and absolutes – such as coconut, magnolia, petitgrain, and rock rose – all of which come together to create a sun-soaked scent every beach bum will love.
The formula itself is lightweight, fast absorbing, and deeply moisturizing. There’s antioxidant-rich avocado oil to calm and protect the skin from free radicals. Rice bran oil absorbs quickly into the skin, but not before it conditions with fatty acids and antioxidants. For sun-burned or bug-bitten skin, the addition of arnica helps relieve pain and inflammation. Apply this one after days you’ve been outside when your skin needs a little extra TLC.
6. Monastery Lapiz Matte Body Oil ($59)
(Monastery) What makes this body oil unique is its enlivening scent of gingergrass, grapefruit, and pink peppercorn.
Monastery’s Lapiz is labeled as a matte body oil, which is right on the money. The botanical oil is made chiefly of Italian squalane, an oil our skin instantly recognizes and loves. Squalane not only moisturizes dry skin but also helps improve overall skin texture and tone, strengthens the skin barrier, and is suitable for all skin types. Long story short? The formula is lightweight, sinks in quickly, and leaves your skin feeling soft and supple.
What makes this body oil unique is its enlivening scent of gingergrass, grapefruit, and pink peppercorn. In addition to stimulating the senses, these natural oils boast some skin benefits worth mentioning. Gingergrass (a relative of lemongrass) is naturally antibacterial and improves blood flow and circulation. Grapefruit helps reduce surface oil on oily skin types and improves circulation. Pink peppercorn contains vitamins K and C, two antioxidants that help protect and brighten skin.
7. Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil ($100)
(Tom Ford) Tom Ford is known for creating dazzling, iconic scents, so it’s no wonder this stands at the top of our list of best smelling body oils.
For those who want a sparkling, radiant complexion, reach for the Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil. Tom Ford is known for creating dazzling, iconic scents, so it’s no wonder this stands at the top of our list of best smelling body oils.
Soleil Blanc is characterized by notes of bergamot, cardamom, pistachio, ylang ylang, benzoin, and a tropical Coco De Mer accord. Bottled all together and you get whiffs of fresh white florals, warm amber, and the sexy scent of sun-kissed skin. Layer this over the original Soleil Blanc fragrance or a similar scent for a lasting aroma that’s as sweet as summer.
The main focus of this body oil might be its scent and sparkles, but that doesn’t mean it’s without skincare benefits. Moisturizing jojoba seed oil, olive fruit oil, vitamin E, and safflower seed oil moisturize skin quickly so you can go about your day.
8. Klur Elements of Comfort Body Oil ($70)
(Klur) Consider this where skincare meets aromatherapy.
Prepare to feel comforted with Klur’s Elements of Comfort Body Oil. Premium plant oils like grapeseed, avocado, evening primrose, and hemp seed wrap your skin in a moisturizing blanket, bringing out your healthiest skin complexion yet. More exotic plant oils like kukui nut (to soothe inflammation), tamanu seed oil (to support hydrated, youthful skin), and macadamia nut oil (to soften and moisturize) also make an appearance.
Consider this where skincare meets aromatherapy. This multi-purpose body oil was crafted with relaxation in mind. The aromatic combination of neroli orange blossom, Bulgarian rose, and French lavender is floral, citrusy, and gender fluid – aka everyone will fall in love with it. It’s the ideal combination to nourish mind and body, support stress relief, and kiss tension goodbye.
Klur was founded on values of ethics and inclusivity, making this body oil suitable for all skin types, conditions, and ethnicities.
9. Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist ($28)
(Glossier) The formula is also non-sticky, so you don’t have to wait around for twenty minutes feeling like a slippery seal before getting dressed.
Grab the Glossier Body Hero Dry-Touch Oil Mist if you want all the benefits of a nourishing body oil without the greasy after-effect. Three antioxidant-rich oils take center stage—sunflower seed, grapeseed, and oat kernel—providing the perfect amount of long-lasting moisturization and banishing dry, dull skin. Sea fennel extract helps smooth and even skin tone, while rice bran extract helps soften and condition.
If you’re lazy about applying body lotion and are wondering if a body oil is more manageable, the answer is a resounding yes, thanks to the spritz bottle. Easy to use, the fine mister lets you get a light, even application that avoids any mess or over generosity. The formula is also non-sticky, so you don’t have to wait around for twenty minutes feeling like a slippery seal before getting dressed.
And we can’t forget about scent. Frequently dubbed a “vacation in a bottle,” a subtle yet rejuvenating blend of orange blossom and neroli (trickled with hints of pear, mandarin, and cypress) is a treat for the senses.
10. by/ rosie jane James Everyday Body Oil ($40)
(by/rosie jane) The brand’s beloved James fragrance is cozy and warm while still being light and wearable—kind of like your favorite cashmere sweater.
Like so many others, we’re obsessed with the James Everyday Body Oil. The formula is simple yet effective. The majority of the body oil is coconut oil, the perfect neutral emollient for holding the James signature scent. It also boasts impressive skincare benefits like calming temporary redness and inflammation, killing bacteria on the skin, and keeping skin soft and moisturized.
There’s also hydrating sunflower seed oil, fast-absorbing grapeseed oil, vitamin-rich olive oil, and collagen-boosting rosehip seed oil. The brand’s beloved James fragrance is cozy and warm while still being light and wearable—kind of like your favorite cashmere sweater. The scent is noticeable but not overpowering, so you can wear it on its own or layer it with the brand’s perfume. A little goes a long way with this clean, non-toxic body oil.
What to Look for in a Body Oil
Delicious scent
The moisturizing oils that leave our skin feeling amazing might be what’s transformed our complexion from dull to luminous, but it’s the scent of the product that keeps us coming back (or turns us away). Reading or watching reviews can be one way to determine if a scent might be up your alley before you try it yourself.
Texture
Body oils will have a richer, more luxurious texture than standard body lotions, which is partly what makes them so great. However, no one wants to feel slippery and slimy all day long. The best body oils marry the conditioning benefits of oils with a lightweight feel so you can get on with your day after applying.
Consider your preferences
With all skincare and body care products, preference is king. What might be your best friend’s holy grail product may not work for you and vice versa. So consider what you already know about your skin and what you want in a product when shopping.
If your skin is always dry, go for a nutrient-rich body oil with a cocktail of fantastic plant oils primed and prepped to moisturize. If you don’t like the feel of heavy products on your skin, choose a body oil that sinks in quickly.
You can also keep an eye out for ingredients that target your skin concerns. If you want to brighten and even your skin tone, look for ingredients like vitamin C, rosehip oil, or grapeseed oil. If you’re worried about acne, avoid anything with comedogenic ingredients. For treating or preventing fine lines and wrinkles, load up on plant-based antioxidants (luckily, most plant oils and botanicals are already rich in antioxidants).
Quality ingredients
When choosing a body oil, you want to choose brands and products that utilize the highest-quality ingredients, sourcing organic, non-GMO, and cruelty-free whenever possible. It’s also a good idea to shop from brands that are transparent about ingredient sourcing and formulation so you know exactly what you’re getting in every bottle.
When it comes to body oil, the more natural a formulation is, the better. Some of our favorite au naturel body oil ingredients are listed below.
Jojoba Oil. Jojoba oil is one of the best plant oils for soothing dry skin, reducing redness, and calming irritation, due to its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and conditioning effects. It is also rich in antioxidants, like vitamin E, that support overall healthy skin and help repair previous skin damage.
Squalane. You’ll often see squalane at the top of ingredient lists in face and body oils because it’s rich in so many skin benefits, plus it works well with a lot of other ingredients. Squalane is an awesome emollient, helping moisturize and soften skin while strengthening the moisture barrier. It is also chemically similar to our skin’s own natural oils, so our skin drinks it right up.
Sweet Almond Oil. Sweet almond oil (extracted from sweet almonds) is one of the most common mild oils used in skin and hair care products. It’s a great carrier oil, meaning it works well with many other ingredients and is a dream in products like body oils. It also happens to be great for the skin. Some of its most notable nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A, and vitamin E, all of which help protect the skin from environmental stressors.
Rosehip Seed Oil. Thanks to its potent concentration of vitamins A and C, rosehip oil is one of the best ingredients for targeting skin concerns such as hyperpigmentation, sun damage, acne, and uneven texture. It also contains omega fatty acids that help keep skin soft and supple.
Vitamin E. This antioxidant is terrific at calming all signs of skin inflammation and helping strengthen the skin barrier. In addition, vitamin E helps soften, smooth, and condition skin. Pro tip: You’ll often find it listed as “tocopherol.”
Olive Fruit Oil. Also known as olive oil, this moisturizing emollient is ideal for treating dry skin thanks to its essential fatty acid and high vitamin E content. It’s also a natural source of the moisturizer squalene.
Tsubaki Oil. Tsubaki oil – also known as camellia oil or tea seed oil – is one of Japan’s most beloved skincare ingredients, and for good reason! This emollient is rich in oleic and linoleic fatty acids that help lock in moisture, prevent dryness, calm inflammation, and increase skin elasticity. Camellia oil also contains skin-friendly antioxidants – vitamins A, C, D, and E – that make it great for preventing signs of premature aging.
Sunflower Seed Oil. Extracted from the seeds of sunflowers, sunflower seed oil is one of nature’s finest. Not only does this oil moisturize the skin and boost water retention, but it also helps soothe redness and irritation, making it ideal for dry, sensitive skin types. Sunflower seed oil is also brimming with antioxidants (hello, vitamins E, A, and C) that protect the skin.
How to Apply Body Oil
Like lotions or creams, if you’re applying body oil onto your body and massaging it in, then you’re doing it right. There is no “wrong” way to apply body oil, but there are superior methods.
Apply right after the shower
The best (and easiest) way to apply body oil is right after the shower when your skin is still damp. The emollient oils will lock in all the hydration sitting on your skin. Plus, the lingering water molecules help the body oil slip, slide, and spread more easily across the body for a quicker application. You don’t even have to step out of the shower to do this—keep a bottle of body oil aside and apply it after the water is turned off, but the air within the shower is still steamy.
Don’t be heavy-handed
Applying too much body oil is where many first-timers go wrong. The viscosity of oils will vary from formulation to formulation and will affect how much product you need. The general rule is that you want your skin to be hydrated and glowing, not slippery and slimy. It may take a few applications to find your perfect amount.
Layer it with cream or lotion
For those in need of extra moisture, experiment with layering body oil on top of a cream or lotion moisturizer. The water-based lotions have a plethora of hydrators, while the oils bring those nourishing emollients. Together, the two products work incredibly well, boosting each other’s conditioning properties. If you’re trying this method, make sure you apply body oil as the last step in your routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between body oil and lotion?
The primary difference comes down to formulation. Body lotions and creams are typically water-based and include hydrating ingredients (such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid) along with some emollients to lock in that moisture. Body oils, on the other hand, are primarily made up of oils, so they are rich in moisturizing emollients but lacking the hydrating humectants found in lotion.
What’s the difference between body oil and facial oil?
Truth be told, there isn’t much difference between your body oil and your face oil. Both are formulated with nourishing emollients (like plant oils) that moisturize and soften skin. However, that doesn’t mean the two can be used interchangeably.
Face oils are formulated with delicate facial skin in mind, so they’re less likely to use a ton of fragrance or pore-clogging ingredients. However, the skin on your body is a lot more durable and can take more exposure to things like fragrance. Unless a product specifically says it is for use on the face and body, keep your facial and body oils separate.
Who is body oil best for?
Body oil is phenomenal for dry, dull skin, but it can be used by all skin types, even if you have oily, acne-prone skin. Body oils are also great for mature skin since they supply antioxidants, omega fatty acids, and nourishing emollients that soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
What does scented body oil do?
Like their fragrance-free counterparts, scented body oils supply the skin with long-lasting moisturization, helping keep skin smooth, supple, and healthy-looking. The bonus? A scented body oil’s aroma can help you feel more refreshed, clean, and put together.
Can I layer lotion and body oil?
Absolutely. One way you can get more benefit from your body oil is by layering it on top of body lotions or creams. First, apply your body lotion onto slightly damp skin, ideally after you’ve showered or bathed. Wait a minute to let the lotion sink in but don’t wait too long before applying body oil right on top. Layering the two will give your skin the ideal combination of hydrators, emollients, and occlusives.
When should I use body oil?
Body oil can be used daily or applied on an as-needed basis, depending on your skin. You can apply body oil at any time, morning or night, and it can be used on dry skin. But for best results, we recommend using body oils immediately after a shower or bath. Apply body oil just after toweling off while your skin is still damp to seal in hydration.
Can scented body oil be used as perfume?
Yes! Plant oils are effective carriers for fragrance and essential oils, so your scented body oil can be a great substitute to wear instead of perfume or cologne—dare we say, it can even become your new signature scent. That being said, scented body oils will likely not be as strong as traditional alcohol-based perfumes, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on what you’re going for.
Does body oil clog pores?
It shouldn’t. Most body oils are crafted without the use of pore-clogging oils. However, if you’re concerned about acne or clogged pores, make sure your body oil is made 100% with non-comedogenic ingredients.