The 10 Best Men's Body Washes

For most men, the Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort covers the basics at a drugstore price. It skips sulfates and parabens, leans on glycerin and plant-based moisturizers, and Dove says it's mild enough for the face as well as the body. The lemon and cedarwood scent is clean rather than loud, so it won't fight with cologne. A pump bottle lasts weeks of daily showers. The drawback is a thin, runny gel that pours out faster than you'd like.

If you want people to notice how you smell, Old Spice Captain is built for that. Its scent mixes bergamot, sea air and driftwood, and Old Spice says it hangs on for a full day. The gel foams up thick, and the oversize pump bottle keeps the cost of each shower low. It comes from one of the oldest names in men's grooming. That strong perfume is also its weak spot, since it can bother dry or sensitive skin.

Cremo Italian Bergamot smells more like a department-store cologne than a supermarket wash. Bright bergamot opens it, then neroli blossom and a grassy vetiver base come through as you lather. Aloe and marula oil are in the formula to keep skin from feeling tight afterward, and the gel builds a rich foam. The catch is the modest bottle with a flip cap instead of a pump, so it runs out sooner and is fiddly with wet hands.

Shoppers who read ingredient labels tend to like method Men Sea + Surf. It's made without parabens, phthalates or dyes, it carries Leaping Bunny certification for no animal testing, and the bottle is mostly recycled plastic. Aloe and vitamin E help it rinse off without a squeaky feel. The watery ocean scent stays light, which suits men who wear cologne. Light also means it fades soon after you towel off, so it won't carry you through the day.

With its deep blue bottle and quiet sandalwood and cypress scent, Harry's Wildlands makes a handsome gift that still gets used. Harry's leaves out sulfates, parabens and dyes, and the gel is thick enough to lather well on a washcloth. The pump bottle looks good on a shelf, and the scent is subtle by design, so it won't clash with deodorant or cologne. The weak points are a pump that can jam and a formula that leaves some men itchy.

Native Coconut & Vanilla suits men with touchy skin who still want a wash that smells like something. Its short ingredient list skips sulfates, parabens and phthalates, and the formula is pH-balanced, so it rinses off without leaving skin tight. Glycerin does the moisturizing. Native sells it to everyone, and the warm, sweet scent leans unisex. It does contain fragrance, so it can still trigger a reaction, and the smaller bottle goes quickly.

Buying in bulk makes sense with Every Man Jack Amber Sandalwood, which comes as a pair of big pump bottles. It cleans with coconut-based cleansers and glycerin, and it's vegan and free of parabens, phthalates and dyes. Half the plastic in each bottle is recycled. The scent is warm and woody, like a campfire with a touch of musk. You have to buy two at once, so the upfront cost is higher, and you're stuck with one scent for months.

Fans of the brand's bar soap get the same idea in liquid form with Dr. Squatch Natural. It's made from true soap rather than synthetic detergents, with plant oils and bold scents such as Wood Barrel Bourbon and Coconut Castaway. Dr. Squatch says it's dermatologist tested and free of parabens, sulfates and silicones. True soap is alkaline, though, and it can leave dry skin feeling tight. It also costs about three times as much per ounce as a drugstore wash.

Men who want a natural-leaning formula and don't mind paying for it should look at Brickell Invigorating. Coconut-based cleansers do the washing, while aloe, jojoba oil, vitamin E and glycerin help skin stay soft. The lemon-lime scent is bright and wakes you up in the morning. Brickell has made men's grooming goods since 2014, and the black bottle looks sharp. It's a modest bottle with a flip cap, though, so it goes fast and costs a lot per shower.

One bottle handles hair and body with Jack Black Turbo Wash, a sulfate-free cleanser that has been around for well over a decade. Rosemary, eucalyptus and juniper give it a brisk, herbal smell that suits morning showers, and arnica is in the mix to soothe tired muscles, Jack Black says. The large pump bottle lasts one person many months. It costs a lot up front, and a two-in-one formula won't condition long or thick hair.