So to keep your mane smelling as delicious as your favorite treats, these formulas work super hard. Fruity, floral, and woodsy fragrances are available in light or strong notes so you can choose them according to your preference. Now you can enjoy salon-style hair right from the comfort of your own bathroom!
10 Best-Smelling Conditioners That Are A Treat For The Senses
1. Best Vegan: Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Conditioner
This best-smelling hair conditioner by Maui Moisture is heavensent for curly hair as it quenches dry and brittle hair. For root-deep nourishment, the formula is enriched with aloe vera, shea butter, coconut, and macadamia oils. Gentle with only vegan ingredients and rendering even coarse hair soft and touchable, this conditioner helps repair damaged hair as well. This fruit-scented potion is your best bet to tangle-free, elastic, and breakage-resistant curls that bounce back for sure! Pros
Vegan Paraben-free Silicone-free No mineral oil Sulfate-free Can be used on color-treated hair
Cons
Might make hair greasy
2. Best Cruelty-Free: OGX Extra Strength Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner
Is it a fact that any good-smelling conditioner has coconut in it? Well, this one by OGX sure stands true! Dry and frizzy hair along with flyaways are easily tamed down with this restorative formula. Containing the goodness of vanilla bean extract and tiare essence, OGX works to repair damaged strands and bounce them back to life. Coconut oil adds a lustrous finish for salon-quality tresses and with a combination of shea butter and white peach, you won’t be able to get enough of the warm scent! Pros
Softens dry hair Tames flyaways Adds a glossy finish Repairs damaged hair Sulfate-free Cruelty-free
Cons
Might leave behind a residue
3. Best For Detangling Hair: TeaTree Special Conditioner
No products found. If you’ve been on the lookout for a conditioner that smells good and gives you awe-worthy strands, you need to hit up this one by TeaTree! It works instantly on worn-out hair to detangle it, smooth, and soften each strand to make it more manageable. Locking in moisture and preventing its loss, the formula contains no gluten or parabens to work its magic. Peppermint, lavender oil, and natural tea tree oil stimulate the scalp and leave your mane with a refreshing scent with this best-smelling natural conditioner. Pros
Vegan Paraben-free Gluten-free Color-safe Detangles hair Softens and smoothes
Cons
Some might find the consistency to be thin.
4. Best Restorative Ingredients: SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Conditioner
Known for their effective hair care ranges, SheaMoisture’s best-smelling deep conditioner doesn’t disappoint either. Using nature’s restorative ingredients such as mafura oil, fig extracts, and manuka honey, this hydrating formula softens hair that has been rendered brittle by chemicals and heat. Rich in texture with no addition of harmful irritants, this conditioner dives deep for an intensely moisturizing experience. Pros
Paraben-free SUlfate-free Phthalate-free Petroleum-free No mineral oil or propylene glycol Cruelty-free
Cons
Might be too thick for finer hair types
5. Best For Dry And Frizzy Hair: Fanola NutriCare Restructuring Milk Conditioner
A nice-smelling hair conditioner that can also transform your hair for the better? Try Fanola’s restructuring formula that works like a charm on color-treated or chemically-treated hair. Enriched with nutrient-laden linseed oil, this milk-scented formula boosts hair smoothness while also multitasking to reduce the appearance of split ends. It has been especially designed for hair that visits salons often, helping restore its vibrancy and health. Pros
Ideal for color-treated and chemically-treated hair Softens dry and frizzy hair Prevents split ends Makes hair manageable Lightweight Helps detangle hair
Cons
Some might find it overwhelmingly sweet in smell.
6. Best Lightweight: L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Conditioner
To revive dull and lifeless hair, this is the best-smelling conditioner for curly hair by L’Oreal Paris. Lightweight and luscious oils are used to give both your scalp and strands an intense nourishment. While flower oil and golden sunflower work to soften hair to make it silky, the gourmand woody blend lends a warm scent that is a treat for your olfactory sense. This hydrating boost is a great pick-me-up for hair that suffers greatly when the cold winter months set in. Pros
Lightweight Hydrates dull hair Sustainable packaging Ideal for normal to fine hair types Works on color-treated hair Adds a glossy finish
Cons
Contains parabens
7. Best Gluten-Free: Renpure Originals Coconut Cream Nourishing Conditioner
With Renpure’s nice-smelling hair conditioner, you won’t dread washing your hair anymore! Rich, creamy, and restorative with the help of vitamins and minerals, this plant-based formula adds a boost of moisture to even the driest of hair. Girls with curly and color-treated hair can also rejoice as this good-smelling hair conditioner uses the goodness of coconut oil to deliver a nutrient-rich treatment. Pros
Vegan Cruelty-free Sulfate-free Paraben-free Gluten-free and phthalate-free No dyes or propylene glycol
Cons
Some might find the consistency too watery.
8. Best For Color-Treated Hair: Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Conditioner
Aveeno’s best-smelling conditioner keeps even fine hair looking its best after a single wash. Oat aids in soothing your scalp while almond milk makes hair soft from the root to the tip. Containing no chemicals or irritating elements, this formula makes your hair healthy from the inside out. You can also use it on color-treated hair as it adds a bout of moisture to prevent drying and breakage. Pros
Paraben-free Sulfate-free Dye-free Safe on color-treated hair Soothes scalp Softens hair
Cons
Might not detangle hair
9. Best pH-Balanced: Herbal Essences Smooth Rose Hips Conditioner
Hair-loving ingredients like rose hips, jojoba extract, and vitamin E team up in Herbal Essences’ formula for full-on nourishment. With this best-smelling conditioner, women can enjoy a smooth, sleek, and shiny mane that looks like it’s straight out of their favorite salon. Created mindfully, the floral bouquet and top notes of rose petals lend your strands a sweet floral scent that is reminiscent of the bright spring months. Pros
Cruelty-free Silicone-free pH-balanced Color-safe Dermatologist-tested Contains no mineral oil
Cons
Might cause too much build-up for some
10. Best 100% Vegetarian: Alba Botanica Plumeria Colorific Conditioner
Alba Botanica brings to you the best-smelling conditioner for color-treated hair owing to its natural, safe, and gentle formula. It hydrates each hair strand so that the moisture is locked in well, preventing dryness that sets in due to chemical treatments. This also helps trap color so your favorite style remains for long without fading or causing any further damage. Oils like sunflower and macadamia seed and jojoba, along with fruit extracts like papaya and pineapple strengthen hair from within. Pros
100% vegetarian Paraben-free Phthalate-free No synthetic fragrances Sulfate-free Cruelty-free
Cons
Some might find the consistency greasy.
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best-smelling conditioners out there in the market, let’s learn how you can pick the right one for your hair’s needs.
How To Choose The Best-Smelling Conditioner
Hair type
If you have hair which is limp or oily on the regular, you might think skipping conditioner will help. But there are a few that can help you with reducing and controlling the amount of oil your scalp produces. Don’t reach out for formulas that claim to be hydrating or moisturizing as they can further weigh your hair down. Something that is lightweight with a volumizing or strengthening claim can help reduce oil. If there are any protein-rich formulas you can get your hands on, this is also a good pick. For hair that is damaged, brittle, dull, and dry either naturally or due to exposure to heat or chemicals, you need a formula that will reduce this damage over time. Deep conditioners can be used for these hair types 2 to 4 times a month as they will deliver intense moisture. If you are dealing with only minimal dryness, a balancing or smoothing conditioner will be helpful. These kinds of products balance the moisture levels in your hair without weighing it down too much.
Conditioner types
If you can’t figure out what type of conditioner you need to choose for your hair type, let’s look at what each formula does so you can choose better. Hydrating and moisturizing formulas work to add shine, moisture, and smoothness to coarse, thick, or curly hair. Volumizing conditioners boost and give a lift to hair that is fine and limp without weighing it down. Strengthening or fortifying formulas are the best choice for hair that has been damaged, highlighted, overprocessed, or is weak and brittle. If you need something in the middle, balancing formulas are your best friend. They don’t add too much moisture but also don’t cause any dryness. Smoothing conditioners seal hair cuticles and keep hair smooth, working best on straight and sleek hair types. People with curly hair must choose conditioners marketed towards this hair type as they help reduce frizz, tame flyaways, tighten and define curls to increase the bounce.
Safety
Always look for gentle formulas as they can help preserve the health and quality of your hair. Especially those that struggle with sensitivity of the skin or scalp can use natural products. Vegan or vegetarian formulations made without any parabens, sulfates, silicones, petrolatum, phthalates, or mineral oils are helpful. And if you can’t tolerate strong fragrances, look for conditioners that don’t use any synthetic or artificial fragrance.
Ingredients
When choosing conditioners, look for solutions that use hair-loving elements such as keratin, argan oil, fruit extracts, coconut oil, aloe vera, and chamomile extracts. They are not only gentle on the hair but nourish it to make it softer, smoother, and healthier over time. Conditioning hair is the best way to enhance its condition and elevate its look. Often the last step in everyone’s hair care regimen, these formulas might have chemical-like odors that we’re not fond of. Obviously, no one likes their hair to stink, especially after fighting tooth and nail to cleanse it thoroughly. This is why our list of the best-smelling hair conditioners will leave your hair smelling so incredible that you won’t be able to get enough! And that’s not all, as some of these formulas will treat your hair concerns, improve its appearance, and put you on your way to salon-like tresses. Now come winter or summer, you can keep your mane cared-for while still causing it to turn heads no matter where you go!
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Kirtana Divakar, the author of this article, has a deep interest in hair care and loves reviewing different products in this domain. She has compiled this list of the best smelling conditioners after conducting thorough research. She went through numerous user reviews on multiple forums and brand websites to shortlist the best smelling conditioners for the list. The products add a shiny finish and pleasant scent to your tresses. How should your hair feel after conditioning? Hair should feel softer, shinier, smoother, and silkier after conditioning. Why is it often recommended to leave the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before washing it out but not shampoo? It is recommended to leave the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before washing it out because it provides moisture and aids in detangling, resulting in extra shine and luster. On the other hand, if you leave the shampoo on for too long, it will dry out your strands. How does hair conditioner work? Conditioners, used to improve hair’s feel, texture, look, and manageability, contain fatty alcohols, humectants, and oils that soften and stretch hair. Why does my hair smell bad, even after washing it with shampoo and conditioner? Hair smells bad even after washing it with shampoo and conditioner because your shampoo may be inadequate in controlling fungal and bacterial activities on your scalp, resulting in an unpleasant odor. How can I make my conditioner smell last longer? You can make the conditioner smell last longer by using essential oils, serums, and hair perfume. How can I make my hair smell good all day? Maintaining proper hair care by washing it frequently with scented shampoo and conditioner can make hair smell good all day.
