YOU WORK OUT, a lot. You sweat, a lot. That may lead you to smell, a lot. That’s why we created the Men’s Health Smell Fresh Awards. To find the freshest in new grooming tools, we assembled a team of editors, advisors, and dermatologists, who sweat-tested everything. Turns out, we’re in a scent revolution: smoothing scrubs, clinical-strength deodorants, and vitamin-rich washes—all infused with awesome fragrance and engineered to cleanse your skin, control odor, and finish things off with just the right scent. We put dozens of products to the sniff test to find the best odor-killing options to keep you smelling clean. These winners definitely don’t stink.
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This gentle, plant-based body wash concentrate uses 30 percent glycerin and 20 percent aloe vera to deeply hydrate, soothe, and protect the skin barrier while cleansing. An energizing blend of citrus, mint, and eucalyptus backs it.
This 2-in-1 body and face wash uses activated charcoal to deeply cleanse and gently exfoliate, so you can cut your routine in half. The charcoal also gives it a satisfying earthy scent. At barely $5 a bottle, it’s a steal.
Too many mouthwashes overwhelm with strong flavor—not exactly what you want first thing in the morning or before bed. This one keeps it subtle with a smooth, mild mint flavor that doesn’t overpower, while actively protecting sensitive teeth from heat, cold, and sweets.
At Men’s Health, we live for workouts but dread sweaty gym clothes—that’s why we love The Laundress Activewear Detergent. Its enzyme blend tackles sweat, stains, and odors on performance fabrics while the long-lasting Marine scent, a fresh mix of bergamot, mandarin, and oceanic notes, keeps gear fresh.
Of course, the best-smelling skin care brand for men is going to get a scent award. This earthy, mint shampoo not only smells incredible (though not overpowering, so you can still layer with other fragrances) but it adds volume to fine or thin hair.
Luseta’s Scalp-Balancing Conditioner, powered by salicylic acid, argan oil, and tea tree leaf oil, gently exfoliates buildup, reduces flakes, and soothes sensitive scalps without irritation. This is the perfectly scented conditioner—subtly fresh, leaving room to layer more powerful fragrances.
Every Man Jack’s below-the-belt cleanser brings face-level care to your groin with gentle, natural ingredients like witch hazel and aloe. Designed for sensitive skin, it keeps things clean, cool, and funk-free all day with a naturally-derived fresh, earthy scent.
Trainer David Pegram, NASM-CPT uses this wash to combat sweating between leading classes and client training. “If you want a serious clean with natural ingredients, a fresh scent, and acne-fighting power, go for Black Wolf,” he says.
For trainer Joe Rodonis, most products wrecked his hair or made it impossible to style—until Oribe changed everything, he says. Now he counts on the Gold Lust Shampoo to keep his hair healthy, strong, and easy to manage. Not to mention, the ruggedly elegant scent of sandalwood, jasmine, and bergamot.

This natural deodorant will leave your pits smelling of roses, without any residue, but with 12 hours of protection against stank.
Dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, MD, says this body lotion delivers deep, nongreasy hydration with shea butter, olive oil, and vitamin E. Its bold scent—featuring cardamom, red cedarwood, and patchouli—leaves skin smelling as good as it feels.
Dermatologist Alexander Witkowski, MD, PhD, has relied on this antiperspirant for years, trusting its clear gel formula for all-day sweat and odor protection. It leaves no residue and delivers a clean scent that keeps him feeling fresh.

The highlight of D.S. and Durga’s first men’s fragrance line, GolfJazz is like the Caddyshack of cologne by winking at ’80s culture on the links while also being inspired by it. Its grassy, warm notes invoke a vintage clubhouse overlooking a freshly cut course on a beautiful spring day.
Our testers with sensitive scalps loved Fatboy’s Honey Putty’s ability to style hair without aggravating the skin underneath. Powered by natural ingredients like manuka honey, pawpaw, and kiwi extract, it provides a strong, natural-looking hold without shine, grease, or irritation.
According to dermatologist Chris Tomassian, MD, this scent, a blend of oakmoss, pink pepper, and jasmine, can work for everyone and suits all seasons. It absorbs smoothly into the skin and lasts for hours.
With notes of cardamom, toffee, and amber wood, trainer Mathew Forzaglia says this cologne delivers a fresh, intelligent scent. He applies a couple of sprays for a bold impression or a lighter mist for subtle sophistication.
Photography and Video: Joe Lingeman.
Prop styling: JJ Chan.
Deputy Visual Director: Allison Chin.
Design: Leanne Mattern.
Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck.
Brian Underwood is beauty director at Women’s Health, where he oversees content strategy for the brand across all platforms, including digital, print, and social. Underwood previously served as beauty and wellness director at Oprah Daily and O, The Oprah Magazine. During his tenure leading beauty content for the Oprah brand at Hearst, stories Underwood commissioned were awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Media Award and a Fragrance Award for Editorial Excellence (his second). He was the launch Beauty Director of Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE, and has held additional editorial positions at Fitness, Organic Style, Good Housekeeping, Life & Style Weekly, and Woman’s Day and has written for Self, Shape, Seventeen, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, and many more. Underwood previously served on the Skin Cancer Foundation’s gala committee and as partnerships director of the Trans Beauty Clinic, a New York-based charitable organization that provided beauty services and workshops to the city’s trans community.















































