The Best Body Washes for Summer

Stephanie McCarthy

Calm woman washing in shower by Armin Rimoldi.

Attribution link: https://www.pexels.com/photo/calm-woman-washing-in-shower-5269515/

Ah, summertime is upon us once again. I’ve always had a soft spot for this magical time of the year when the days are longer and the sun is out more often than not. When I was a kid and school was out, I’d ride my bike past the trees and lawns all covered in green. Like brushstrokes of paint, flowers in yellow, purple, red, and fuchsia would be peppered in between the lush greenery. Here are the body washes that evoke the nostalgia of such a time, wash away the stickiness of a day of playing hard outside, and leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed and ready for a good night’s sleep.

Mario Badescu Citrus Body Cleanser, 8 ounces, $14.95 at Mario Badescu
One whiff of this citrusy sweet scent, and I was transported to my mom’s birthplace, Brazil. The year was 1982 and I was four years old. I could see my feet through the clear and bright ocean water and our loving relatives spoiled us rotten—my mom and I—and made us feel like royalty. I can almost hear Sergio Mendes’ “Mas Que Nada” in the distance...

Crabtree & Evelyn Citron Skin Cleansing Bath & Shower Gel, 16.9 ounces, $24.13 at Walmart
Although I hate the color yellow, as well as the smell and taste of lemon, this ended up being a nice and unexpected treat. The citrusy and spicy scent is a bright and cheerful one and it makes me feel relaxed and rejuvenated during and after my shower. It’s also perfect for both men and women.

Davines OI Body Wash, 9.46 ounces, $38.10 at Davines
One sniff of this and I was back in my aunt's shower in Long Beach, California as a teenager in the summer of 1993. It's a fabulous spicy, cardamom kind of unisex scent. It’s a wealthy scent that is indicative of a family that makes enough money to have a body wash regularly in their shower that costs over $25.

Ouai Dean Street Body Cleanser, 10 ounces, $37.95 at Ouai
This body wash, named after London’s vibrant and historic Dean Street, where Mozart and Dickens used to hang out at, is an uplifting, citrusy, and floral scent. I must elaborate on the citrusy note. It is indicative of honeydew melon and it takes me back to the kitchen of my favorite house that I grew up in when I was a teenager and my mom would serve me slices of this sweet, luscious fruit as a snack from time to time.

Bioderma Atoderm Gentle Shower Gel, 33.80 ounces, $30.98 at Target
No need to look further for the right body wash for sensitive, easily irritated skin. It’s a simple, clean unisex scent. If that’s what you prefer, then you’ll love this. Personally, I like my scents to pack more of a punch. The size of the bottle can’t be beat. You’ll have this for ages.

LOccitane Osmanthus Shower Gel, 8.4 ounces, $29.95 at L’Occitane
You don’t need to go to Japan to enjoy this exotic flower with its joyous and exquisite floral, woody, green, and succulently fruity notes that will linger on your skin long after you shower. It’s a confident fragrance that all eyes turn to when anyone enters the room, wearing it.

Capri Blue Volcano Body Wash, 12.25 ounces, $32 at Capri Blue: It’s Capri Blue’s signature scent—the one that started it all. The smell of sweet, sugary fruits will permeate your entire bathroom long after you shower. It’s one of my favorite body washes and the formulation is so silky soft on the skin.

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