Scented Body Oils Are My Beauty Editor Secret to Scent-Maxxing
Not to brag, but I smell delicious.
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to go to Paris for work. While I was there, I went to a store that has been on my bucket list for years: Officine Universelle Buly. While the tourist hot spot is known for its customizable hair tools and lip balm cases, I went squarely for one thing—the body oils. While I was already deeply entrenched in the body care space, finally adding this line to my collection reignited my love for a good scented body oil.
While you can get these oils online, if you’re not a big fan of blind buying beauty products, you're left staring down a rather big bill for flights, accommodations, and more just to get your hands on them in person. This got me thinking: what are the best scented body oils on this side of the Atlantic? Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from, and I’ve tested quite a few to bring you only the best of the best to shop from.
Ahead is a curated list inclusive of gourmand, aldehydic, aromatic, and even musk-scented body oils that are the perfect extension of your fragrance routine. On top of smelling good, they’ll also leave your skin feeling moisturized and soft to the touch, the perfect antidote to the dry winter air that continues to abuse New York City. Wear them alone or pair them with an existing body care routine—however you incorporate them into your life, you'll smell good and glow like never before. You’re welcome in advance.
This is legitimately one of the best-smelling body care products that I have ever used in my life. Plur's Vanilla Skin oil is definitely more of a sweet, candy-like scent than an authentic vanilla pod; however, it scratches that itch for something sweet in your routine, and the scent lingers for hours.
An absolute gem in the drugstore is this Dr. Teals Shea Butter & Almond Oil. You can use it in a bath or by itself; the scent it leaves behind is slightly nutty and a little fluffy, but subtle enough that it won’t overwhelm the nose when you go to bed.
If you’re not wearing this oil for the scent (which, you really should be, it’s phenomenal), then wear it for the gorgeous glow that it provides. The subtle gold shimmer makes me look glossy and healthy, and the scent is so strong that I actually think you can skip perfume when you wear it.
If smelling like a spa is your MO, then Salt and Stone’s latest body oils will be right up your alley. My favorite of the two is Bergamot and Hinoki, and the formula features one of my favorite hydrating ingredients, squalane.
The only critique I have of the Cyklar body oils is that I needa matching oil for every single body wash. In the meantime, I am obsessed with Vanilla Verve, and the formula of these oils sinks in so quickly that even if you have sensory issues, there’s a higher than normal chance that you’ll like these.
Speaking of sensory issues, if you don’t typically find yourself liking body moisturizers, I suggest using dry oils, like this one from Nerra. They sink into the skin quicker than traditional formulas, and this one is lightly scented with floral, woody, and powdery notes, the perfect scent to pair with any fragrance in your collection.
This body oil is a triple-phase formula with Brazil nut oil at the base of it all. On top of being nourishing to the skin, it smells phenomenal, the scent lasts for hours because it’s so strong, and you can use it in the shower or after you’ve dried off.
Another Brazilian body care brand, Nativa, has also found its way on my loves list this year, and it’s all because of the Vanilla Madagascar body oil. It’s a more floral interpretation of the note, but it's still a gorgeous expression of femininity that I simply can’t get enough of.
It’s a classic scent at this point, but I would be remiss not to mention Sol de Janiero’s Bum Bum Firmeza body oil on this list. Not only does it glide onto the skin like butter (while firming, thanks to Guaraná caffeine), but you’ll be left with the brand’s classic pistachio and salted caramel scent once it’s all blended in.
This brand might be known for its perfumes, but the body oils might be even better. The scent Crème Vanille, in particular, has become my go-to, but the light, easy-absorbing formula is really what keeps me coming back for more.
Want to smell like a fresh load of laundry? Pick up Lake and Skye’s 11 11 body oil, which is scented with white ambers and musk, and thank me later. The compliments will be endless.
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