6 Best Smelling Body Lotions for Men ⋆ Trouserdog (2023)

Are you tired of feminine or gender neutral smelling body lotions?

Do you want a body lotion that caters to the discerning nose of a man?

If you answered a resounding, “hell yes!” to both of those questions – then this list of best smelling men’s body lotions is for you.

Each one is specifically formulated for gentlemen such as ourselves. They smell fresh, clean, bold, rugged, and downright masculine as hell.

No flowery or gender neutral smelling crap here.

And since few things in life are as subjective as scent – I based my selections on a combination of personal experience, and thousands of genuine user reviews from men just like you and me. That many noses can’t be wrong, right?

So without further ado, here’s my list of best smelling body lotions for men. Enjoy.

The Lineup:

• Pré de Provence – No.63 body lotion
• Molton Brown – Re-Charge Black Pepper
• Jack Black – Cool Moisture body lotion
• Baxter of California – Hydro Salve body lotion
• Nivea Men Creme body lotion
• Beast body lotion

Best Smelling Body Lotions for Men Reviewed

Pré de Provence – No. 63

If you’re goal is to find the best smelling men’s body lotion in existence, your nose won’t be disappointed when it catches a whiff of Pré de Provence No. 63 body lotion for men. Formulated in France, this non-greasy lotion doesn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to outstanding fragrance and kick-ass moisturizing performance. Featuring an unmistakably masculine scent, No. 63 is described as warm, spicy, and peppery with a citrus top note, rounded by cedar wood, plum, and violet leaves, and is finished with a rugged base of leather and tobacco. If that doesn’t sound like a body lotion built for a man, I don’t know what the hell does.

What I like about Pré de Provence No. 63:

• Smooth and creamy

One of the first things you’ll notice about No. 63 (aside from the great scent) is the smooth, creamy, not too thick, not too thin texture. It feels great on the skin, and doesn’t feel pasty or greasy when working into the body.

• Dry skin devours this stuff

While this body lotion does have a great fragrance, it is first and foremost a skin moisturizer. That being said, No. 63 excels in both the scent department, and the moisturizing department. That’s because it’s full of premium skin moisturizing ingredients. What’s inside:

• Glycerin – An emollient that attracts moisture to the skin, making it moist, soft, and supple.
• Shea butter – A fat that’s extracted from the nut of the African shea tree that is known for it’s ability to moisturize dry skin, improve skin elasticity, reduce the appearance of stretch marks, and even reduce inflammation.
• Aloe vera – Provides a protective barrier to help lock in moisture, and also reduces inflammation and even helps alleviate dry, irritated skin.
• Castor oil – This non-comedogenic oil (won’t clog pores) is known for it’s ability to moisturize dry skin, fight acne, reduce inflammation, and even helps protect the skin thanks to antioxidants that fight the damaging effects of free radicals.

• Long lasting scent

A great smelling body lotion is great, but if the scent doesn’t last who the hell’s gonna smell it? Thankfully Pré de Provence No. 63 features a bold, masculine fragrance that lasts long after it’s applied. That means you don’t have to keep it’s awesome smell a secret – you can actually share it with others.

• A little goes a long way

No need to cake it on with this one. That’s because just a little bit of this stuff goes a long way. No. 63 spreads easy and evenly, allowing you to cover large areas of skin with less product used. It also helps prolong the lifespan of the bottle. Win.

Pros/Cons

• ⊕ Incredibly awesome scent
• ⊕ Premium ingredients
• ⊕ Long lasting fragrance
• ⊕ A little goes a long way
• ⊕ Non-greasy
• ⊕ Smooth and creamy
• ⊕ Absorbs/dries fast
• ⊕ Reasonably priced
• − I wish the bottle was a little bigger

Molton Brown – Re-Charge Black Pepper

When it comes to great smelling grooming products for men, Molton Brown never seems to disappoint. Based out of London, England, Molton Brown is known for their premium quality skincare products and their long line of signature scents. I first discovered Molton Brown when I tried their luxury shower gel for men and I was immediately blown away by it’s amazing, one of kind fragrance. And just like the shower gel, their Re-Charge Black Pepper body lotion is just as impressive. The scent features a complex blend of black pepper, lemon, ginger, coriander, basil, violet leaf, vetiver, oak moss, and ambergris. I would describe it as smelling very woody, spicy, citrusy, earthy, bold, rugged, and basically masculine as all hell. If you’re looking for the best smelling body lotion for men, Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper is definitely worth a sniff.

What I like about Molton Brown Body Lotion:

• Long lasting scent

Since scent is such an important factor when choosing a body lotion, it only makes sense that we should expect the fragrance to have some staying power to it, right? Thankfully Molton Brown’s scent doesn’t disappoint when it comes to longevity. Once this lotion is applied to the skin, the masculine smelling fragrance lasts all day and into the night.

• Nourishing and hydrating

Sure, a nice smelling body lotion is great, but if it doesn’t serve it’s primary purpose of moisturizing the skin it’s not really worth a damn, now is it? One of things that I really like about Molton Brown Body Lotion is how soft, smooth, and hydrated it leaves the skin. It’s formulated with a bunch of natural ingredients that are known for their moisturizing properties, including: shea butter, glycerin, macadamia nut oil, castor oil, and crambe oil.

• It absorbs and dries quickly

Nobody likes a lotion that takes forever to dry and leaves a greasy feeling on the skin. That’s one of the things that I really like about Molton Brown Body Lotion — it does neither of those things. Not only does it absorb into the skin very quickly, but once it’s dry it doesn’t leave any unpleasant residue behind. Skin is left feeling smooth, soft, hydrated and smelling great. Nothing wrong with that.

Pros/Cons

• ⊕ Awesome one-of-a-kind scent
• ⊕ Long lasting scent
• ⊕ Lightweight texture
• ⊕ Non greasy
• ⊕ A little goes a long way
• ⊕ Highly moisturizing
• − Expensive

Jack Black – Cool Moisture

Choosing the best smelling body lotions for men was kind of a challenge at first, but Jack Black Cool Moisture did make it a little easier. If you’re unfamiliar with Jack Black, they specialize in premium, male specific grooming products that are formulated using safe, natural ingredients. Their long line of products includes everything from beard oils to shaving creams, and pretty much everything in-between. The fact that they specialize in products created specifically for men, means that they know a thing or two about appealing to the discerning nose of a man. That’s exactly the case when it comes to their Cool Moisture body lotion. It features a manly fragrance that isn’t over the top obnoxious, but leaves skin with a fresh, subtle, all-day scent that is unmistakably masculine.

What I like about Jack Black Cool Moisture:

• Skin cooling effect

Once you get it on your skin, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Jack Black Cool Moisture features a refreshing cooling effect that feels pretty great on the skin. It’s the perfect moisturizer for a post-workout skincare routine, or whenever your body is in need of some refreshing, cooling relief.

• Premium moisturizing ingredients

Having a great smell isn’t the only thing Jack Black Cool Moisture excels at. This premium men’s body lotion is full of moisturizing ingredients that leave skin feeling smooth, soft, supple, and hydrated. What’s inside:

• Soy protein – Contains linoleic acid which provides moisture to the skin, and also helps fortify the skin’s protective layer.
• Jojoba oil – Contains anti-inflammatory properties, and is known for soothing dry skin, reducing irritation caused by eczema, and even helps in skin repair.
• Macadamia nut oil – High in monounsaturated fatty acids which are very moisturizing and softening on the skin.
• Glycerin – An emollient derived from plants that helps attract moisture to the skin, making it moist, soft, and supple.

• Absorbs quickly

No guy wants to use a body lotion that leaves his skin feeling like he has something on it. Aside from a great scent and soft skin, I personally don’t like to feel like there is any lotion on me at all. That’s one of the things I really like about Jack Black Cool Moisture. The non-greasy formula dries quickly, evenly, and aside from doing it’s job and smelling great, doesn’t leave any sign that it’s even there at all.

Pros/Cons:

• ⊕ Great masculine fragrance
• ⊕ Non-greasy
• ⊕ Long lasting scent
• ⊕ Lightweight texture
• ⊕ Dries quickly
• ⊕ Long lasting 16 ounce bottle
• ⊕ Highly moisturizing
• − Expensive

Baxter of California – Hydro Salve

When it comes to premium men’s grooming products, Baxter of California is usually somewhere at the top of my list. Not only are their products formulated with high quality, effective ingredients, but they also tend to smell really damn good too. That’s exactly the case with their Hydro Salve body lotion for men. Featuring the same great Citrus & Herbal Musk fragrance you can find on their award winning deodorant, this body lotion smells unapologetically bold, rugged, and masculine. Great smell aside, Hydro Salve body lotion performs it’s moisturizing duties as well as you’d expect from a premium men’s brand. That’s because it’s formulated with high quality, skin moisturizing ingredients such as: glycerin and coriander seed oil. Skin is left feeling smooth, soft, hydrated, and smelling good as all hell.

What I like about Baxter of California Hydro Salve:

• Smooths and softens like a champ

One of the things I really like about this body lotion is how well it smooths and softens the skin. The lightweight formula applies easily and evenly, dries quickly, and leaves skin feeling noticeably smoother, softer and more hydrated. The awesome smell is just a bonus.

• Long lasting scent

Not only does Baxter of California Hydro Salve have an awesome scent, it’s also long lasting. After all, what’s the point of a great smelling body lotion if nobody else is going to smell it?

• Non-greasy

Growing up I always hated using body lotion because it made my skin feel greasy and kind of oily. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I discovered not all body lotions are created equal. One of the things that stands out to me about Hydro Salve body lotion is how it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth, without any greasy or oily residue. Aside from noticeably softer skin, it’s like there isn’t any lotion there at all.

• Great for tattoos

If you have tattoos like me, you know that using a quality daily moisturizer is important to keep your tattoos looking their best. One of the things I really like about Hydro Salve body lotion is how it improves the color and vibrancy of tattoos. The highly moisturizing formula penetrates deep into the skin, which helps give tattoos a deeper, richer appearance.

Pros/Cons:

• ⊕ Great Citrus & Herbal Musk scent
• ⊕ Non-greasy
• ⊕ Highly moisturizing
• ⊕ Formulated with tattoos in mind
• ⊕ Long lasting fragrance
• ⊕ A little goes a long way
• ⊕ Big 16 ounce pump bottle
• − Expensive

Nivea Men Creme

What’s not to like about a skincare brand like Nivea? They have seemingly been around forever (1882 to be exact), and they produce some of the best selling body lotions available on the market today. In 1986 they began marketing a line of skincare products geared specifically for men and if you fast forward to today, that line contains over 40 products, including their awesome smelling Nivea Men Creme for face and body. This non-greasy lotion features an awesome scent that reminds me of a subtle men’s cologne. It smells fresh, clean, rugged, and all around manly as hell. Offered in a twist top metal tin, that you may or may not like (I like it), this Nivea Men Creme earns a place on this list for being a great smelling men’s body lotion at a really affordable price.

What I like about Nivea Men Creme body lotion:

• Highly moisturizing

Not only does this stuff smell really good, it also does a kick ass job of moisturizing and hydrating dry skin. After all, that is kind of the point, right?

• It absorbs quickly and dries fast

Nobody likes a lotion that takes forever to absorb and ends up leaving a greasy feeling on the skin. That’s not the case with Nivea Men Creme. This stuff applies smoothly and evenly, and most importantly it dries really quickly. Skin is left feeling soft, smooth, nourished, hydrated, and best of all – no greasy skin feeling.

• A little goes a long way

One of the first things I noticed about this body lotion (aside from the awesome scent) is how little you actually need to get the job done. The rich creamy texture spreads easily and evenly, and quickly covers large areas of skin with minimal product use. While the 5.3 ounce tin isn’t all that big, it still lasts helluva long time.

• It’s inexpensive

You don’t always have to spend a lot of money on men’s grooming products to get quality performing stuff. That’s exactly the case with this Nivea Men Creme. Not only does it have an awesome smelling scent, but it does a great job of performing it’s primary function as a skin moisturizer. It’s a steal at twice the price if you ask me.

Pros/Cons

• ⊕ Awesome masculine scent
• ⊕ Non-greasy
• ⊕ Quick drying
• ⊕ Highly moisturizing
• ⊕ Inexpensive
• − Not all-natural

Beast Body Lotion

Although this body lotion is called Beast, don’t worry, it won’t leave you smelling like one. It features a rugged, masculine, all-natural fragrance that is inspired by the great outdoors, and contains hints of green tea, eucalyptus, guarana, aloe, mountain tobacco, rosemary, lavender, and cypress. Great fragrance aside, Beast body lotion is certainly no slouch when it comes to skin moisturizing benefits. It contains a ton of all-natural ingredients that leave skin feeling smooth, soft, supple, and hydrated. What’s inside: shea butter, sunflower seed, grape seed, chamomile, sugarcane, comfrey, aloe, and vitamins A, C, and E. Bottom line: if you’re looking for a super premium, highly moisturizing body lotion for men, that just so happens to smell awesome as hell, Beast body lotion is pretty much a no brainer.

What I like about Beast body lotion for men:

• Refreshing tingle

Aside from the great scent, one of the things I really like about Beast body lotion is the menthol and caffeine powered tingle you feel when it’s applied to the skin. It feels cool, refreshing, and invigorating. It also provides a nice pick me up during that early morning skincare routine.

• Highly moisturizing

If a great scent is your only criteria for choosing a body lotion, then you could be seriously missing out. Sure, scent is important, but the primary function of lotion is to nourish and hydrate the skin – meaning you shouldn’t prioritize fragrance over performance. That being said, one of the great things about Beast body lotion is you don’t have to compromise between form and function – because it’s both. Not only does it have a kick ass fragrance, but it has an absolute shit ton of skin moisturizing ingredients, including:

• Shea Butter – A fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree, shea butter is coveted for it’s ability to moisturize dry skin, reduce inflammation, restore skin elasticity, and even help reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
• Sunflower seed oil – An emollient that helps the skin retain it’s moisture and also helps protect the skin from damaging free radicals.
• Grapeseed oil – A byproduct of the winemaking process, grapeseed oil is extracted from leftover seeds and is known to moisturize dry skin, fight acne, tighten pores, and even help reduce the appearance of scars.
• Comfrey – Contains allantoin which is known for it’s ability to hydrate, soothe and soften skin. It also has antioxidant properties that help protect from damaging free radicals.
• Aloe – Contains antioxidants, vitamins A & C, and is highly anti-inflammatory. It’s also used to treat dry skin and help lock in moisture.

• Non-greasy/dries quickly

Beast body lotion applies easily and evenly, dries quickly, and most importantly doesn’t leave any greasy/oily feeling behind. Skin is left feeling soft, smooth, nourished, hydrated, and smelling awesome.

Pros/Cons

• ⊕ Great masculine scent
• ⊕ Highly moisturizing
• ⊕ Refreshing tingle
• ⊕ All-natural ingredients
• ⊕ Non-greasy
• ⊕ Dries quickly
• − Pricey

How (and When) To Apply Body Lotion

Awesome smelling body lotion is great, but knowing exactly how and when to apply it is even more important.

While it never hurts to periodically apply body lotion throughout the day, especially if you have dry skin, the best time to apply it is actually right after showering.

This is because the skin is most moisturized when it’s wet, and body lotions are most effective when the skin is already hydrated. Skin is also more absorbent when it’s slightly damp.

That’s because skin is kind of like a cleaning sponge. A bone dry sponge actually doesn’t do a very good job of absorbing and retaining water, it just kind of sits on the surface. However if you take that sponge and get it damp, it does a much better job of soaking up and holding onto moisture.

How to apply

Now that you know when the best time to apply body lotion is, all that’s left is to learn how to apply it the right way.

While applying body lotion isn’t exactly rocket science, there is a better way to apply it than just slathering it on your skin aimlessly.

Step #1: Put a quarter sized amount of body lotion into the palm of your hand.

Step #2: Work the lotion between your hands to warm it up and thin it out.

Step #3: Apply body lotion to small sections of skin at a time. Using both hands, massage lotion onto the skin in gentle, circular motions. Pay close attention to thick areas of skin such as your elbows and knees.

Step #4: Repeat step #3 until your entire body is fully moisturized. While applying body lotion after showering is the best time to moisturize, it’s also important to lather up when skin is susceptible to drying out. This includes: before working out, before bed, and before air travel.

Is Men’s Skin any Different Than Women’s?

Yes!

Aside from being naturally hairier, did you know that men’s skin is up to 25% thicker than women’s skin? It’s also tougher too.

That’s because our bodies produce a little thing called testosterone, which, as it turns out, isn’t just responsible for building muscle and increasing sex drive – it also affects our skin too.

Aside from being thicker and tougher, men’s skin also contains more collagen. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for keeping skin full, plump, strong, youthful, and even helps maintain it’s elasticity.

Think of collagen fibers as a bunch of thick, strong marble columns placed close together holding up the top layer of skin. When we are young, the columns are strong, straight, and abundant – so skin looks full and smooth.

Pinch test

What typically happens when you pinch your skin between 2 fingers and release? Your skin quickly springs back into position, right?

That’s a sign that your skin’s collagen levels are strong and healthy.

But as we age, our skin begins to produce less and less collagen. If you were to perform that same pinch test 20 years from now, you would likely notice that your skin doesn’t spring back into position quite as quickly.

Is decreased collagen production something to worry about?

Yes, it’s a sign that you’re dying!

But don’t worry, we’re all dying (eventually).

The truth is, decreased collagen production is a completely normal sign of aging. Both men and women experience a decline in collagen production around the age of 25. This eventually leads to wrinkles and sagging skin.

Smoking, poor diet, and exposure to UV rays can also greatly contribute to decreased collagen production over time.

While there is no avoiding the inevitable, the good news is that there are steps us men can take to help slow down the loss of collagen in our skin. This includes:

• Keeping skin hydrated – Think the above lotions for men are just for smelling great? Think again. Keeping your skin hydrated with a daily moisturizer helps create a stable environment for collagen to thrive.
• Massage the skin – Regular massages can help stimulate collagen production and even strengthen muscle memory. This means skin can stay firm and full, longer.
• Use SPF – UV rays from the sun penetrate deep into the dermal layer of the skin where they can break down collagen fibers. Using an SPF when you venture outdoors helps protect your skin and prolongs the life of collagen.
• Reduce sugar intake – Sugar can permanently attach itself to collagen fibers and actually weigh them down. This can result in dull, dry, and aged skin.
• Don’t smoke – Aside from being the cause of countless health problems, smoking kills collagen by eating away at proteins and restricting blood flow. This can result in dry, leathery skin, especially around the lips and eyes.

Thanks for checking out my list of best smelling body lotions for men. If you found this article helpful, check out my list of best smelling body washes for men. As always, if you have any comments or questions, feel free to drop me a line in the comment section below.