# Baby wash that smells nice

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/baby/baby-wash/smells-nice/
Category: Baby > Baby wash and shampoo. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 286 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Aug 2018 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which baby wash smells nice?

**Short answer:** Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath has the best record for smell at 35 of 36, followed by Baby Dove Calming Nights Body Wash at 25 of 26 and Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash at 32 of 34. Baby Dove Fragrance Free Moisture Wash is the fragrance-free wash, so its record of 19 of 23 mostly reflects parents glad it has no scent, and Johnson's Baby Shampoo has the weakest record here at 16 of 21. Cetaphil Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash rests on the biggest group, 76 parents who stated an outcome, and the washes above it rest on smaller ones, so treat small gaps as ties.

**What stands out:** Johnson's is on this list three times, and its records range from 35 of 36 for Bedtime Baby Bath and 32 of 34 for Head-to-Toe Baby Wash down to 16 of 21 for Baby Shampoo. The brand name alone says little about the smell.

## Ranking (parents who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | Likes the smell | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath | 35 of 36 | 97% | yes |
| 2 | Baby Dove Calming Nights Body Wash | 25 of 26 | 96% | yes |
| 3 | Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash | 32 of 34 | 94% | yes |
| 4 | Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Bath Wash | 33 of 36 | 92% | yes |
| 5 | Cetaphil Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash | 64 of 76 | 84% | yes |
| 6 | Baby Dove Fragrance Free Moisture Wash | 19 of 23 | 83% | yes |
| 7 | Johnson's Baby Shampoo | 16 of 21 | 76% | yes |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath

Nearly every parent who stated an outcome liked the smell: 35 of 36. Reviews first posted on Johnson's own site agree at 10 of 10, which we show but don't count. Price splits opinion, with 13% of reviews calling it good value and 5% calling it too expensive.

- Praised for: Good value (13%), Lathers well (11%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (5%)
- Reports counted: 38

### 2. Baby Dove Calming Nights Body Wash

Close behind the leader, with 25 of 26 parents saying they liked the smell and 1 of 26 saying they did not. The smell is the draw here, and 14% of its reviews also praise the lather.

- Praised for: Lathers well (14%)
- Reports counted: 28

### 3. Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash

A familiar name with a solid record: 32 of 34 parents liked the smell, a touch below Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath at 35 of 36, and just 2 said it was unpleasant, too strong or not what they expected. Reviews first posted on Johnson's own site agree at 10 of 10, which we show but don't count.

- Reports counted: 38

### 4. Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Bath Wash

Parents liked the smell here too, at 33 of 36, and 21% of its reviews also praise the lather. A few reviews (5%) call it too expensive. Reviews first posted on Aveeno's own site agree at 9 of 9, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Lathers well (21%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (5%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 5. Cetaphil Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash

More parents weighed in on this wash than on any other here, and 64 of 76 said they liked the smell. The miss is a scent that is unpleasant, too strong or not what they expected, which 12 of 76 reported. Reviews first posted on the maker's own site run 9 of 9, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Lathers well (14%)
- Complaints: Too expensive (3%)
- Reports counted: 79

### 6. Baby Dove Fragrance Free Moisture Wash

This is the fragrance-free wash, so its record mostly reflects parents glad it has no scent: 19 of 23 said they liked the smell or liked that it has none. Still, 4 of 23 said the smell was off or not what they expected, and 15% of reviews call it good value.

- Praised for: Good value (15%), Lathers well (5%)
- Reports counted: 39

### 7. Johnson's Baby Shampoo

A shampoo with the weakest record here: 16 of 21 parents liked the smell, and 5 of 21 did not. Reviews first posted on Johnson's own site run 7 of 8, which we show but don't count.

- Reports counted: 25

## Questions

**Which baby wash smells nice?**

Johnson's Bedtime Baby Bath has the best record (35 of 36), followed by Baby Dove Calming Nights Body Wash (25 of 26) and Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (32 of 34). Smell is personal, so treat gaps of a few reviews as ties. These counts cover just the parents who wrote about the smell.

**Is there a fragrance-free baby wash parents like?**

Baby Dove Fragrance Free Moisture Wash is the fragrance-free wash here, and 19 of 23 said they liked the smell or liked that it has none. Still, 4 of 23 said the smell was off or not what they expected. Reviews first posted on Baby Dove's own site agree at 6 of 6, though that is a small group and we show but don't count it.

**Does Cetaphil Baby 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash smell too strong?**

Some parents said so. 64 of 76 liked the smell, and 12 of 76 said it was unpleasant, too strong or not what they expected. More parents weighed in on it than on any other wash here, so its record rests on a bigger group.

**What should I watch for at bath time?**

Never leave a baby alone in the bath, not even for a second. This page counts what parents said about the smell and says nothing about how a wash suits your baby's skin. If your baby has dry patches that crack, bleed, ooze or don't improve, or a rash, ask your pediatrician.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/