The Best Smelling Dog Shampoo

Finding the best smelling dog shampoo can be quite the adventure. You want to make sure it smells amazing, but you probably don’t want any of those nasty, harmful chemicals either. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy, wonderful aromas out there on the dog shampoo market.

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Don’t worry though, you’re not alone in your search. Put aside the countless videos, review scouring, and so on. All of the information you need to find a good smelling dog shampoo is right here! If you’re ready to pick from the best of the best, check out the list below.

The Best Smelling Dog Shampoo for Your Pup

1. Colloidal Oatmeal Dog Shampoo by Pet Pleasant

It’s no secret that a lot of dogs have specific sensitivities. Skin problems run rampant under improper care and harsh chemicals found in certain dog shampoos. That being said, the Colloidal Oatmeal Dog Shampoo by Pet Pleasant is the perfect solution to keep your dog smelling fresh and feeling fantastic.

Lavender essential oil is one of the main ingredients in this formula, which is largely the reason why it smells so great. However, lavender also has a plethora of wonderful health benefits for dogs. These benefits include calming relieve, long-lasting odorless smell, and an easy way to get out that deep-rooted dirt and grime.

This shampoo is free of parabens and various other harmful additives. It’s also made in a facility that doesn’t forcefully test on animals, which is easy on the morals. Being that it’s tear-free, you don’t have to worry about it bothering your dog’s eyes. Washing a dog can be difficult, and nobody wants to hurt their pup in the process.

Pros

• Healthy, all-natural ingredients
• Made for dogs with sensitive skin conditions
• Free of any harmful additives that might cause further irritation

2. Top Performance Fresh Pet Shampoo

Unlike us humans, dogs don’t get daily showers or baths. Since they’re not bathed as often, it’s important that you use a dog shampoo that smells good for a long time. The Top Performance Fresh Pet Shampoo is a wonderful example of a dog cleaner that removes debris and buildup for weeks on end.

Dogs with long hair tend to have tangling issues. These tangles are a result of poor grooming, excess dirt, and a number of other problems. Using this dog shampoo helps remove the tangles, and it keeps them gone for good as long as you use it every couple of weeks. You can use it on dogs as young as 6 weeks old, unlike many other brands.

Another unique feature of the Top Performance shampoo is that it uses a balanced pH to match that of your pet’s coat. We all know how irritating acids can be on our own skin, so why put our dogs through that treatment? With a matched pH in the shampoo, your pup won’t feel any irritation whatsoever.

Pros

• Made to remove tangles and keep them out forever
• A good smell that lasts for a long time
• Mimics your dog’s pH to keep them feeling good

3. Paw Choice Dry Dog Shampoo Foam

An alternative to weekly bathing is the Paw Choice Dry Dog Shampoo Foam. This product lets you spread out the weeks in between your dog’s routine baths. Not all of us have enough time in our busy schedules to stop what we’re doing and clean the dog. For those of you who feel the same, this foam is the go-to shampoo.

You can also use it while traveling, after surgery, and various other occasions that prevent you from washing your dog in a bath tub. Zero harmful chemicals or mysterious additives were used in the making of the shampoo. Rest assured knowing your dog won’t be exposed to anything that’ll make them break out in rashes (aside from their natural allergies that they might have).

Since you’re not constantly disposing anything with this foam, it’s much better for the environment. Wipes generally work well, but they just add to the ever-growing landfill. Instead, opt for this dry dog shampoo and stay eco-friendly. The use of pomegranate helps keep your dog smelling amazing, feeling great, and it also reduces plastics and chemical consumptions.

Pros

• Eco-friendly alternative to wipes
• Smells amazing, while lasting a long time
• Perfect solution for lengthening the time in between washes

4. Fresh ‘n Clean Lambert Kay Scented Dog Shampoo

Coming in at #4 is the always great smelling Fresh ‘n Clean Lambert Kay Dog Shampoo. Much like the previous shampoo, this one works magic at getting rid of even the toughest tangles. Simply wet the dog’s fur, apply the shampoo, and scrub it around. Let it soak in for a couple minutes, wash it off, and towel dry your pup.

The antistatic formula keeps your dog from losing excess hair all over the place. Suede couches have a tendency to attract dog hair, as do most carpets and rugs. With this shampoo, your dog’s hair will stay where it belongs… On the dog! Use a dog brush to routinely remove hair buildup to keep your pup feeling cooled off.

This long-lasting scent stick around for weeks on end, while keeping your dog’s skin nice and moisturized. Just like with our skin, dogs can get dried out and left with rashes if it’s not treated. Keeping their coat moisturized with this shampoo will prevent any drying or cracking from happening.

Pros

• Prevents tangles from forming
• Keeps your dog’s hair from pulling out due to static
• The long-lasting aroma also moisturizes their coat

5. Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo

For one of the most all-natural dog shampoos in the world, try out Earthbath All Natural Pet Shampoo. The formula is 100% biodegradable, meaning you can use it outside with the hose. Unlike the vast majority of other pet shampoos that can only be used in the bath, this one is safe in most areas.

Choose between one of the several different scent options to pick what best suits your dog. Some of these choices include Oatmeal and Aloe, Mango Tango, and Orange Peel Oil. Again, some dogs have allergies to certain products, so it’s always nice to be able to choose which ones you don’t want them to use.

This shampoo is soap-free, which is an easy way to skip any irritation. Some dogs have skin problems when soap gets involved, so why not avoid it altogether? There’s no reason to find out the hard way, and you don’t have to with this eco-friendly, soap-free dog shampoo by Earthbath.

Pros

• You can use this dog shampoo almost anywhere since it’s biodegradable
• Comes in a wide variety of scents
• Free of soaps and other harsh additives

6. Pet Oatmeal Anti-Itch Shampoo & Conditioner in One!

Pets Are Kids Too recently made a shampoo and conditioner that does it all. With this formula, you don’t have to use any extra body washes for your dog’s coat. It’s great for itchiness, dry fur, and it just might be the best shampoo for a stinky dog. The long-lasting scent stays on your pup for several weeks in between washes.

With oatmeal, aloe vera, and baking soda, this shampoo works wonders for preventing dry skin and various other conditions. Baking soda is widely known to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells, while oatmeal and aloe vera soften the skin and fur of your dog. All in all, it’s a combination that can’t be beat.

While most other pet shampoos skip right over bacteria and fungi, this one tackles both. No more working to get rid of just the smell, there’s a deeper root to the problem. Certain fungi and bacteria have the capability to keep bringing back unpleasant scents at the worst times! Luckily, this shampoo kills them both off.

Pros

• Uses all-natural ingredients to prevent and get rid of itchiness
• Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
• Gets rid of dry skin and dandruff

7. Wahl Pet/Dog 4-in-1 Lavender Chamomile Shampoo and Conditioner

Last but certainly not least on this list is the 4-in-1 Pet Shampoo by Wahl. Why buy a million different sprays, shampoos, and conditioners if you could buy just one? This formula takes care of all the stinky, dry, gross odors that all of our dogs somehow manage to attract. Routine washes with this shampoo will change the way you see your pup!

Lavender and chamomile are the main active ingredients in this shampoo and conditioner. Both of these plants are naturally known to soothe, cool, and freshen up the skin. It’s unfortunate that some dogs have to deal with dryness without being able to tell anyone. However, using natural ingredients is a great way to get rid of the problem.

Alcohols, parabens, and any other harmful artificial additives won’t be found in this product. Both of them can cause dryness, flakiness, and serious health problems down the road. Without them, you’ll be left with healthy, all-natural ingredients that keep your dog smelling and feel 100% wonderful.

Pros

• Takes the roll of both a shampoo and a conditioner
• Uses all-natural ingredients to clean your dog’s coat
• Doesn’t include any harmful additives

How to Choose the Best Smelling Dog Shampoo

Great, now you know the 7 best smelling dog shampoos around. However, you probably still have a few questions about which one you should choose. After all, there’s a reason some owners prefer one over the other. Get out a notepad and start jotting down your answers to the question below, and they’ll tell you which one you should choose. If you have several picked out, find out which one smells the best. In the end, it’s all about staying clean and smelling fresh. Dogs know when they’re dirty, and they enjoy feeling clean just like us. Without further ado, here are all the answers you need to select a good smelling dog shampoo that you’ll both love!

Which ingredients should be in a dog shampoo?

There are a million answers to this question, but they all involve the fact that they should be natural and free of harmful chemicals. It was long thought that shampoos and skin products for all animals needed to include alcohol. While alcohol is great at getting rid of excess oils, it also causes dryness and irritation. These days, dog shampoos should always use ingredients like lavender or oatmeal to get rid of excess moisture. Always steer away from chemicals to prevent your dog from suffering!

What are you using your dog’s shampoo for?

Okay, this might seem silly, but there are a couple uses for dog shampoo. The shampoo itself always does a great job at smelling good, but it needs to serve more of a purpose than that. It should also get rid of grime, dirt, bacteria, fungi, and so on. If you’re out in the woods, you might want to consider getting a deeper cleaning agent, or one with an anti-tangling ingredient. These will prevent bugs, bark, twigs, and other parts of nature from getting caught in your dog’s fur. You should also think about buying a dog shampoo that comes with a conditioner to soften their hair.

How often should you wash your dog’s hair?

How often you wash your dog’s hair is dependent on several variables. For starters, if your dog plays outside a lot, they should be washed on a weekly basis. This kills off bacteria and bugs that try to make a home out of their fur. If they’re indoor pups, you can get away with washing them every three to four weeks. Certain shampoos last much longer than others by preventing bacteria before it can even start to grow. You should also opt for a cleaner that keeps a pleasant scent around for a long time. All of the shampoos on this list last for several weeks in a row, which is why they’re the best of the best!

Victoria Nelson

Victoria Nelson is a lifelong animal lover. She grew up in a small farm with a wide variety of pets that included dogs, cats, cows, fish etc. A published author since 18, she loves writing, and nothing makes her happier than writing about animals and sharing useful animal care tips.