Keep your scalp smelling fragrant with these amazing shampoos for smelly hair. They cleanse your scalp of all odors and grease!

Just like how we have bad hair days, smelly hair days are also a thing. Yes, you read that right! 

Many people face smelly scalp and hair issues and it is definitely something common, so you don’t have to be embarrassed about it.

• Related: Best Shampoos For Scalp Psoriasis
• Related: Best Shampoo To Treat Scalp Acne
• Related: The Best Shampoo For Folliculitis

I like to call this issue the ‘Smelly Scalp Syndrome’. It occurs when there is bacterial formation on the scalp, causing a certain amount of malodour and a relatively awful smell.

While certain people are lucky enough to get rid of this smell easily within just a couple of washes, some do not have it easy and have to put in more effort and hair care to get rid of the smell.

Well, there is a way out and there are reasons for why this happens as well. So, working on treating the causes and using the right shampoo will help you solve this issue.

Best Smelly Hair Shampoos	Best For Hair Type	Top Ingredients
Videri Lemon Sage & Tea Tree Shampoo	Oily With Inflamed Scalp	Lemon extract, sage, tea tree oil, jojoba oil
OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp	Oily, Colour-treated	Tea tree, peppermint, witch hazel, iced vanilla
Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo	Oily, Colour-treated	Tea-tree, jojoba, rosemary, apricot
Maple Holistics Degrease Deep Cleansing Shampoo	Dry, Normal, Oily, Colour-treated, Itchy	Rosemary oil, cypress basil, lemon oils
RYO Smelly Scalp Shampoo	Dandruff, Oily, Thin	Ginseng extract, ginger, green tea
BIOLAGE Cooling Mint Scalpsync Shampoo	Normal, Dry, Oily, Fine, Thin	Peppermint, camellia sinensis extract, mallow extract

Here is a quick comparison of the top shampoo for smelly air.

Shampoos For Smelly Hair	Videri Lemon and Tea Tree Shampoo	OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp	Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo	Maple Holistics Degrease Deep Cleansing Shampoo	RYO Smelly Scalp Shampoo	BIOLAGE Cooling Mint Scalpsync Shampoo
Images
Type of Fragrance	Lemon	Mint	Tea Tree & Rosemary	Tea Tree Essential Oil	Herbal Floral	Mint
Cleansing	4.5/5	4/5	3.5/5	5/5	4/5	4.5/5
Gentleness	5/5	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	4/5	3.5/5
Fragrance	4.5/5	4.5/5	3.5/5	.54/5	4/5	4.5/5
Price	4.5/5	5/5	3.5/5	4/5	3/5	4/5
Sulfate-Free	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Why does hair get smelly?

Different people may experience different reasons for their scalp and hair getting smelly. Certain times, these reasons have a coupled effect. Therefore, treating the problem is very essential.

Here are some of the common problems for scalp and hair smell:

Incorrect method of hair washing:

Well this can include both infrequent washing and even excessive washing. The lesser the hair is washed, the more the chances of buildup, sweat and dandruff formation, which can result in a bad odour.

On the other hand, with excessive hair, the natural sebum (oil) of the hair gets washed off. This is when the scalp will start over producing sebum and this can cause a bad odour.

Scalp conditions:

Scalp conditions like dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, eczema etc can also result in bad scalp and hair odour.

 Product buildup:

Some of us do not completely wash off the products we use and this can get combined with the hair’s natural oils producing a bad odour.

How I tested the best shampoos for smelly hair?

Whenever I test any products, I always like to test and review them based on certain parameters. Here, I have reviewed these products based on the below 3 parameters and I’ve then rated each product on a scale of 5.

Cleansing power: Some of the reasons the scalp and hair can get smelly is because of dandruff, sweat and buildup. Therefore, I wanted a shampoo that has good cleansing power.

Gentleness on the scalp and hair: I took into consideration this aspect because my hair is relatively dry and therefore I always look for shampoos that are gentle on the hair, have some natural ingredients and keep the hair moisturized.

Scent and fragrance: Since I was on the lookout for a shampoo to get rid of the smell from my hair, I felt that choosing a shampoo with a good fragrance will help enhance the smell of my hair.

Videri Lemon Sage & Tea Tree Shampoo

Fragrance: Lemon and Tea Tree

Hair type: Oily with inflamed scalp/dandruff

One of the main reason for a smelly scalp is having some sort of inflammation on the scalp due to bacterial or fungal growth.

And so I chose to test this Videri shampoo on my tresses first as one of the chief ingredients here is lemon and tea tree oil, both of which have antifungal and antibacterial properties.

I used this shampoo for a few days and I could see some level of odor control on the first wash itself.

My favorite part about this shampoo is that it doesn’t contain added synthetic perfumes that just mask your smelly scalp. It gets to the root of the problem (literally in this case!) and fixes your scalp’s pH levels to control odor.

I also liked how the shampoo reduced the itching and inflammation on my scalp and reduced the mild dandruff and flaking that I had. It also does a pretty good job of controlling oiliness on your hair.

I think this shampoo can be suited for both oily and dry scalp as it contains jojoba oil and aloe vera which nourish your hair but are not very heavy or rich ingredients.

But if you have severely dehydrated hair or have curly hair textures that need more moisturization, I think this shampoo would be too lightweight for you.

Pros:

•  Sulfate-free shampoo is suitable for color-treated hair
• The lemon and sage extracts cleanse scalp and reduce smelliness
• The tea tree oil reduces dandruff and soothes inflammation
• Contains aloe vera and jojoba oil that nourishes scalp without making it greasy

Cons:

• The shampoo is not very moisturizing so it’s not for African American hair texture.

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4.5/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.5/5
• Scent and fragrance: 4.8 /5

OGX Extra Strength Refreshing Scalp

Fragrance: Tea-tree mint

Hair type: Oily, colour-treated hair.

I am going to start with the one I liked the most, the OGX Shampoo. It was simply superb! 

The tricky part of my hair type is that my hair gets relatively dry after a wash, but within a day it becomes greasy. 

Because of this problem, I found it really hard to find the perfect shampoo, but this shampoo suited my hair type very well. It also helped reduce the problem of dry hair and frizziness.

I simply loved the way my hair felt after using this shampoo because it felt soft and way more manageable than before. 

My hair is also colour-treated and I’m always apprehensive before using any shampoo. This shampoo suited my hair perfectly and didn’t make my colour fade at all.

This shampoo is very gentle on the hair and it is completely free from sulfates and parabens! It also got rid of my scalp buildup very effectively.

The tea-tree oil in it is supposed to help control inflammation and it’s also got a lovely fragrance that made my hair feel really refreshed.

I’d definitely say I had no complaints about this product and I’d suggest that you use this product with its respective conditioner.

Pros:

•  Gentle on the scalp as it is sulfate and paraben free.
•  Treats hair damage.
•  Reduces scalp buildup and unclogs follicles

Cons:

• The formula might be drying on some hair types

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4.5/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.3/5
• Scent and fragrance: 4.3 /5

Tru Moroccan Clarifying Shampoo

Fragrance: Lightly citrus scented

Hair type: Oily, Colour-treated

If you are looking for a paraben-free, all-natural shampoo, look no further, this is the right one!

I was literally fed up with my hair becoming greasy and oily and was at my wits end trying out and experimenting on different shampoos, but my search ended once I tried the Tru Moroccan one!

I can safely say that I was happy with my purchase. The shampoo helped reduce the greasiness of my scalp and hair; this was perfect because I could go even 3 days without having to wash my hair and my hair still smelt so good, all thanks to the citrus scent!

Using this shampoo made my hair feel soft, smell fresh and made it remain very moisturized even after a wash, in turn reducing hair dryness and breakage.

The only thing I disliked is the texture of the shampoo. I found it relatively watery as compared to other shampoos available.

I would also like to make a mention about the price of the product. It is relatively more expensive compared to other shampoos in the market.

Pros:

•  Gentle on the scalp as it is paraben-free
•  Light fragrance won’t overwhelm you
•  Contains argan oil that moisturizes the hair

Cons:

•  Texture of the shampoo is watery so won’t lather well
•  Relatively expensive compared to others on this list

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4.2/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.3/5
• Scent and fragrance: 4.5/5 

Maple Holistics Degrease Deep Cleansing Shampoo

Fragrance: Cypress basil and lemon

Hair type: Dry, Normal, Oily, Colour-treated, Itchy

This shampoo totally lives up to its name! It does its job perfectly well. It cleanses the scalp thoroughly while it also reduces hair oiliness. 

So yes, it is really good for those looking to target these hair issues.

The fact that it helps get rid of greasy hair that is also colour-treated, while it was also completely free from sulfates and parabens immediately attracted me to buy this product.

What I disliked about this shampoo is that even though it cleanses the scalp well and makes the hair feel fresh and reduces bad odour, it can be quite drying after a wash. 

But then I used a little additional conditioner on my hair and took care of this problem.

I loved the subtle fragrance of basil and lemon that this shampoo had; it made my hair feel so fresh after a wash.

Pros:

•  The clarifying formula reduces scalp buildup.
•  Gentle on the scalp as it is sulfate and paraben free.

Cons:

•  Can cause a certain amount of hair dryness.

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.2/5
• Scent and fragrance: 4.5/5

RYO Smelly Scalp Shampoo

Fragrance: Floral

Hair type: Dandruff, Oily, Thin

This RYO shampoo is specifically formulated to help reduce the smelly scalp and hair issue and this really did me good! 

After using this shampoo, my hair smelt fresh and it reduced the problem of hair odour considerably after every wash.

It helped get rid of the excess sebum on my scalp and promoted a very cooling effect.

What I really liked about this shampoo is that it has ginseng root extract, which is well-known for making the hair feel very soft and it did just that to my hair.

Being someone who suffers from dandruff, which is another reason for scalp odour, this shampoo helped reduce the itching and flaking to a large extent.

What I didn’t like much about this shampoo is that it claimed to have a floral scent, but I felt that the ginseng smell overpowered the floral fragrance this shampoo was supposed to have. 

That being said, over time I did get used to the fragrance and considered this aspect negligible.

Pros:

•  Helps reduce dandruff and flaking.
•  Leaves hair smelling fresh thanks to it’s scent
•  Reduces excess sebum on the scalp.

Cons:

•  The ginseng overpowered the shampoo’s floral fragrance.
•  Relatively expensive.

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.2/5
• Scent and fragrance: 3.8/5

BIOLAGE Cooling Mint Scalpsync Shampoo

Fragrance: Mint

Hair type: Normal, Dry, Oily, Fine, Thin

If you’re a lover of the smell of mint, choose this shampoo. I simply loved how my hair smelt after using the BIOLAGE shampoo. 

It not only made my hair feel refreshed after each wash, but it also helped get rid of the excess oil and product buildup on my scalp.

Since I’ve always suffered from dandruff, this shampoo was really good and treated my dandruff issue effectively. It also helped soothe my irritated scalp considerably.

Another thing I noticed is that because this shampoo also reduces excessive greasiness on the hair.

I can even go three days without having to wash it, without having it to smell bad. Definitely a win-win!

Comparatively, this shampoo is more expensive as compared to the other mint (and tea-tree) OGX shampoo I reviewed above. But I thought it was worth it!

Pros:

•  Reduces dandruff on all scalp types
•  Tea tree oil formula gets rid of hair greasiness.
•  Refreshing mint smell that isn’t too overpowering

Cons:

•  Comparatively expensive.

My Ratings:

• Cleansing power: 4.5/5
• Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.2/5
• Scent and fragrance: 4.5/5

How To Get Rid Of Stinky Scalp and Hair

If you’re experiencing a lot of scalp or hair odor, there are a few things that you can do to try and get rid of the smell (this is other than using the shampoos I’ve reviewed above, of course!)

1. Wash It Often With Cool Water: Rinse your hair with cool water several times a day to remove the sweat and bacteria that can cause odor. Make sure to use a mild shampoo instead of soap if possible, as soap can act as an irritant and increase the severity of the odor.
2. Exfoliate With Baking Soda: Apply a baking soda paste to your scalp every night before bed, and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. This will help to absorb excess oil and sweat, and expel any leftover smells.
3. Use Vinegar To Remove Smell: Apply Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) diluted with water to the scalp three times a day, starting in the morning and continuing until the ACV is no longer effective. ACV is also effective in treating dandruff, so it may be worth trying it out if you’re experiencing both scalp odor and dandruff.

If none of these remedies are working for you, it may be time to consult a doctor or seek out other treatments such as prescription medications or herbal remedies.

The final takeaway

Smelly scalp can be a common condition faced by many and nipping the issue in the bud will help get rid of it sooner. 

While you treat the causes, using the right shampoo, which is also gentle on the scalp and has a good fragrance, will definitely help.

Also Read:

Best shampoo for dry scalp

Best shampoo for long hair

Best herbal shampoo

Best vegan anti-dandruff shampoo