10 Best-Smelling Sunscreens for Summer 2024

While fragrance is an afterthought for most sunscreen brands, Vacation made it a calling card with the tagline: “The World’s Best-Smelling Sunscreen.” While some fans are partial to the Vacation Orange Gelée, which smells identical to the tanning oil from the ’80s but with SPF protection, or the Classic Whip sunscreen (a sunscreen foam), the old faithful is the Classic Lotion SPF 50: lightweight formula, easy-squeeze tube, and nostalgic banana-coconut scent.

Fragrance notes: Coconut, banana, pool water, and swimsuit Lycra

One reviewer writes: “The sunscreen [smells] like being at a pool party in 1999. I love the scent so much, and the sunscreen seems to work very well.” —Mary

Sol de Janeiro’s tropical-scented body mists and lotions are beloved. This specific sunscreen body spray combines an intoxicating sweet and fruity fragrance with SPF 50 sun protection, and it leaves behind a glowy finish to make your arms and legs look incredible. It’s on track to be the most viral sunscreen of summer.

Fragrance notes: Vanilla, coconut, mango

One reviewer writes: “It smells amazing—my favorite scent. It makes me want to use sunscreen [to] protect my skin and smell good at the same time.” —Chantal

If you’re outside without a hat on, applying sunscreen to your scalp and hairline to shield that highly vulnerable skin from UV rays is essential. This scented formula is the best scalp sunscreen, hands down. It’s verifiably lightweight, easy to apply with a fine mist, and smells faintly of salt and sage, making it the best-smelling option to boot.

Fragrance notes: Salt, sage, the ocean, and woods

One reviewer writes: “This sunscreen is my signature scent! I use it on my ears. It’s small enough to carry in my purse and the fine spray is perfect. I won’t ever go without it again.” —Kim

The Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Radiance Lotion is a great deal at less than $15 a bottle at most drugstores. The formula is light and non-greasy, with a barely-there shimmer that reviewers love. It’s also oxybenzone-free and reef-safe to boot. But the primary reason people keep coming back to it—and why your mom stocks up before vacation—is that recognizable yet subtle coconut and floral fragrance that smells like summer.

Fragrance notes: Coconut, floral

One reviewer writes: “This sunscreen allows me to enjoy the sun in Hawaii without painful burns. I continue to use for protection at home in the summer because I love the fragrance and the comfortable feel of the sunscreen. It's not greasy and feels like a fine body lotion.” —Julie

People rave about this award-winning Innisfree sunscreen for the glowy finish it gives the skin, leaving it protected and radiant throughout the day. The scent—a faint citrus and tea tree blend—is very subtle (actually imperceptible to some), but many fans say it adds to their experience.

Fragrance notes: Lemon, tea tree

One reviewer writes: “I’ve repurchased this many times. It just feels like a moisturizer — no greasy or sticky feeling. My favorite thing about it is the scent. It has a tea tree scent that is very calming in the morning.” —Haley

If you’re not into tropical piña colada–scented sunscreen (or your kids aren’t), you may prefer lathering up with this citrus-scented sunscreen by Juice Beauty. The formula is mineral and water-resistant, so it’s great for a pool day. Fans describe the clean citrus smell as “bright” and “grounding.”

Fragrance notes: Citrus

One reviewer writes: “This is my favorite sport sunscreen. It smells amazing. I have sensitive skin and I can use this on my face with no irritation.” —Leisa

If you’re looking for a good mineral sunscreen for your body, you’ll find it in this lotion from Australian Gold. It has a subtle citrus scent that you get upon initial application that fades, so the smell is there, and it’s pleasant but not too overpowering.

Fragrance notes: Citrus

One reviewer writes: “This is my favorite sunscreen of all time. It doesn’t leave my skin with a heavy, greasy feel like every other body sunscreen I’ve tried. It has a nice scent, but it doesn’t last long, which I love; Even if the scent is nice, I don’t want to smell like sunscreen all day. This product is perfect. I was very pleasantly surprised by it, and it will be my go-to forever.” —Rachel

Two-in-one products always give us pause, but this one by Black Girl Sunscreen is a hybrid formula we can get behind. This lightweight mineral formula is specifically designed for Black skin, so you know there won't be a white cast. The barely-there scent is all-natural and comes from the lavender oil, which soothes any healing breakouts or skin irritation.

Fragrance notes: Lavender

One reviewer writes: “I love this I took it on vacation down in Florida. It smells so beautiful! I took it to the pool with me at the resort and somebody stole it while I was in the pool, smh. I’ll be ordering another one soon.” —Lila

Reviewers say this vanilla scent is a “nice added bonus” to this fantastic, hydrating, reef-safe, water-resistant Kinship sunscreen.

Fragrance notes: Vanilla

One reviewer writes: “I absolutely love this sunscreen! It doesn’t break me out and it goes on smooth without feeling greasy. The vanilla scent is a nice added bonus.” —Sarah

Of course Rihanna has one of the best-smelling sunscreens on the market—she famously smells incredible. The Hydra Vizor is great if you’re looking for a moisturizing daily sunscreen with a fruity scent that could be its own perfume.

Fragrance notes: Melon

One reviewer writes: “The texture, the smell, the glowy finish. Love it, my new favorite sunscreen for my face.” —Elizabeth