It’s not hard to remember a time when the thought of using anything other than a block of soap in the shower wouldn’t have washed with most men. But these days guys know that if you want to smell great from AM to PM, you can’t rely on aftershave alone.

Fortunately, most body washes do well to replicate the scents of their eau de toilette siblings (or at least give them a leg up). So, whether you’re a first-thing-in-the-morning or just-before-bed kinda guy, here’s everything you need to know about shower gels, and the 15 best for making a clean getaway every day.

Best Body Washes For: Everyday | Multitasking | Fragrance Layering | The Bathroom Shelf | Sensitive Skin

Choosing The Right Body Wash Or Shower Gel

One of the earliest decisions to make is selecting between body wash and shower gel, which (unlike kale and stale garbage) aren’t two words for the same thing. “Body washes and shower gels are similar in that they both use mild surfactants to cleanse the skin, but the main difference lies in their texture,” explains Simon Duffy, founder of Bulldog Skincare For Men.

“Shower gels tend to be thinner in their consistency, which makes them better for warmer climates, whereas body washes are generally thicker and more moisturising because they contain emollients.”

That’s not to say that gels don’t help lock moisture into the skin (in fact, there are plenty below that do just that). The only soap form you really should give the slip is the old bar, which, according to the Indian Journal of Dermatology, usually contains a much higher pH and can dry out the skin or even exacerbate dermatological conditions such as acne, rosacea or eczema.

“When it comes to choosing a product, you should be particularly picky if you have sensitive skin,” adds Duffy. “In order to get the benefits of a body wash or gel they should contain skin-beneficial ingredients like aloe vera and glycerin, and avoid things such as sulfates.”