11 Best Smelling Hand Creams Of 2024 For Soft And Supple Hands

Eliminate pigmentation and pre-mature wrinkling with this effective hand formulation.

Reviewed by Hillary Clark, Esthetician
Written by Krati Darak, MBA, Certified Skin Care Coach
Edited by Medha Deb, Integrated MA
Fact-checked by Shiboli Chakraborti, MA (English Literature), Certified Skin Care Coach  • 
All products recommended on StyleCraze are independently selected by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may receive a commission. Learn more about our product selection process here.

There is something about wearing the best smelling hand cream that can keep your mood consistently good. We often invest in perfumes and deodorants that cover up the stench of sweat, but they eventually wear out or combine with your natural odor and fade away. The part of your body that reaches out to people the most is your hands, and sadly that is the part of you that touches everything and collects weird stenches. So, the next time you cannot take the burger smell off your nails, instead of spraying perfume on it, try a sweet-smelling cream!

These hand creams will ensure that the delicate skin on your hands is nourished and moisturized and prevent pigmentation and premature wrinkling. The more you spend time massaging your hands with the cream, the better your skin elasticity will be. They also work like magic in relieving the tension of your nerves and helping you work better. If you are not sure which cream will work for your skin type, we are here to help. Here are the 11 highest-rated creams to keep your hands smelling like a flower.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best Quick-Absorbing:L’occitane En Provence Dry Skin Hand CreamPrice on Amazon
Best Hypoallergenic:Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand CreamPrice on Amazon
Best Fragrance:J. R. Watkins Hand Cream - LavenderPrice on Amazon
Best Hydrating:Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream - Sea KissedPrice on Amazon
Best Water-Resistant:Eos Shea Butter Hand Cream - LavenderPrice on Amazon
Best For Rough Cuticles:Bliss Lemon & Sage Hand CreamPrice on Amazon
Best For Skin Softening:Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Balm - LavenderPrice on Amazon
Best For All Skin Types:Body & Earth Hand Cream Gift SetPrice on Amazon
Best For Dry Skin:Thyme’s Kimono Rose Hand CremePrice on Amazon
Best Non-Greasy:Burt’s Bees Lavender & Honey Hand CreamPrice on Amazon

11 Best Smelling Hand Creams For Beautiful-Looking Hands

1. Best Quick-Absorbing:L’occitane En Provence Dry Skin Hand Cream

4.6
L’occitane En Provence Dry Skin Hand Cream Image: L’occitane

For hands that feel like butter, try this nice smelling L’Occitane hand cream with 20% shea butter to nourish and soften dry skin. Hillary Clark, medical esthetician, says, “This cream is a cult favorite for a reason! It is deeply hydrating, healing, and non-greasy.” This dermatologically-tested cream also contains honey, almond extract, and coconut oil blended together to create an extremely effective formula. Shea Butter is an ideal enriching ingredient to nourish and protect your skin as it’s rich in fatty acids and unsaponifiable. Organic honey, known for its soothing and nourishing properties, helps to soften the skin. Sweet almond oil, which is rich in omega 6 and 9, is great for its soothing and softening action on sensitive and dry skin. This sweet-smelling hand cream leaves your hands soft and smooth with no oily residue, is absorbed quickly by the skin, and forms a protective barrier on your hands. Check out the reviews from other users on e-commerce websites and test out this hand cream today to know why it is a top favorite hand cream.

Product Dimensions: 2.13 x 1.61 x 7.17 inches | Weight: 6.24 Ounces

Pros

  • Contains natural ingredients
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Gets absorbed quickly
  • Leaves no oily residue
  • Rich in omega 6 and 9

Cons

  • May not be suitable for those with tree nut allergy

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The overwhelming 15,228 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.

2. Best Hypoallergenic:Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream

4.6
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream Image: Gold Bond

We all know that feeling when your hands feel like sandpaper and you wonder what you did to deserve it. You can put an end to that with one of the best-smelling hand creams that lasts through hand washing and gives your hands the deep moisturization they need. It’s a blend of key ingredients, including soothing aloe vera and 7 intensive moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture throughout the day and is absorbed quickly by your skin to give a comfortable finish. It also has potent antioxidants like vitamin A to help improve the appearance of skin, vitamin C to protect against environmental stressors, and vitamin E to help minimize moisture loss. Our hands witness the maximum wear and tear and this dermatologist-tested cream nourishes and repairs your hands by adding a protective layer of moisture to restore soft, smooth, and healthy skin. “This cream is ideal for working outdoors and works on the feet too,” Hillary Clark notes. If you are looking for a hand cream that provides visible results in less time, you should definitely give this one a try!

Product Dimensions: 1.44 x 1.44 x 5.13 inches | Weight: 3 Ounces

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Non-greasy
  • Easily absorbed

 

Cons

  • Some may find its fragrance too sweet

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 17,594 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.

3. Best Fragrance:J. R. Watkins Hand Cream – Lavender

4.4
J Image: J.r. Watkins

If you want to flaunt your beautiful rings, you need to keep your hands beautiful too. This nice-smelling and affordable hand cream provides your delicate skin with the ultimate moisturizing experience. Natural cocoa butter and shea butter are the key ingredients blended together along with 10 natural oils such as avocado and jojoba oil, and a wealth of extracts to protect, soothe, and condition your delicate skin. Hillary Clark further says, “This cream is wonderful as a bedtime sleep mask for your hands.” You never have to worry about dry, cracked, or aging skin again. Its delightful luscious scent is a treat for your senses and will uplift your spirits with every application. So, get ready for those beautiful hands. It is best to conduct a patch test before you use it so that you can avoid any allergic reactions.

Product Dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x 6.87 inches | Weight: 0.8 Ounces

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Silicon-free
  • No dyes
  • Formaldehyde-free
  • Recyclable packaging

Cons

  • Some may find it a bit greasy
protip_icon Quick Tip
Choose a product with a lotion-like texture if the cream’s lingering sensation on your hands bothers you.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 7,241 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are so in awe of this product.

L’occitane En Provence Dry Skin Hand Cream
Best Quick-Absorbing
Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Hand Cream
Best Hypoallergenic
J. R. Watkins Hand Cream - Lavender
Best Fragrance
Dimensions 2.13 x 1.61 x 7.17 inches 1.44 x 1.44 x 5.13 inches 1.25 x 1.25 x 6.87 inches
Weight 6.24 Ounces 3 Ounces 0.8 Ounces
Rating
Reviews15,22817,5947,241
Price$12.5$3.99$9.99

4. Best Hydrating:Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream – Sea Kissed

4.7
AHAVA Dead Sea Mineral Hand Cream, Sea-Kissed, 3.4 Fl Oz Image: Ahava

Treat your thirsty hands to a good dose of deep hydration and nourishment with this luxurious and pleasant smelling hand cream for dry hands. Blended with revitalizing, hydrating, and active minerals from the Dead Sea, it is scented with a clean, sea-kissed fragrance. It nurtures and protects your hands from dryness and witch hazel and 21 essential minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium add to the health and smoothness of your hands and cuticles. This clinically proven hand cream is easily absorbed by the skin and locks in moisture to hydrate, moisturize, and soften the skin of your hands.

Product Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 6 inches | Weight: 4.23 Ounces

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben-free
  • Easily absorbed
  • Allergy tested
  • Allergy tested

 

Cons

  • Contains artificial fragrance

5. Best Water-Resistant:Eos Shea Butter Hand Cream – Lavender

4.5

Tired of dry, rough hands? This mild smelling lavender hand cream contains lightweight shea oil and shea butter and offers 24 hour hydration and protection. It gets absorbed by your skin in no time and leaves your hands smooth without that annoying greasy feeling. Shea oil provides instant hydration and comfort while shea butter creates a water-resistant protective barrier that keeps your skin soft and smooth. Its soothing lavender fragrance with a hint of velvety amber and warm sandalwood adds to the feeling of luxury on using this hand cream. The Amazon reviews suggest that this hand cream is a customer favorite product that provides long-lasting moisturization.

Product Dimensions: 1.97 x 1.38 x 6.26 inches | Weight: 2.5 Ounces.

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Non-greasy
  • Easily absorbed
  • Dermatologist-tested

 

Cons

  • Contains EDTA
protip_icon Quick Tip
Pair this hand cream with gentle hand exfoliating scrubs once or twice a week to remove dead, dull skin cells and revitalize the skin.

6. Best For Rough Cuticles:Bliss Lemon & Sage Hand Cream

4.5

Who wouldn’t like a fresh, lemony smell on their hands all day? This lemon scented hydrating hand cream infused with sage is a rich moisturizer that makes your hands soft and silky without ever causing greasiness. Shea butter packed with vitamin E nourishes your hands to prevent dryness and flaking and is quickly absorbed by the skin. Pro vitamin B5 helps in hydration by boosting the skin barrier and rejuvenates and revitalizes cells. Aloe vera leaf juice also moisturizes and rejuvenates your hands and smooths rough cuticles. It also contains extracts of macadamia nut, grape seed, and soybean oils which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants and prevent water loss, keeping your hands supple. After just a few days of using the hand cream, users reported experiencing visible results with noticeably softer and smoother hands, making it a top favorite product.

Product Dimensions: 4.88 x 1.63 x 6.88 inches | Weight: 4 Ounces.

Pros

  • Vegan
  • Fresh scent
  • Cruelty-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • SLS-free
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • Some may find the cream greasy

7. Best For Skin Softening:Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Balm – Lavender

4.5
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Balm – Lavender Image: Mrs. Meyer’s
Now 31% Off

If you’ve finally decided to pamper your hands, this pleasant smelling lavender hand cream with shea butter. It is specifically designed to make your skin feel moisturized and gets absorbed quickly by your hands. The lavender scented hand balm has a soothing and calming fragrance and comes at an affordable price. This herb has long been cherished for its original and clean floral scent. This hand cream contains a special blend of key ingredients that include sweet almond oil, shea butter, and other ingredients that leave your hands feeling soft, smooth, and smelling fresh. According to Amazon reviews, this hand cream, with its creamy texture, is the best choice for your daily routine to heal dry and cracked hands without making them appear greasy.

Benefit For soft Skin , Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.5 x 1.5 x 5.88 inches | Weight: 0.01 Ounces

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • No artificial colors

Cons

  • May require constant reapplication for extremely dry skin
  • Strong scent may not be favorable for those with fragrance sensitivity

8. Best For All Skin Types:Body & Earth Hand Cream Gift Set

4.4
Body & Earth Hand Cream Gift Set Image: Body & Earth
Now 13% Off

This versatile set of amazing-smelling hand creams can of course be used for yourself but also makes an excellent gift and are ideal to carry while travelling. Depending on your mood, choose your relaxing fragrance for the day and lift your spirits. You have a choice of rose, lavender, green tea, ocean, cherry blossom, and almond shea fragrances which are like food for your soul. The hand creams are enriched with shea butter, natural glycerin, sunflower seed oil, and vitamin E, which gives a soft finish to your hands. This moisturizing and nourishing hand lotion set is ideal for rough hands and leaves them soft, smooth, and rejuvenated without having to deal with greasy hands. Many reviewers on e-commerce websites loved this product due to its ideal hydrating properties and the fact that you get to enjoy multiple fragrances in one set.

Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 2.9 x 6.3 x 9.3 inches; 1.18 Pounds

Pros

  • Lightweight consistency
  • Non-greasy
  • Cruelty-free
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • Contains parabens

9. Best For Dry Skin:Thyme’s Kimono Rose Hand Creme

4.5
Thyme’s Kimono Rose Hand Creme Image: Thyme’s

Who doesn’t want to smell of roses? This rose scented hand cream is a rich blend of shea butter, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. Together, these ingredients moisturize and nourish your hands, keeping them soft, velvety, and supple. Its unique invigorating fragrance is inspired by botanicals in nature and art to create a very refreshing scent and this is also visible in their artfully designed packaging. The featured fragrance notes in this product are satiny rose, rich jasmine, silken vanilla, and effervescent clementine. A delight to the senses! Reviewers have praised this product for its creamy texture and hydrating capabilities. 

Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 4 inches | Weight: 3.2 Ounces

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Petrolatum-free
  • Very effective for dry skin

Cons

  • Contains EDTA
  • Contains parabens

10. Best Non-Greasy:Burt’s Bees Lavender & Honey Hand Cream

4.2
Burt’s Bees Lavender & Honey Hand Cream Image: Burt's Bees

Show your hands some love with one of the most popular hand creams. Burt’s Bees hand cream contains shea butter which softens and smooths your dry hands and indulges your senses with its enchanting fragrance of lavender and honey. This luxurious hand cream nourishes and moisturizes your hands all day long with its blend of shea butter, baobab oil, and pumpkin seed oil without leaving a greasy residue so that you can go about your daily routine without worrying about greasy hands. This natural and delightfully scented hand cream with its rich buttery texture can be applied easily and smoothly and leaves you with a soft and silky feel. It comes in a convenient size that can be carried in your purse. This hand cream comes in 2 other elegant fragrances of rosemary and lemon as well as vanilla and clove. So, get ready for some beautiful scented hands!

Package Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.69 x 1.73 x 1.18 inches | Weight: 1 Ounces

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • SLS-free
  • Non-greasy
  • No synthetic fragrance
  • Dermatologist-tested

Cons

  • Some may find it a little greasy.

11. Best Travel-Friendly:Mademoiselle Provence French Rose Smoothing Hand Cream

Your hands carry all that is important to you, so care for them with love! This rose scented hand cream is a blend of organic rose and peony extracts from Provence, France, and will keep your hands moisturized and delicately perfumed. This collection of Chloe Mortaud transports you to the heart of Provence with her beautifully scented hand creams and is heaven to the senses. With 96.1% natural ingredients, this rose and peony cream is formulated with shea butter and olive oil and is rich in vitamins A and E that are potent antioxidants. Its light texture nourishes and moisturizes the skin and is suitable for all skin tones and types. This product comes in other fragrances like verbena and lemon, lavender and angelica, and almond and citrus orange blossom. Its signature eye-catching packaging makes it a perfect gift item and its ideal size is perfect to carry when you’re travelling.

Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 1.4 x 1.8 inches | Weight: 2.82 Ounces

Pros

  • Cruelty-free
  • Sweet floral scent
  • Lightweight
  • pH balanced
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate-free
  • Phenoxyethanol-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicon-free
  • Paraffin-free
  • Petrolatum-free
  • No synthetic dyes
  • Dermatologically-tested

Cons

  • Contains artificial fragrance
*The prices provided in this article are based on the latest available information. However, they may vary due to changes in pricing by the seller and/or promotional offers.

Now that you have been through our list of the 11 best smelling hand creams of 2024 for soft and supple hands, here are a few pointers to make your search for an effective and suitable hand cream a bit simpler.

What Should I Look For In A Hand Cream?

  • Ingredients to look for

A good and effective hand cream should have humectant ingredients like glycolic acid and glycerin to help prevent the loss of elasticity of your skin. Also beneficial are vitamin C, vitamin B, peptides, lanolin, shea butter, and hyaluronic acid. Most hand creams will not have all of these ingredients but the more there are, the better, as they help prevent moisture loss and protect the skin. Essential fatty oils like argan oil, avocado oil, and sweet almond oil are ideal ingredients for dry skin. Aloe vera has healing properties and gets quickly absorbed by your skin, so you never have that horrible greasy feeling.

  • Ingredients to avoid

Fragrances and any added color are definitely to be avoided as they can irritate sensitive skin. Also, synthetic thickening agents like triglycerides or palmitates which leave a greasy residue should be avoided. Parabens, sulfates, phthalates are all a no-no if you’re committed to using organic products.

●    Skin concern

For dry skin, you should look for an intensive care cream, and if you have flaky skin, a hand cream with exfoliating properties would be ideal. Hand creams work to soothe and smooth dry, rough hands, hydrate nail beds and cuticles, and prevent your nails from cracking and peeling. Whatever your concern, there is a cream available to tackle it.

  • Moisturization

Dry and dehydrated hands can never seem to get enough of moisture and very often we end up using the greasiest hand cream we can find. Hydrating ointments are probably the best way to go if you have severely dry hands. Ceramides are a must when your hands require moisturization and are best used at night for maximum healing. Glycerin rich formulas that keep the skin hydrated and smooth all day long are best for everyday use.

  • SPF

Your hands are as vulnerable and prone to sunburn as your face. To protect them from the harmful UV rays of the sun, look for hand creams that contain SPF.

Infographic: Benefits Of Using Hand Creams

If you are worried about your wrinkled hands, switch to using good hand creams. They keep your hands moisturized and protect them against free radical damage. To learn more about why you should be using hand creams, have a look at the infographic below.

Benefits Of Using Hand Creams (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

The Bottom Line

Frequent hand washing and sanitizing can make your hands parched and dry. You need the best smelling hand creams to keep your hands soft, supple, and nourished. Consider the L’occitane En Provence Dry Skin Hand Cream which soothes the skin and leaves no oily residue, or the Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream which locks in moisture and smoothens the cuticles as well, or the Bliss Lemon & Sage Hand Cream which strengthens the skin’s natural barrier and revitalizes the cells. These creams will keep all the bad odor at bay and prevent pigmentation and premature wrinkling. The reviewed products in the list get absorbed quickly, contain natural ingredients, and do not leave any oily residue. The delightful scents of these creams support uplifting your senses post-application. They are also devoid of all synthetic chemicals. These creams will take care of your cracked and dehydrated hands in no time. Consider the ingredients to look for, ingredients to avoid, skin concerns, moisturization, and SPF while choosing the best-smelling hand creams.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times a day should a hand cream be used?

Hand creams are usually formulated to give 24 hour moisturisation, without being oily or sticky. There’s no fixed rule as to how often one should use hand cream. It can be used every time you wash your hands or sporadically through the day, depending on your skin type and the weather conditions. Several light applications are usually more effective than one heavy application.

How long does hand cream take to absorb?

It usually takes around 30 minutes for hand creams to be absorbed, so if you wash your hands before that, it would need to be reapplied.

When should I start using a hand cream?

Whenever you wash your hands, you must apply a hand cream because your hands become dry and dehydrated. Before stepping out of the house, apply hand cream and follow it up with sunscreen. Any time your hands start feeling dry or you notice little cracks, nourish them with a hand cream.

Why do hands need a special moisturizing product?

The skin on your hands is quite thin and has fewer sebaceous glands, so it dries out rather quickly. On the contrary, the skin of your palms is thicker, so for the moisture to penetrate, a hand cream needs to be rich in moisturizing ingredients.

Is hand cream safe during pregnancy?

Yes, there are several pregnancy-safe hand creams. Hand creams without retinol, hydroquinone, formaldehyde, and essential oils are safe during pregnancy. But, always recheck the ingredients and consult your doctor.

Are scented hand creams bad?

Yes,artificial fragrances are mostly bad for the skin. They can cause irritations and are harmful to people with sensitive skin. Also, synthetic fragrances can lead to redness and dryness.

Is smelling hand cream good for the face?

No, hand creams are not suitable for the face. They can clog the pores of your facial skin and trigger breakouts. Also, those with added synthetic fragrances can dry the skin and damage its texture.

Is hand cream and lotion the same?

No, they are not the same in formulation or consistency. Hand creams have more oil concentration and are thicker in consistency. On the other hand, a lotion is thinner and has a high water content.

Can you use hand cream on your arms?

Yes, you can use it on your arms but it may clog the pores. Also, hand creams are usually thicker than lotions, so applying them can make your arms feel sticky.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Krati Darak is a skin care enthusiast who thinks hand creams are a must-have in everyone’s vanity. According to her, a sweet-smelling hand cream will nourish and moisturize your hands while preventing nourishment and moisturization. She has carefully checked online reviews and user feedback to pick the products included in the list.

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