Mrs. Meyer's Dish Soap Scents, Sniffed And Ranked

To that end, there’s no label doing more for the art of aromatherapeutic dishwashing than Mrs. Meyer’s, our $$ pick for the best dish soap. For nearly two decades, the all-natural brand with a cult-like following has lured grocery shoppers with its brightly labeled bottles and earned their loyalty with an impressive surplus of scent offerings — everything from the familiar (lavender) to the slightly off-kilter (radish).

It’s an embarrassment of riches, quite frankly. And unless you’re like me — a writer who has built a rainbow shrine of bottles on his kitchen counter for this post — the chances are slim that you’ve gotten your hands on all of Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap scents, let alone ventured outside your two go-tos (peony whom?).

That’s why we went ahead and bought nine varieties to find out, once and for all, which scent reigns supreme. As you’ll find out below, my personal preference leans herbal and subtle, rather than floral and bright. Also: I tested all nine dish soaps on my dishes at home, as well as lodged them up my nostrils like a preschooler with a Mr. Sketch marker. Y’know, for science.

Mrs. Meyer’s just announced plans to make this summertime scent available all year long. And sure, it’s a nice scent if you want to be reduced to tears thinking about the gardens you frolicked through during the spring months of your youth. Less incredible when you’re scraping Kung Pao chicken off your plate and the scents start mingling. It’s a full-bodied floral concoction that would probably make more sense as body fragrance.

Get it from Target for $3.89.

We all have our own scent associations when it comes to “clean.” Some may say lemon, mint, or garden herbs. True clowns will say flowers — specifically, geranium, the most intense flower variety of the bunch. Sorry, geranium, but you’re grandstanding without any clear reason, not unlike Big Little Lies Season 2.

Get it from Walmart for $3.88.

To be clear: This is not blueberry. Do not make that mistake, or you will be set up for disappointment. Bluebell ranks highest among its floral counterparts because its floral notes are subtle and curious. A right-down-the-middle scent that gets you to lean in for an extra whiff.

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $15.67.

Okaaay, take me to Scarborough Fair, Mrs. Meyer’s! This cozy and light scent strikes a nice balance between herbal and floral. (Full disclosure: I’m not crazy about rosemary in food, but here…go off.)

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $17.90.

You either love or hate this plant. The scent here is unmistakably (if not overwhelmingly) lavender. Proceed with caution if you like your soaps subtle. Or, full speed ahead if you stan.

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $11.37.

A safe choice for indecisive shoppers who can’t decide on fruity or floral. Its bright and sunny hints make it a primo summer dish soap, which I just decided is a thing.

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $11.64.

Hear us out on this dark horse: Sure, radish is probably not the scent that immediately comes to mind when you think of “clean.” But this earthy potpourri of peppery smells totally works. In fact, it’s one of the more neutral, inoffensive players in the mix.

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $24.64.

This perennial shrub can do it all: reduce inflammation, aid in digestion, reduce fevers, and — also, it turns out — create a beautiful citrus aroma for dishwashing. It’s just mild enough to win over lemon skeptics.

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $10.95.

Mrs. Meyer’s calls it “uplifting and grounding, familiar and exotic — all at one time,” which somehow rings entirely true. To add to this confusing paradox: The basil scent manages to marry sweet and savory notes to incredibly satisfying effect. Mrs. Meyer’s did that!

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $11.97.

Nota bene: For posterity’s sake, seasonal scents like Mint, Mum, and Apple Cider (hm?) were excluded from this ranking. All the scents above are available 365 days of the year.