A quick glance at top vagina-friendly soaps and cleansers:
- Best overall vagina-friendly soap: Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar
- Best overall vulva cleansing wipes: Summer’s Eve Fragrance Free Cleansing Cloths
- Best on-the-go vulva cleansing wipes: LOLA Cleansing Wipes Packets
- Best full-body cleansing wipes: Royal Body Wipes
- Best vagina-friendly shower wash: Vagisil Daily Intimate Wash pH Balance
- Best vagina-friendly bubble bath: Maude wash no. 0
- Best vagina-friendly bath bomb: The Honey Pot Company Balancing Fragrance Free Bath Bomb
- Best post (vaginal) sex wash: Sustain Natural Body Wash
- Best vagina-friendly treatment for dry pubic hair: Fur Oil
- Best vagina-friendly treatment for ingrown pubic hair: Fur Ingrown Concentrate
- Best vagina-friendly treatment for easing irritation: Momotaro Apotheca Salve
What does “feminine” hygiene actually mean?
Walk down the toiletries aisle at any drugstore, supermarket, or convenience shop and you’ll spot “feminine hygiene” stamped across wipes, creams, oils, and more.
But that phrase is mostly a marketing label used to sell:
- sanitary pads
- tampons
- panty liners and shields
- internal cleansers
- sprays
- disposable razors
- and similar items
Importantly, the target audience for this marketing is cisgender women.
For generations, cis women and other people with vaginas have been taught to view their genitals as unclean or odorous, and brands profit from the shame many have absorbed about their natural scent.
No, genital hygiene products aren’t essential
“Feminine hygiene” covers a broad range of items. For this piece, we’re focusing on products made for the vulva (external genitalia) and the vagina (internal canal), such as:
- pube oils
- razor-burn remedies
- vulva-safe soaps
- external wipes
Here’s the bottom line: none of these are required.
The vagina is self-regulating, says Dr. Renjie Chang, OB-GYN and co-founder of sexual health company NeuEve.
“A healthy vagina has its own bacterial ecosystem that preserves the appropriate pH,” Chang explains.
That normal pH sits around 3.5 to 4.5 — mildly acidic — which helps stop harmful bacteria from overgrowing.
Cleaning the inside of the vaginal canal or douching can upset this balance and lead to irritation, bacterial vaginosis, or other infections.
“Douching also raises the chance of pushing STIs upward toward the fallopian tubes and can result in pelvic inflammatory disease,” warns Dr. Kimberly Langdon, OB-GYN and medical adviser at Medzino.
That said, the vulva does benefit from washing.
“Washing the vulva should be part of daily hygiene,” says Dr. Sherry Ross, OB-GYN and author of She-ology and its follow-up.
So what are these products for, then?
Even though they aren’t necessary, if you want to cleanse, moisturize, or freshen your external genitals between showers, there are products available.
Remember that anything you apply to the vulva can find its way into the highly sensitive vaginal canal, so ingredients matter.
“Avoid unnecessary additives like fragrances, which can dry the area and shift vaginal pH, causing irritation or infection,” advises Dr. Kameelah Phillips, OB-GYN at Calla Women’s Health in New York.
How we picked the best vagina-friendly soaps and cleansers
We selected items using criteria that indicate quality and safety.
Most picks are formulated to be as gentle as possible and are often:
- dermatologist-tested
- gynecologist-recommended
- hypoallergenic
- fragrance-free
Pricing guide
- $ = under $10
- $$ = $10–$20
- $$$ = over $20
Our picks for the best vagina-friendly soaps and cleansers
Best overall vagina-friendly soap
Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar
- Price: $$
- Bar size: 4 ounces (oz)
- Pack size: six bath bars
Believe it or not, the top choice might already be in your bathroom.
You generally want something with the fewest potentially irritating or allergenic ingredients around the vulva and vagina, says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, OB-GYN at Yale-New Haven Hospital and clinical professor at Yale.
“I advise patients to pick unscented soap like the Dove bar and to use only a small amount,” she says.
SHOP NOW AT AMAZONBest overall vulva cleansing wipes
Summer’s Eve Fragrance Free Cleansing Cloths
- Price: $
- Pack size: 32 cloths
“I support feminine wipes, and some brands do them well,” Ross says. “I like Summer’s Eve because their formula is made to avoid disrupting vaginal pH.”
These wipes are free from dyes and parabens and have been gynecologist-tested.
Ross suggests using them when you change pads or tampons.
“Pads can transfer unwanted bacteria to this sensitive area,” she explains. “These wipes can remove menstrual blood whether you’re at home or out.”
They’re also handy for wiping away sweat after a workout.
SHOP NOW AT AMAZONBest on-the-go vulva cleansing wipes
LOLA Cleansing Wipes Packets
- Price: $$
- Pack size: 12 individually packaged wipes
If you want single-use wipes for your overnight bag or gym kit, these work well.
“These look promising,” Phillips says. “They use mild ingredients and skip common vaginal irritants.”
Made from 100% bamboo, they’re saturated in a simple purified-water solution and are alcohol-free with no parabens, sulfates, synthetic preservatives, dyes, or fragrances.
SHOP NOW AT LOLABest full-body cleansing wipes
Royal Body Wipes
- Price: $$
- Pack size: 40 wipes
As the name implies, these wipes are intended for your whole body — basically a portable shower.
And yes, that includes your vulva.
They’re a gentle way to remove grime and oil from all external areas while adding hydration, since they’re:
- fragrance-free
- vitamin-infused
- pH-balanced
- alcohol-free
Slip a pack in your gym bag for after class or in your toiletries for travel.
SHOP NOW AT ROYALBest vagina-friendly shower wash
Vagisil Daily Intimate Wash pH Balance
- Price: $
- Bottle size: 12 fluid (fl) oz
“Vagisil offers intimate washes aimed at the labia and formulated to avoid disturbing normal vaginal pH,” Ross notes, stressing they’re only for external use.
This wash is pH-balanced, hypoallergenic, and tested by gynecologists.
Keep in mind it does include a fragrance, which could bother people prone to sensitivities or yeast infections.
SHOP NOW AT AMAZONBest vagina-friendly bubble bath
Maude wash no. 0
- Price: $$$
- Bottle size: 12 fl oz
Maude, known for intimate-care offerings, makes wash no. 0 — a gentle, fragrance-free formula suitable as a body wash or bubble bath.
It’s formulated to respect natural vaginal pH, a good pick for people who find many bath products irritating.
SHOP NOW AT MAUDEBest vagina-friendly bath bomb
The Honey Pot Company Balancing Fragrance Free Bath Bomb
- Price: $$
- Pack size: 3 bath bombs
Most bath bombs are full of glitter, fragrances, and chemicals — not ideal for your vulva. This unscented, all-natural bath bomb aims to maintain pH balance and won’t introduce irritating extras.
It lets you enjoy a soak without triggering unwanted symptoms like abnormal discharge.
SHOP NOW AT THE HONEY POTBest post (vaginal) sex wash
Sustain Natural Body Wash
- Price: $$
- Bottle size: 12 fl oz
Want to freshen up after sex? This citrus-scented body wash is created to help clean up bodily fluids, oils, or lubricants.
Don’t use it to rinse inside the vagina (or the anus), but it’s suitable for washing external areas after intimacy.
SHOP NOW AT GROVE COLLABORATIVEBest vagina-friendly treatment for dry pubic hair
Fur Oil
- Price: $$$
- Bottle size: 2.5 fl oz
How you groom your pubic hair is up to you. If you keep some hair, Fur Oil is a moisturizing option.
Your pubic hair doesn’t necessarily need oil — it isn’t exposed like scalp hair and gets natural moisture and sebum — but you may like the hydrated feel.
“Fur Oil has been dermatologist- and gynecologist-tested,” Ross notes. It contains clary sage and tea tree, which have astringent qualities — they might sting on broken skin or shaving nicks, Phillips warns.
Patch-test by placing a drop on your inner elbow, covering it, and checking overnight before using it in sensitive areas.
SHOP NOW AT FURBest vagina-friendly treatment for ingrown pubic hair
Fur Ingrown Concentrate
- Price: $$$
- Bottle size: 0.5 fl oz
If you remove pubic hair and get ingrowns, this concentrate is designed to calm bumps and reduce irritation.
Apply it directly to a troublesome ingrown or, as a preventive step, use it after hair removal if you’re prone to bumps. Allow it to absorb before dressing to avoid staining fabrics.
SHOP NOW AT FURBest vagina-friendly treatment for easing irritation
Momotaro Apotheca Salve
- Price: $$$
- Jar size: 1 oz
Popular among sex educators online, this thick salve is meant to restore moisture and shield skin from irritation caused by sex, workouts, or clothing.
Massage a small amount into vulvar skin after bathing. If you’ve tolerated coconut-oil-based products before, some people report using it inside the vaginal canal at early signs of infection — though results vary.
Some reviewers with herpes report it helps soothe flare-ups.
SHOP NOW AT MOMOTARO APOTHECAVagina-friendly substitutes to consider
It bears repeating: none of these items are mandatory purchases.
“Usually, water is enough for washing and caring for the vulva,” says Dr. Felice Gersh, author of PCOS SOS.
Gersh advises using no more than a clean finger and warm water for internal cleaning if needed.
Often, the simplest approach is the best approach.
Frequently asked questions
What are feminine washes used for?
These washes aren’t essential, but they can remove sweat and surface dirt from the external genitals. Some washes are also suitable for other parts of the body.
Who are feminine hygiene products intended for?
Although labeled “feminine,” these items are for anyone with a vulva or vagina — regardless of sex, gender identity, or gender presentation. A clearer label would be “vulvavaginal products.”
Should you use feminine washes daily?
“If you can avoid daily use, do so,” Gersh says. Research has linked frequent use of certain feminine products with bacterial vaginosis. If you do use one regularly, pick the simplest formula with the fewest ingredients.
What if my vagina smells bad?
First: a healthy vagina has a natural scent — musky or slightly musty. If it smells like dead fish, rotten eggs, or spoiled meat, that can indicate infection, and topical “spa” fixes won’t cure it.
Can feminine hygiene products cause harm?
Potentially. Fragrances and other additives can irritate sensitive tissues. Patch-test products on your arm before applying to the vulva or vagina.
Stop using any product that causes:
- irritation
- redness
- excessive dryness
If problems persist, consult a healthcare professional.
The bottom line
Ultimately, “feminine hygiene” is mainly a marketing term encouraging vagina owners to buy items they don’t actually need.
If you want to include these products in your self-care routine, the options above are gentle choices — just be sure you’re selecting and using them because you want to, not because you feel pressured.
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