Testers looked for liquid soaps that produced a hearty lather and washed away cleanly, with no residue. (No antibacterials were tested; see Antibac-lash, following page.) With scented soaps, the goal was nice but not knockout. Here, the top choices for refined noses.

Woodsy

Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Hand Soap in Lemon Verbena, $5 for 12.5 ounces
Oils of peppermint, lemongrass, and fir in this hand wash give a crisp, outdoorsy kick to your hygiene routine. "The scent transported me to a pine forest," one tester rhapsodized.
To Buy: www.mrsmeyers.com.

Fruity

Baudelaire Provence Santé Apricot, $14.50 for 16.9 ounces
"Heaven in a bottle," raved one tester after sudsing up with this soap. The light apricot fragrance is touched with a hint of gardenia. Glycerin and sweet almond oil leave hands soft and smooth.
To Buy: www.baudelairesoaps.com.

Citrusy

Origins Lemon and Orange Peel, $13.50 for 6.7 ounces
Clove buds add a clean, spicy note to this hand wash's citrus base. "The smell is like walking into a warm house after being out in the cold," remarked one tester.
To Buy: www.origins.com.

Flowery

Fruits & Passion Art Home Cleansing Hand Gel Blue Lavender, $15 for 17 ounces
This thick, refreshingly scented gel contains glyceryl oleate, a non-greasy sunflower lipid that keeps skin moisturized long after the gel has been rinsed off.
To Buy: 800-276-9952.