The 19 Best Hand Sanitizers to Clean Hands in a Pinch

If you're tired of hand sanitizers that smell too pungent, you'll definitely look forward to slathering on Skylar's Sun Shower Soothing Hand Sanitizer Gel. Inspired by the sun peeking out after a rain shower, your senses will perk up at the welcoming blend of Italian bergamot, meadow greens, and cedarwood. Sixty-two percent ethyl alcohol keeps hands properly protected, while witch hazel leaves hands feeling smooth to the touch. 

Skylar also offers another enticing scent called Pink Sky, which is infused with notes of lychee, mangosteen, and sun-drenched jasmine.

You trust Mrs. Meyer's products to clean just about everything in your home — including dishes and laundry — so it's no different when it comes to your hands. The lavender-scented Clean Day Hand Sanitizer (pictured above) not only smells extra soothing, but the formula includes calming ingredients like aloe vera for a softening touch. All the while, 62 percent ethyl alcohol effectively kills bacteria. This convenient, affordably-priced spray bottle also comes in Basil.

Henry Rose Jake's House Hand Sanitizer stars notes of fresh marine, honeyed neroli, and soft musk (like the fragrance it's based off of) for people who are over intense alcohol scents or fragrance-free options. Spoil your senses while cleansing on-the-go with ethyl alcohol. Hands never feel dried-out either, due to a combination of soothing aloe and glycerin. Also available in a 6.7-ounce pump bottle. 

Touchland's Power Mist makes protection against germs so easy. The 67 percent alcohol-based hand sanitizer uses a smart spray system that evenly distributes product onto your hands so you don't miss any spots, and it comes in eight delightful varieties to suit any taste, including watermelon, citrus, vanilla cinnamon, and aloe vera (pictured above). After racking up waitlist orders in the tens of thousands last year, these are still in hot demand — so stock up fast.

Megababe Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer may be pocket-size, but it packs a powerful punch. It's 62 percent alcohol, but super moisturizing, thanks to the addition of almond and marula oils. And if you need a larger version for at-home use, it now comes in a 16 fl oz pump bottle.

If you're all about hydrating, unscented formulas, Biossance's Squalane Hand Sanitizer Defend is a luxurious cream-gel derived from the brand's star ingredient, squalane. And to make sure it destroys any bacteria in its way, it's flanked by 70 percent ethyl alcohol. Squalane and vegan glycerin replenish the skin's moisture barrier so your hands stay soft, even after the 25th cleanse of the day. 

Physicians Formula's Rosé Take the Germs Away Hand Sanitizer is loaded up with 80 percent ethyl alcohol to kill bacteria, in addition to tea tree oil and aloe for conditioning and softening hands. As the name suggests, it smells like a lovely rose garden.

The 62 percent bacteria-killing alcohol in this Tonymoly 62% Alcohol Aloe Chok Chok Hand Gel is balanced with a healthy dose of soothing aloe water and witch hazel for an effective cleanse that doesn't leave your hands sticky or chapped. By the way, "chok chok" is a phrase that refers to dewy, bouncy, and glowed-up skin — and of course we'd want that for our hands. It's also available in three-packs for $6 total if you want to stock up.

Vegamour's Hand Sanitizer Spray is plant-based, cruelty-free, and contains moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera and marula oil — in addition to 75 percent isopropyl alcohol to eradicate germs. It's also available in a larger, six-ounce spray bottle or a three-pack of two-ounce bottles for $16 each.

Armed with 68 percent ethanol alcohol and moisturizing glycerin, Milani's Rose Hand Sanitizer (which also comes in a two-pack for $12 on Amazon) uses a handy spray format to keep hands clean and moisturized. The rose scent will stick around for a bit, but we're definitely not complaining.

Pipette's fragrance-free offering eliminates 99.99 percent of bacteria, thanks to 65 percent ethyl alcohol and its hero ingredient, sugarcane-derived squalane, so your hands stay super soft. It first launched in an eight-ounce bottle but Pipette also sells two-ounce and jumbo 32-ounce bottles for your convenience. 

Despite the 70 percent alcohol content found in Dear Sundays' Hand Sanitizer Hs.01, it's mild and uses glycerin to keep skin feeling soft. It's also the perfect first step of an at-home manicure or pedicure, and you can choose from a flip cap or pump bottle, which is pretty neat.

As with all of these options, Lather's Hand Sanitizer with Moisturizing Aloe contains over 60 percent alcohol to keep hands clean while you're on the go. It also has aloe leaf juice to combat dryness and a light aroma of citrus essential oil.

"This is a plant-based sanitizer that effectively kills 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria," says Frieling. It's formulated with naturally derived glycerin and aloe, which help combat the drying effect of some sanitizers, leaving hands moisturized. Choose between three scents, Grapefruit Grove, Coastal Surf (shown above), and Lavender Field — as well as a classic, fragrance-free version.

The quick-drying gel formula in Maapilim's Hand Sanitizer features a relaxing blend of bergamot, jasmine, and cedarwood essential oils, as well as aloe vera to keep your hands moisturized. But most importantly, it kills 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria with 70 percent alcohol.

Zeichner uses Purell before and after seeing each patient — which means sanitizing about 80 times per day. "It contains 70 percent alcohol, effectively disinfects the skin, and does not dry out my hands," he says, thanks to the addition of soothing vitamin E.

Why call it hand sanitizer when you could call it something as fancy as Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash? Aesop has perfected the art of the prestige alcohol-based germ-killer with this tiny, fancy bottle, which has a wonderful citrus and woody scent — thanks to key ingredients like mandarin rind, rosemary leaf, and cedar atlas.