The Honey Pot is my personal favorite feminine wash to use. This bestselling sensitive foaming feminine wash is a cult favorite due to the fact that it's both clean and unscented. It's also made without parabens or sulfates, and it uses a combo of lavender, calendula, and apple cider vinegar to soothe and hydrate skin. There are several others in this line that have scented options, but they’re also very gentle on the body.

Fragrance-free? Yes (*but has fragrant options)Size: 5.5 fl oz

THE REVIEW: According to one review, "The only feminine wash I’ll use. I’ve even tried the other scents, but they caused irritation. I have been using this for years now and won’t use any other product!"

Board-certified gynecologist Andrew Roth, MD, says that the best option, just behind warm water and a washcloth, is a gentle bar of soap. The Dove Beauty Bar for Sensitive Skin is an unscented, hypoallergenic bar soap that is gentlest on even the most reactive of skin types, which means it's a pretty safe bet to use on your external areas—granted, it doesn't go internally, and you're sure to rinse super well. According to Dr. Roth, you should suds it up in your hands and gently wash the vulva area.

Fragrance-free? YesSize: Pack of 8, 14, or 24 bars

THE REVIEW: "After much research, I found that Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar Soap was a perfect pH for the skin—it has no perfume and is fragrance-free," writes one reviewer. "My lady bits are healed! They are happy, pain-free, and without irritation, burning, or itching."

If you're part of the UTI club, you are very aware that bubble baths are typically out of the equation. Dumping a fragranced concoction—or a glittery, colorful bath bomb—into the tub is a disaster waiting to happen. That is until today, when I introduced you to the Maude Wash No. 0—aka the unscented, irritation-free bubble bath formula.

Fragrance-free? Yes* (*but has fragrant options)

Size: 12 fl oz

THE REVIEW: According to one tester, "I have really sensitive skin, so this body wash is perfect for me! Sometimes other body washes will make my skin feel very scaly, oily, or even mess with my pH down there…Maude did nothing less than perfection. I will be repurchasing!"

This calming and soothing wash is a water-based formula that uses fresh botanicals—including lavender, calendula, and super-star ingredient aloe vera—to gently relieve dryness and discomfort. Fun fact: Aloe vera is proven to actually be really effective in the treatment of vulvar lichen planus (i.e., a chronic condition that causes dry patches around the genitals).

• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Size: 8 fl oz

THE REVIEW: "Such a light, clean, fresh scent," one tester notes. "I am sensitive to fragrances and have very sensitive skin in general, and this doesn't bother me at all. I look forward to using it. Very fresh feeling, and I feel like I smell better all day. It does indeed feel moisturizing as well!"

Ever use the bathroom and wish you had something a lil' more than TP to clean yourself? Enter: these multi-purpose wipes from Dame. Available in packs of 25, these bbs are infused with anti-inflammatory aloe vera and cucumber extract, and you can simply pop 'em in your bag (or leave a pack in your bathroom!) for on-the-go freshness.

• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Size: 25 wipes

THE REVIEW: "These are great to toss in your purse to quickly freshen up when you are out and about," writes one reviewer. "The scent is very mild and the formula is gentle, so you shouldn't have to worry about irritation. I would purchase these again!"

If you're someone who lives and breathes clean beauty, opt for the Rael Natural Feminine Cleansing Wash, a pH-balanced, paraben-free formula, that is vegan, cruelty-free, and natural. It's made with only eight (!!) ingredients derived from coconut, basil, and sugarcane, and testers say it's a safe bet for even the most sensitive skin. The stand-out ingredient: anisic acid, which works to keep bad bacteria at bay.

• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Size: 5 fl oz

THE REVIEW: "This is a gentle foam cleanser with no scent or perfumes that includes natural ingredients I recognize!" writes one tester. "It feels great to use with every wash."

I've said it before, and I'll say it again for the folks in the back: If you choose to use a feminine wash, the best formulations are the ones made with minimal ingredients. This one by Love Wellness is without parabens, sulfates, or fragrances—i.e., all the potentially icky things you don't want anywhere near your genital area. Instead, it uses anti-inflammatory aloe vera to soothe and calm skin.

• Fragrance-free? Yes
• Size: 5 fl oz

THE REVIEW: As one tester explains, "I was skeptical because I have very high sensitivity, but the cleanser is awesome and I haven’t had any reactions thus far. What I like most is that it doesn’t have a smell and it leaves me feeling clean and dry all day long. Just a little bit goes a long way, so I think the small bottle is worth it."

If you choose to use a feminine wash, a product like this one is a better option due to the fact that it has fewer potentially icky ingredients in the formula. With only eight ingredients—including calendula and aloe vera, which both have natural anti-inflammatory properties—this simple and gentle formula is made with your vulva's sensitivity in mind.

Fragrance-free? Yes (*but has fragrant options)Size: 5.1 fl oz

THE REVIEW: As one reviewer notes, "This is a soft feminine cleanser that has no fragrance at all and leaves you feeling nice and clean. I have very sensitive skin and a lot of cleansers irrate me, but this didn’t at all. It has a nice foam lather that is easy to use and easy to rinse off. It didn’t dry my skin out like some do. You only need to use a little bit because it goes a long way."

Tbh, feminine washes are not necessary, and as Dr. Roth explained, warm water, a washcloth, and—in some cases—a gentle bar of soap are all you need to keep up your hygiene. But if you're looking to show your vulva a lil extra love, here a few pointers to keep in mind:

Look for formulas specifically made for vulvas

If you opt to use a feminine washes, make sure it has a pH that's optimal for cleansing your intimate parts. FTR: The pH level of your vaginal area should be between 3.8 and 4.2 —aka slightly acidic. "This acidic environment is maintained by lactobacilli, or 'good' bacteria, which keep the vagina protected," ob-gyn Omnia Samra-Latif Estafan, MD, previously told Cosmo. "They create a barrier system that prevents the growth of unhealthy bacteria, and keep yeast at bay." So it makes sense that any wash you use should be balanced to match your vaginal pH!

Check out the ingredients

When it comes to feminine wash, it's not so much about the ingredients to look for as the ones you need to avoid. Sulfates, parabens, and phthalates are all no-gos when it comes to vulva cleansers, as they can potentially irritate that delicate skin down there—and might even alter your vaginal pH. And when that system is out a whack, you can end up with a yeast infection...which is not a good time.

Make sure it's fragrance-free

Speaking of ingredients to avoid! Any feminine wash you choose should be fragrance- and perfume-free, because no, your genitals shouldn't smell like peonies. Even essential oils should be avoided, as they all have different properties and pH levels. "It's understandable that women want to feel as clean as possible in that region," Dr. Estafan noted, "but sometimes, it can create more harm." According to her, the rule with feminine washes is the fewer the ingredients, the better.

No, you do not need to wash your vagina as it maintains a healthy pH balance by itself. However, it may be okay to wash your vulva in certain situations when done correctly and with the right, non-irritating product. As a rule of thumb, if you haven't felt the urge to use a wash, it's probably best to forgo one and keep using warm water and a washcloth. "Everyone has to have good hygiene," says Dr. Roth, adding, "I encourage patients to soap up their hands with a bar of gentle soap and wash between the lips and crevices of the vulva while bathing."

Unfortunately, there is no straight answer regarding whether or not feminine washes are safe, so let's break it down: There are two distinct categories: washes that clean the vulva (feminine washes) and washes that clean the vagina (douches).

"Douching?! Absolutely do not do," says Dr. Roth. There are significant risks associated with douching, but one, in particular, is that they tend to mask what the real issue is: "Patients will do it because they feel as though they are 'not clean,' but not only are they masking the problem by just trying to 'wash it away,' but they could actually be making it worse because they're disrupting the natural protective mechanisms of the vagina," says Dr. Roth.

There are fewer risks associated with feminine washes, explains Dr. Roth, "but remember, I said low risk, not no risk because if they are formulated with certain chemicals or fragrances, they can actually cause a chemical irritation on the vulva or skin," he says, adding, "there's also probably no benefit of using one."

Andrew Roth, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Yorktown Health in Chicago, IL, as well as an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at Rush University Medical Center. Alyssa Dweck, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY, as well as an assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at New York Medical College.Omnia Samra-Latif Estafan, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN at Hamilton Wellness Center in Trenton, NJ.