I am sure natural way is better in long run, than lab produced chemicals. I use natural powder created from dry Acacia concinna[0] and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis[0] and for the smell part in India every used to use coconut oil but now a days youngster dont like though majority of school going children are apply coconut oil to the hair after head-bath
[0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acacia_concinna
[0]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis