The Best-Smelling Fabric Softeners of 2024, Vetted By Our Editors
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ICYMI, designer laundry detergent is a thing now—and it’s changing the entire wash-dry-and-fold game. While fabric softeners are meant to make your clothes soft to the touch, they’re also getting an upgrade with luxury fragrances from OUAI (our best overall pick), Maison Francis Kurkdjian and Capri Blue. Naturally, this makes sense; if you’re dropping thousands on an Egyptian cotton sheet set, you want it to be as soft and deliciously scented as the day you picked it up from Bergdorfs. Still, we’re curious how long these scents last and what makes them different from softeners Mom used while we were growing up? So below, we vetted 10 of the best smelling fabric softeners, plus everything you need to know about using them at the bottom of this article.
The Best Smelling Fabric Softeners of 2024
How We Chose the Best Smelling Fabric Softeners
We spent hours researching the best-smelling softeners—along with having our editors test some popular options, including DedCool x OUAI, The Laundress and Method Ginger Mango. Then, we narrowed down each softener to make sure it met the following criteria: a) it’s a dryer sheet or liquid concentrate that has softening enzymes, b) the scent lingers after washing and drying and c) it’s safe for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
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1. DedCool x OUAI Melrose Place Dryer Sheets
ICYMI, OUAI dropped a detergent with its iconic Melrose Place fragrance— and you’re going to love the way it lingers when used with the matching dryer sheets. Take it PureWow assistant editor Delia Curtis: “From the first whiff, my nose was treated to a slew of inviting scent notes. Heady rose, lychee, white musk, cedarwood and bergamot all come together to make it dizzying and delightful. I used the detergent in tandem with their matching dryer sheets, the first time only using one dryer sheet. The first load definitely came out smelling like roses, but I wanted a stronger scent payoff. So, for the second batch, I doubled the detergent and the dryer sheets. Let me tell you, my room smelled like the fragrance for about two to three days after I finished the batch of clothes.”
2. The Laundress Fabric Conditioner Classic
This editor is addicted to Laundress’ fabric conditioner for two reasons: a) it’s like a department store version of the classic laundry scent you grew up with and b) my linens have never felt so soft. What makes the fragrance unique is that it initially reads as clean, thanks to the top notes of fresh aldehydic and citrus, but it’s elevated with floral notes like lavender, rose, jasmine and lily of the valley. What’s more, it’s musky and masculine at the base with hints of oakmoss, patchouli, sandalwood and cedarwood. As if the elevated blend weren’t enough, the scent lingers for hours—it was so strong that I could smell it wafting from my shirt collar two days after washing.
3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Fabric Softener
You’ve probably heard of TikTok’s favorite perfume, Baccarat Rouge, but did you know the brand also has a line of luxurious laundry products? Maison Francis Kurkdjian brought his years of perfume mastery to this softener, which features a warm bergamot and Calabria base topped with delicate hints of lemon, lily of the valley and white musk. It’s lightweight yet intricate—and fresh enough to provide that crip linen-washed fragrance (which will linger long after it’s out of the dryer). “Yes, there is citrus here, but it's not a high-pitched blast. It's all rounded out by the harmony of florals and one of the cleanest musks I've ever smelled. It's fresh, but it has a soft, fuzzy warmth about it,” says one Neiman Marcus reviewer. Add to that the fact that it’ll bring hotel-worthy softness to your sheets.
4. Method Ginger Mango Fabric Softener
Another scent I love? This one from Method. While I expected the ginger-mango detergent to be as mismatched as pickles and cream cheese, it has a crisp, clean bouquet with a touch of sweetness. The tame zing of ginger is offset with the tropical fruitiness of a ripe mango—and the combination is subtly sugared (without being saccharine). As for the softener, it’s made with plant-based softening power with a targeted fragrance that’ll last for days. One Amazon reviewer says, “The smell is amazing, and it lasts so long because it's ultra-concentrated. And on top of that, my clothes have never felt so soft.”
5. Brooklinen Dream Clean Fabric Softener
With ‘clean’ written in the name, you know you’re getting a fresh fragrance with this guy. It features a warm and welcoming blend of citrus, vanilla, and amber, so it’s crisp and lightweight while still feeling inviting. The best part about this one, however, is that it has a concentrated formula to fight tough stains without the use of dyes or artificial brighteners. Not only that but the plant-based, biodegradable and cruelty-free ingredients make it great for anyone with allergies or sensitive skin. “The Dream Clean scent is soooo dreamy! It’s a light, cozy scent that I love washing all my bedding and blankets in. It feels calming and makes me happy,” says one Brooklinen reviewer.
6. DedCool Milk Dryer Sheets
Another option we’re loving from DedCool? These dryer sheets, which carry the brand’s best-selling scent, Milk. It features an ultra-cozy blend of amber, bergamot and white musk—and the brand describes it as a universal musk that ‘smells familiar, like warm, clean skin…feels like you’ve owned it for your whole life.’ This was so on the nose (pun intended) that one DedCool reviewer writes: “Milk is how I imagine the clouds the angels sleep on in heaven must smell. It’s just clean, warm, a little sexy and totally [gender] neutral. These dryer sheets are also much less powdery and chemically harsh than all the big brands, and the scent lingers in your fabrics much better!”
7. Downy Infusions Calm Mega Dryer Sheets
With ultra-calming floral notes and four-in-one benefits, it makes sense why these dryer sheets have more than 41,200 five-star reviews. While the scent features relaxing lavender and vanilla bean, the sheets are more than just a pretty scent—they offer three times the softening benefits to boot. They not only smooth and strengthen fibers to help clothes maintain their shape, but they also help to reduce friction that leads to pills and fuzz. Bonus: These sheets also prevent colors from fading. “These sheets are all I use to add fresh lasting fragrance and stop static cling! The scent is wonderful, and I love how it lasts from wash to wash on my clothes. And I only have to use one sheet per load…when I wash my bedding, I use two sheets (for an extra scent boost),” one Amazon reviewer notes.
8. Capri Blue Volcano Fabric Softener
Capri Blue (aka the "Anthro scent") has amassed a cult following from the Capri Blue Volcano candle, which has come to define Anthropologie’s in-store experience. So now, you have its softener, which carries the same notes shoppers are immediately lured by: tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, limes and lightly exotic mountain greens. “It smells sweeter and softer than the typical bright, tart scent people often associate with lemons, limes and oranges, likely due to the additional tropical notes,” explains VP of editorial Candace Davison in a review. Hence why reviewers are obsessed with the brand’s concentrated softener, which is so strong, one Amazon reviewer reported a headache after using too much of this stuff in a load of laundry (so heed the label’s recommendations, please).
9. Laundry Sauce French Saffron Fabric Softener
Velvety, sweet and addictive—there’s a reason why this scent has amassed a cult following at Laundry Sauce. While it has a warm, luxurious base with hints of French saffron, cashmere and tonka bean, its mid notes feature amber, vetiver and cedar. And while the bottom layers might be luxurious, the top makes it playful with a mix of red fruit fragrances, including morello cherry, strawberry and raspberry and crisp red apple. Take it from one Amazon reviewer’s rave: “I'm very sensitive to scents, super picky about them, but I believe this falls in line with what some people call ‘gourmand.’ It reminds me of a hotel I stay in the UK—sweet, not too sweet, floral, but not too floral, spicy, but not too spicy. I can't stop sniffing the four loads of laundry I just did, and it’s strong enough to fill my entire basement!” They also mention: “Besides its amazing scent, it made some of the stiffest fabrics significantly softer, and smoothed out wrinkles in a comforter was once contained in a vacuum pack.”
10. Frey Bergamot Beach Fabric Softener
Thanks to notes of sandalwood essence, bergamot root and clove spices, this softener’s scent mixes fresh and clean with warm masculine undertones. “The scent is perfect! It's not too weak and not too strong,” one Amazon reviewer says. “I was a bit nervous that it was going to be overkill when I placed the order. At 35, I didn't want to smell like a high schooler who drenched myself in Axe body spray, but I couldn't be happier with the scent and quality of the product.”
What to Consider When Shopping for Fabric Softener
According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, “Fabric softeners increase the touch of softness, prevent static cling, protect fabrics from abrasion and give garments a refreshing scent—and have clinical benefits on skin.” Yet, in order to make sure you’re reaping all of these benefits, you want to make sure you’re choosing one that meets the following conditions:
The 10 Best-Smelling Laundry Detergents of 2024
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
