If you like to feel warm and cosy in the winter and comfortable in your clothes in the summer, fabric conditioner is a must.
However, not all fabric conditioners are created equal. Some smell great, but they don’t give you the softness you want, while others give you the softness you need and none of the freshness.
This simply won’t do, so we have scoured the land to find the best smelling fabric conditioners that still give you all of the softness that you could ever want.
So here they are, the best smelling fabric conditioners on the market right now. Enjoy!
Best Smelling Fabric Softeners in the UK
1. Comfort Blue Skies Concentrate Fabric Conditioner
Scent: Fresh
Blue Skies has a fresh smell that can take you back to summer in the winter or keep you in a summery mood all year round.
It provides a wonderful softness to all of your clothes and can make your clothes dry faster and iron easier!
Combine all of this with the powerful odour protection, and you have one of the best fabric conditioners on the market.
The scent that Blue Skies gives your clothes is lovely, but it is the smells that it keeps away that makes this one of the best.
2. Method Fabric Softener, Tropical Coconut
Scent: Tropical Coconut
Method’s tropical coconut fabric softener has a delightfully tropical scent that combines coconut with pineapple, berries, vanilla and cedarwood.
With a typical bottle content of 45 washes, this fabric softener is a reasonably priced choice too.
All of the ingredients Method uses are plant-based and biodegradable, so not only are they better for sensitive skin and your laundry, but better for the environment too.
The bottles themselves are even made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, and the company is working towards making sure the caps are too.
Users love the fact that this fabric softener is not tested on animals, and that the scent isn’t as overpowering as many alternatives are, making it suitable for individuals who are sensitive to scents.
However, some people have found that the delicate scent does not penetrate thicker materials very well, and that if it is used with a strong-smelling detergent, that will be all you can smell at the end of the cycle.
3. Comfort Strawberry and Lily Fabric Conditioner and Softener Liquid
Scent: Strawberry & Lily
Crafted by perfume experts, this is a fantastic product offered by Comfort that you can’t go wrong with.
Ideal for those who enjoy fruity scents, this product offers a delightful blend of strawberry and lily, at a better price than your local supermarket.
When mixed with laundry detergent the conditioner provides an unparalleled level of softness, and freshness that lasts. Not only that, but the soothing liquid has a powerful impact on the fabric fibres of your clothes, so that they’re perfect for easy ironing.
The formula isn’t as powerful for use on towels though, so the level of softness declines slightly.
4. Comfort Waterlily and Lime Fabric Conditioner and Softener Liquid
Scent: Waterlily & Lime
Comfort’s waterlily and lime offers an unusual combination of scents to produce a surprisingly delightful overall result.
The product itself offers excellent value for money, just a small addition to your washing load adds more fragrance in every drop to lock in the invigorating scents.
With 1.9 litres of product in a bottle, you get enough fabric softener for many weeks of soft, fresh clothes.
Despite being a powerful blend, it still helps your clothes to maintain their colour so that you always look your best.
That being said, the smell is quite different to regular conditioners so it’s an acquired taste, but great if you want to try something new!
5. Ecover Fabric Softener Apple Blossom & Almond
Scent: Apple Blossom & Almond
Ecover’s apple blossom and almond fabric softener is free from harmful chemicals and is even free from palm oil, which means it will soften and care for your clothes without harming the environment in the process.
The bottle itself is made from post-consumer recycled plastic that can then be recycled again by most local authorities.
The product comes in different bottle sizes, some containing enough fabric softener for 25 washes and others containing enough for 50.
Users find that this fabric softener smells great and does a good job of softening most fabrics. The scent is long-lasting, but users have found that it is not very strong on thick or heavy fabrics.
Some users also find that they have needed to use more than the recommended dosage on the bottle depending on the amount of laundry and which detergent they use.
How to Choose a Fabric Softener
Choosing a fabric softener is ultimately down to personal preference, but there are a range of factors that you should consider in order to make your decision.
From the obvious considerations like smell through to how environmentally friendly it is, here are our top tips on how to choose your perfect fabric softener.
1. Look for a pleasant smell
Fabric softeners are available in a whole host of scents, with something to suit just about every individual’s tastes. From floral through to fruity, the world is your oyster.
If you are sensitive to scents, you can always opt for a lightly fragranced option, or even one that is completely fragrance-free.
2. Pick a softener that won’t irritate your skin
Sensitive skin is a major problem for many households, and some fabric softeners can just exacerbate this. If you know what chemical causes the problem, check the ingredient labels to make sure it is not included.
If you’re not sure what the problem is, pick one that is hypoallergenic and uses only natural ingredients.
3. Choose something environmentally friendly
Not all fabric softener is made equally when it comes to looking after the environment. Pick a fabric softener that uses ingredients that are either natural or biodegradable, and packaging that is reusable.
How to Get Your Laundry Smelling Really Good
We hope that at least one of the fabric conditioners in our list has the perfect smell for you.
Keeping your clothes smelling great and fresh for longer is something we all strive for. Don’t you love getting a fresh top out of the drawer and getting that satisfying whiff of your favourite laundry scents?
We do too and there are plenty of products and ways to ensure you get amazing-smelling washing every time!
As well as fabric softeners and fabric conditioners there are a few other ways of keeping your laundry smelling its absolute best. It all starts with a clean washing machine!
Washing machines can build up with dirt and get damp and mouldy over time, so keeping on top of your washing machine cleaning is the first step to getting the best smelling clothes after washing.
If your machine is suffering from bad drum breath, then check out our post about why your washing machine might be spongy. You’ll find some great info here on how to clean your trusty washing machine.
Once you’re sure your washing machine is squeaky clean, you should be able to reap the full benefits of great smelling fabric softeners or whichever other laundry products you choose to use.
Here are a couple of other products that can keep your laundry fresh as a daisy:
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- In-wash scent boosters – These little pellets are added to your drum before the laundry goes in and they disintegrate in the wash adding even more fresh smells to your favourite clothes. Our favourites are Lenor Unstoppables.
- EcoEgg – Get fresh scented laundry and save money wash-for-wash with an EcoEgg. These egg-shaped containers are filled with natural detergent pellets which slowly dissolve in each wash (up to 720 washes with the larger ones) and your laundry could smell like a Spring Blossom or Fresh Linen.
If you would like to find out more about other household items, please take a look around our website. We have loads of articles on here that can help you find the best products for your home and your family.
Conclusion
If we had to pick just one fabric softener to recommend for great-smelling laundry, it would be Comfort Blue Skies. It’s a highly rated product that is popular for its fresh, summery scent.
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
