When it comes to doing laundry, we all want our clothes to come out fresh, clean, and smelling great. But with so many laundry detergents on the market making claims about long-lasting scents and floral aromas, how do you know which one actually smells the best? I tested out 10 top-selling laundry detergents to find out.
Testing Criteria
I compared popular liquid and powder laundry detergents across several scent categories like floral, fresh, citrus, etc. I took into account the initial scent from the bottle, how the scent lingered on clothes over time, and whether the scent was natural or artificial smelling. I also considered value since no one wants to overpay for detergent.
Floral Scent Winners
Tide Spring Blossom came out on top for best floral scent. It has a bright, fresh blend of flowers like lilies and oranges that smelled natural, not perfume-y. The scent lasted for days on clothes without being overpowering.
Gain Moonlight Breeze also got high marks for its gentle night blooming jasmine and lavender scent. The floral aroma was noticeably present on clothes after washing and drying with no artificial smells.
Fresh Scent Favorites
For a clean, crisp scent, Arm & Hammer OxiClean won for best fresh smell thanks to its light citrus and botanical scent. It smelled bright and pleasant without seeming artificial or heavy.
Persil ProClean Discs in Fresh also had an incredibly fresh, almost ocean-like scent due to subtle mineral notes. The discs dissolve well, leaving behind a refreshing scent.
Top Citrus Scents
If you love bright, energetic scents, Tide Purclean Citrus Burst is the best smelling detergent. It has an authentic citrus aroma that reminded me of oranges and lemons. The scent stuck well to clothes without being overwhelming.
For a budget citrus scent, All Free Clear also made the list. It has light citrus notes that are noticeable but not super strong on clothes over time. Still, it smells natural and is gentle for sensitive skin.
Honorable Mentions
A few other detergents like Gain Original and All Mighty Pacs in Free had universally pleasant scents that didn’t quite hit a specific flavor profile. But they smelled fresh and lasted well on fabrics. Purex No Sort was also scent-free as expected but neutralized odors well.
No matter what types of notes and scents you enjoy, choosing the best smelling laundry detergent comes down to personal preference. Over time, detergent scents can fade which is why I tested endurance. These picks can make laundry feel fresh week after week.
The Takeaway
Tide Spring Blossom, Gain Moonlight Breeze, Arm & Hammer OxiClean, and Tide Purclean Citrus Burst have the best smelling and long-lasting scents across floral, fresh, and citrus categories. Consider your favorite fragrance notes and test scents to find the perfect detergent match.
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.