Best smelling fabric softeners for heaven-scent laundry

Want your clothes to smell great for days after they come out of the wash? If you've been scouring the market to find a fabric conditioner that'll transform your laundry, you've come to the right place - read on for the best smelling fabric softeners, as tried and tested by us!

We got hold of a number of the UK's top selling fabric conditioners to find out exactly which ones will leave your laundry smelling the best, and let's just say, you might be surprised to see the results!

Keep reading to discover our pick of the best smelling fabric softeners available on the market right now, and when you're feeling suitably inspired, don't forget to check out our favourite heated clothes airers too!

Best smelling fabric softeners - tested by us!

The results at a glance

MOAM Organics Eco Friendly Fabric Softener
Method Pink Freesia Fabric Softener
Ecover Apple Blossom & Almond Fabric Softener

1. MOAM Organics Eco Friendly Fabric Softener

Buy now from Moam (£20).

We hadn't heard of MOAM Organics until we began our quest to find the best smelling fabric softener on the market, but after testing out their Monte Carlo fabric conditioner, it's safe to say we're true devotees of the brand.

Fragranced exclusively with geranium, lavender and cedarwood essential oils, this fabric softener is a far cry from many of the artificially scented laundry products you find on the market. We were intrigued to see how an 100% natural product would fare scenting our clothes, but, after just one wash, we were utterly impressed.

Although the formula is plant-based and extremely gentle, this fabric softener leaves a powerful, calming lavender scent that filled an entire room after washing. This scent was also very long-lasting, and our laundry smelt fresh for a good few days after the initial wash.

After trialing the fabric conditioner, we've since tried MOAM's laundry detergent and washing-up liquid - and we'll be purchasing the handy refill pouches again and again. You can take a look at MOAM's website to discover all the great benefits of using their totally natural, eco-friendly products, but put simply, they're free from all toxic chemicals and a fantastic option if you're looking to make safer choices when it comes to your household products.

For more cleaning solutions, browse our round-up of the 25 best cleaning products.

2. Method Pink Freesia Fabric Softener

We've always been keen on Method products here at YourHomeStyle, and after using their beautifully scented multi-surface concentrated cleaner (the bing cherry and bergamot one!), we had really high hopes for their fabric softener offering.

Luckily for us, their Pink Freesia fabric softener certainly didn't disappoint. Not only did it keep our clothes feeling especially soft, but it left a beautiful floral scent that lasted well after the laundry had been dried and put away. It gave our clothes a really lovely traditional clean laundry smell.

This fabric softener comes in a particularly large container, but we were pleased to discover that you didn't need to use much to make your whole load of laundry smell lovely and fresh - in fact, we didn't even need a whole capful, so from a money saving point of view, it's a fantastic option.

One of the things we liked most about this fabric softener is the fact that we could use it with a number of different laundry detergents, and it didn't seem to interfere with the intensity of the scent. Definitely give it a try!

3. Ecover Apple Blossom & Almond Fabric Softener

One of the big draws of Ecover products is their fabulous eco credentials, so we were thoroughly impressed to find that the scent of their fabric softener held up against some of its biggest competitors on the market.

The fragrance of this fabric softener is clean and fresh but subtle, so it's a fantastic option if you tend to opt for laundry conditioners that won't overpower or interfere with the scent of your perfume.

Aside from fragrance, this fabric softener was really lovely to use. Not only did its plant-based ingredients make it super gentle on sensitive skin and delicate items, but we also felt reassured knowing that it didn't contain any unnecessary nasties like palm oil.

This fabric softener is also available in gardenia and vanilla and rose and bergamot, both of which we'll definitely be giving a try!

What is the best smelling fabric softener smells strongest?

In our trials, we found that the MOAM Organics fabric softener had the strongest scent thanks to its high essential oil content. If you're not keen on lavender, however, Method's Pink Freesia fabric softener has a beautiful, powerful scent that's more floral and less botanical.

How do I get my laundry to smell really good?

Fabric softeners are unfortunately just one aspect of making your washing smell good. Here are some ways you can make sure your laundry smells really good all the time:

1. Clean your washing machine thoroughly

To clean your washing machine, you can run a shop-bought cleaner - we tested a selection here. Alternatively, you can make a solution of white vinegar and baking soda and use it to scrub the inside of the drum, before putting the machine on a hot cycle. You can also put this solution in the detergent drawers and put it on a cycle to run it through. Just remember to make sure your machine is totally empty before you do any of these steps!

2. Air your washing machine regularly

Make sure you allow your washing machine to air on a regular basis by keeping the door open after a wash cycle. This will prevent it from getting damp and stop any musty smells from developing.

3. Don't overload the washing machine

Although you can pack large loads of clothes into your washing machine, this isn't the best way to ensure your clothes get a thorough clean. Ideally, your washing machine should be no more than 3/4 full at any time - there should be enough space for your laundry to move around.

4. Use the right amount of detergent

We all know that using too little detergent will mean that your clothes don't clean properly, but did you know that you can actually use too much detergent? Using too much detergent in your wash will allow dirt and mould to stick to the fabric of your clothes, therefore causing a smell. Therefore, you should always use the amount stated on the directions of each individual product - don't just free pour it in!

5. Allow your clothes to dry properly

To avoid a damp smell, you need to make sure your clothes dry fully as soon as they are out of the wash. If you have a tumble dryer, make sure you put your washing straight into the dryer - don't leave wet clothes sitting in the washing machine drum.

No tumble dryer? Line drying your clothes is the best option as the fresh air will prevent any damp odours from occurring. If you have to hang your clothes on an airer, make sure your space is very well ventilated, and ensure you leave plenty of space between clothes to speed up the drying process. The longer they take to dry, the more likely they are to smell.

6. Use baking soda

If all else fails and your washing still doesn't smell good, get your hands on some trusty baking soda and add half a cup to your wash cycle. It's a natural deodoriser, used since long before the days of supermarkets and scented fabric softener.

Soak stubborn-smelling washing like gym kit, damp towels or old shoes in a baking soda and water solution overnight. Pop them in the wash as normal the next day, and they'll come out smelling cleaner and fresher than ever.

Looking for more handy laundry tips? Don't forget to check out our handy tutorial on how to keep clothes from fading in the wash and how to clean and store winter bedding.

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