The Best Scented Laundry Detergents Our Editors Have Tried—From The Laundress to Snif

“Laundry Sauce uses perfume‑caliber fragrance oils in its detergent, and it shows,” says Candace Davison, VP of editorial content. "I've tried a few scents over the years, and you really can't go wrong with their blends."

While her personal favorite, Mojave Peach, isn't currently offered, she also recommends Himalayan Cashmere. "If you've been into the 'skin scent' trend in perfume, which provides this comforting, cozy fragrance that feels like your skin, only enhanced, this is the laundry equivalent. Most perfumes use musks, woody notes and ambrette to achieve that, and similarly, Himalayan Cashmere combines the flower Osmanthus, sandalwood, ambrette, pear and Himalayan musk."

She continues: “It’s warm, inviting and layered in a way that doesn’t just infuse your washroom—you’ll catch whiffs of it all day, as it gently envelops you,” she says. (Just note: The brand recommends two pods per load for maximum scent payoff.)

Performance‑wise, the ultra‑concentrated pods are enriched with bio enzymes that tackle everything from protein‑based stains (think sweat) to oils and everyday grime, all while keeping fabrics soft. The scent lasts just as impressively—subtle wafts follow you for hours, almost like wearing a fine perfume.

“I save it for delicates and linens; anything I want to feel special,” Davison adds. “You don’t even need perfume when you’re wearing clothes washed in it.” That said, if cashmere isn’t your thing, the brand also offers scents like Australian Sandalwood (smoky and grounding with cedarwood and patchouli), Egyptian Rose (velvety florals warmed with vanilla bourbon), French Saffron (spiced and amber‑rich) and Italian Bergamot (bright citrus with a peppery kick).

Fast Facts

• Size: 30 pods (up to 30 loads) or 69 pods (up to 69 loads)
• Scent Notes: Himalayan musk, ambrette, pear, osmanthus, sandalwood
• Scent Strength: 8/10

If I could bottle the feeling of walking into Bergdorf Goodman, it would smell exactly like this detergent. Old Money is a sophisticated blend of cardamom and tonka bean at the top, layered with smooth vanilla and creamy sandalwood, grounded by a base of warm musk. It’s wood‑spiced, subtly sweet and quietly opulent—less “laundry day” and more like a fragrance you’d spritz before a black‑tie dinner. And while the scent isn’t overpowering, it lingers in the most elevated way: I washed my sheets with a single capful, and for days, my bedroom echoed its warm, luxurious notes. Not to mention that weeks later, when I pulled those same sheets from storage, the fragrance was still there. It’s so long‑lasting that I’ve skipped perfume entirely after wearing freshly washed clothes—they already smell like I’m wearing a luxe, designer fragrance.

Yet, while the fragrance alone could sell me, the formula backs it up. I tested it on a dish towel with a salsa stain I was ready to toss, and one wash—medium‑sized load, warm water, two caps—lifted it completely. Towels come out plusher than before, my sweaters keep their shape and softness, and even my most delicate pieces stay pristine. The clean, vegan, non‑toxic formula is fabric‑safe yet effective, so there’s no fading, pilling or that over‑washed feel. In other words: It’s a rare, sophisticated scent that works as both your signature fragrance and your secret weapon in stain‑fighting.

Fast Facts

• Size: 16 ounces (up to 32 loads) or 32 ounces (up to 64 loads)
• Scent Notes: Cardamom, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood, musk
• Scent Strength: 9/10

From the moment I opened this bottle, I knew it would be my go‑to for everything. The scent is the perfect balance of fresh and fruity—bright bergamot and juicy mandarin at the top, anchored by green and marine notes that feel airy and clean. A heart of rose and jasmine adds a soft floral lift, while the base of musk, wood and amber brings a warm, grounding richness. It smells like slipping into freshly pressed linens at a five‑star coastal resort—luxurious, uplifting and complex in a way you never get from mass‑market detergents. Even better, the fragrance lingers *for days* on everything from towels to cotton tees. Thanks to its ultra‑concentrated formula (just a capful per load), a single 32‑ounce bottle delivers 31 washes without sacrificing scent payoff.

To that end, the 4‑in‑1 enzymes are effective on more than just workout clothes. Yes, it revived a stale pile of Lululemons I’d accidentally left in a laundry basket during a 15‑day trip to Thailand—but it also removed caked‑on mud from my white barrel jeans (no pre‑treating or scrubbing beforehand). Not to mention that it made my 300‑thread‑count sheets come out of the dryer feeling noticeably softer. Meaning that, while it’s engineered for performance fabrics like nylon and spandex, it’s equally gentle on denim and Egyptian cotton. And at about $1.13 per load, it’s pricier than drugstore detergents—but I’d argue that the days‑long scent payoff and ability to handle any fabric make it a splurge that more than earns its keep.

Fast Facts

• Size: 32 ounces (31 washes)
• Scent Notes: Bergamot, mandarin, green, marine, rose, jasmine, musk, wood, amber
• Scent Strength: 10/10

Before trying this detergent (which was co-founded by momager Kris Jenner and Good American CEO Emma Grede), Davison was skeptical of the celebrity-backed collaboration. “Often, it feels like an excuse for the brand to charge more,” she explains in a PureWow100 Review. “But then, a few months later, I found myself frantically clicking refresh on Safely’s website, hoping my eyes were deceiving me that its everyday laundry detergent wasn’t actually sold out. The Spring scent (which is now called ‘rise’) is like a high-end candle’s take on walking through a field of wildflowers. It features musk, amber, sandalwood and patchouli base notes, middle notes of jasmine, violet and heliotrope and geranium, orris and rose top notes. It seems like a lot, but the fragrances come together to create a clean, lightly floral scent that wafts through the air the moment you uncap the bottle."

Plus, if its 93-point rating is any indication, the detergent’s pros extend far beyond the heavenly scent: “It—combined with a Seventh Generation Laundry Stain Remover—has helped me keep my preschooler’s clothes relatively stain-free, a feat considering the 92-degree day when we went out for ice cream and she completely covered herself in it.” What’s more, she adds, “It’s relatively affordable, as far as premium, plant-based detergents go, and if people stop by while you’re doing laundry, prepare for them to ask what oils you’re putting in your diffuser, or what candles you’re burning. Your call whether you reveal the true source.”

Fast Facts

• Size: 64 ounces
• Scent Notes: Delicate orange flower, sweet jasmine, earthy woods
• Scent Strength: 8/10

With more than 2.7 million views on TikTok, former PureWow editor Destinee Scott had to see what all of this #divawash detergent hype was about. Upon first glance, the brand says this scent is marked by ‘delicious fruits and rich florals’ with ‘aromatic chocolate and amber.’ Yet, when she went to TikTok to read between the lines, people were raving over its similarity to Thierry Mugler’s Angel perfume. For those who don’t know, this is a playful, energizing scent that combines a fragrant floral base with a warm and spicy finish. “It has a strong, fresh scent like an expensive hotel—and the scent doesn't just linger on items. It stays on for a while and eventually fills the room if you use it on a regular basis,” Scott says.

What’s more, she notes the fragrance is so powerful, you can forgo wearing other scents completely: “It's definitely not for folks who have sensitive noses. If you want to smell like a million bucks without perfumes and lotions and whatnot, look no further.”

And that’s not even the best part. While coughing up $28 per 32 loads of laundry can get expensive—it goes faster than you’d think—TikTok came up with a hack to spare your wallet: Combining it with fragrance-free detergent. Thanks to its ultra-powerful notes, a little goes a long way here. You can buy the mini Diva detergent (4 ounces for $10) and pour it into a budget-friendly bottle from, say, Seventh Generation or Tide that will last you months. Two detergents, half the price of smelling delicious.

Fast Facts

• Size: 4 to 128 ounces
• Scent Notes: fruits, rich florals, aromatic chocolate and amber 
• Scent Strength: 10/10

I have nothing against good ol’ Tide (especially when it comes to stain-fighting power), but if you’re looking for a more elevated approach to the OG’s clean, classic scent, L’Avant Collective is the answer. I threw L’Avant against some of my biggest laundry nightmares, including hot chocolate on my favorite white tee, foundation smudges on a delicate blouse, and a faint coffee mark I’d been ignoring on my cream quilt. In every single case, the enzyme-driven formula handled them effortlessly—no pre-treating required. The chocolate vanished entirely in a normal cold wash, and the foundation? Gone. Even my quilt, which had seen its fair share of wear, came out looking fresh and revived. It’s the kind of detergent that works equally well on high-maintenance fabrics (think designer blouses and vintage linens) as it does on athleticwear and towels.

Add to that its 5x concentrated formula and Fresh Linen scent. It has that quintessential “just did laundry” fragrance you associate with clean clothes, but L’Avant elevates it with natural notes of geranium, ylang-ylang, and bamboo. It’s crisp, calming, and impossibly luxe—like your laundry just spent a week at the Four Seasons in Bali. And unlike most detergents, the scent doesn’t disappear after a day or two. It lingered subtly on my quilt and sheets for weeks, making every bedtime feel like sinking into a freshly made hotel bed. It’s on the pricey side, but if you want an elevated alternative to your go-to stain fighter, L’Avant Collective delivers luxury that’s worth the splurge.

Fast Facts

• Size: 30 ounces
• Scent Notes: geranium, ylang-ylang and bamboo
• Scent Strength: 8/10

“If you’ve ever thought, I wish my sheets smelled as good as a luxury candle, this detergent is the answer,” says Davison in another PureWow100 review. “The Laundress describes its Beauty Sleep scent as a ‘velvety, spicy lullaby,’ and honestly, I can’t think of a more accurate description. The mix of sandalwood, jasmine and lavender gives it this sultry yet calming quality, like the kind of fragrance you’d find in a five-star hotel spa. It’s soft, floral, and woodsy all at once.” Plus, when Davison first washed her sheets with Beauty Sleep, the results were undeniable. “The scent didn’t just cling to the bedding—it practically transformed the room. For two days straight, I’d walk in and think I’d left a candle burning,” she explains.

The best part? The Laundress also delivers on performance, with its proprietary enzyme blend that targets stains without the need for pre-treating. “I had two marks on my cream comforter that I fully expected to spot-treat, but they disappeared completely with just one wash,” Davison continues. “It’s gentle enough for delicate fabrics but strong enough to handle those tougher spots.” And while it’s undeniably a splurge at $26 per bottle (about 15 washes), it’s a luxury worth reserving for your bedding. “It’s a little pricey, sure, but compared to the cost of my aromatherapy diffuser and candle collection? This feels like the ultimate bedroom upgrade,” she concludes.

Fast Facts

• Size: 16 ounces 
• Scent Notes: Bergamot, lavender, freesia, grapefruit, jasmine, rose, lily of the valley, oakmoss, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, musk, patchouli
• Scent Strength: 10/10

First up: A detergent that scored 93 points out of 100 in a PureWow100 review. “If you’ve ever walked past a Bath & Body Works and thought, Why can’t my clothes smell that good?, this detergent is your answer,” says Davison. “The scent is like wrapping yourself in a freshly bloomed bouquet—it’s soft, floral, and almost otherworldly. The combination of French lavender, pear blossom and golden vanilla strikes the perfect balance between relaxing and romantic, without feeling too sweet or overpowering.” What’s more, Davison put this detergent to the test over 12 loads of laundry—everything from sweaty workout clothes to stained baby clothes—and was blown away. “Sweat? Gone. Pureed carrots and spaghetti sauce? Completely lifted,” she says. Even dried toothpaste on a towel disappeared in one wash.

Still, the performance doesn’t stop at stain removal. This concentrated formula cleans thoroughly in both hot and cold cycles, works in high-efficiency and standard machines and delivers 64 washes per bottle. “It’s powerful enough to tackle my family’s toughest messes while still being gentle on linens and delicates,” she adds. And while the price is slightly higher—about 31 cents per load—it’s still more affordable than luxury laundry brands like Dedcool or L’Avant. “The price is worth it for the scent alone,” Davison explains. “It’s like aromatherapy for your laundry.” 

Fast Facts

• Size: 32 ounces
• Scent Notes: French lavender, pear blossom and golden vanilla
• Scent Strength: 9/10

From the moment this editor cracked open these pods, I knew I was about to pamper my clothes in something way bougier than Tide. The Black Velvet scent is exactly what the name suggests: mysterious and moody, but in a way that feels elevated. Imagine the first sip of smoky black tea on a crisp fall morning, laced with a hint of bergamot zest and bay leaves. It’s grounded by the warmth of amber, musk and cedarwood, giving it the kind of depth you’d expect from a high-end cologne. (Think Tom Ford’s Oud Wood, but make it laundry day.) The faintest touch of freesia and rose also softens the edges, so the scent is never overpowering.

As for performance, these pods surprised me. I’m usually a liquid detergent loyalist, but this concentrated formula was powerful enough to get me to reconsider. I tested it on my linen sheets and a graphic t-shirt with a marinara stain (thank you, late-night takeout), and it didn’t just clean—it revived. The sauce stain was gone without a trace, and the sheets were left soft, clean and smelling like they came fresh from a boutique hotel. In fact, the nourishing formula left the fabrics feeling noticeably smoother—like they’d been treated to a spa day. Not to mention that after washing and drying, the scent lingered beautifully without overpowering the room. I could still catch a subtle whiff when I put on the graphic tee two days later.

Fast Facts

• Size: 30 pods
• Scent Notes: Lemon, bergamot, black fig, freesia, rose, cedarwood, amber, musk and blonde woods
• Scent Strength: 9/10

Here, another detergent that finally got me to stop procrastinating and, dare I say, look forward to doing my laundry. At first, I was skeptical—ginger and mango sounded as mismatched as pickles and cream cheese. But the scent surprised me: the zing of ginger adds a fresh, slightly spicy kick that’s perfectly mellowed by the tropical sweetness of ripe mango. Together, they create a crisp, clean bouquet that feels subtly sugared without being cloying. The best part? The scent lingered on my clothes for days after folding, like a hint of summer tucked into every drawer.

Performance-wise, Method also didn’t disappoint. Its hypoallergenic, concentrated formula tackled everything from workout gear to my dull, dingy whites, making them look noticeably brighter after just one wash. (Even my roommate with sensitive skin gave it her stamp of approval.) At 66 loads per bottle—or 264 loads for a four-pack—it’s an affordable, high-performing pick.

Fast Facts

• Size: 53.5 ounces
• Scent Notes: zingy ginger base with fruity mango top notes
• Scent Strength: 8/10

Consider this the official scent of your next vacation. Island Nectar has a sweet-yet-crisp yuzu, orange and sandalwood scent that will make you dream of lounging in a hammock, Mai Tai in hand, as you wait to flip the laundry. "This beachy fragrance will get you so excited for spring and summer," Davison says. "It's a little fruity but bright and refreshing too; not too saccharine."

Each bottle can tackle about 30 loads, and while the plant-based detergent is free of artificial dyes, preservatives and thickeners, that doesn't mean it can't tackle stains. Beyond using baking soda and sodium hydroxide to attack odors and lift stains, it also contains coconut soap and laureth ethoxylate, which helps remove oil stains. (Though, when it comes to set-in stains, I found it wasn't as effective as a more traditional detergent, such as Tide or Arm & Hammer.)

Overall, the ingredient list is pretty minimal, compared to others we tested, and the website lists a full breakdown of what's in each bottle, along with short descriptions of what that ingredient does and why it was included. Pretty cool, huh?

Fast Facts

• Size: 32 ounces
• Scent Notes: jasmine, orange, pear, yuzu, sandalwood
• Scent Strength: 7/10

"After having my son, I went on a non-toxic cleaning kick, replacing most of my usual products with non-irritating options," says Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay. "Most clean formulas are fragrance-free, but Dirty Labs has a few scent options that smell amazing and somehow still omit a bunch of fragrance allergens. I particularly love the Murasaki scent that combines jasmine, matcha and vetiver. The brand says it's 'inspired by the early spring green tea harvest in Japan.' I've never been to Japan, so I'll have to take their word for it, but in my NJ suburban home, the warmth from the jasmine comes through, mixed with what I imagine sun-soaked grass would smell like. The scent is lovely and surprising, not what you'd typically find in a detergent. It envelops my laundry room just as much as my clothes, and I can still catch whiffs of it three plus days later."

Fast Facts

• Scent Strength: 10/10
• Size: 8.6 ounces (32 loads) to 21.6 ounces (80 loads)
• Scent Notes: jasmine, matcha, vetiver