15 Best-Smelling Laundry Detergents 2025: DedCool, Glam Wash, Snif

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You’ve heard it here: along with that one upholstery cleaner “Cleantok” goes nuts for and the Pink Stuff paste, designer detergents are officially the latest it household item. But why are we seeing everyone from traditional fragrance houses to buzzy perfume brands suddenly getting in on the laundry game?

Well, the business of scent has been booming in general — fragrances comprised the fastest-growing beauty category in 2024, according to Circana, rising 25% year-over-year with Gen Z men leading the pack. While classics beloved by your parents like L’Air du Temps or Chanel No. 5 will always have their place on the bedroom vanity, this boom has reportedly been ignited by shoppers who like experimenting with layering multiple fragrances to create unique blends rather than staying faithful to one signature scent for years. This scent “cocktailing” now goes far beyond the bottle, in the past year having made its way into our washers and dryers.

Long gone are the days when doing your laundry meant limiting yourself to the oversaturated, chemical-y fragrances from popular detergents (not everything has to smell like Febreeze and florals!). Unless you love feeling like sticking your nose into a spring meadow, now brands traditionally known for their artisan fragrances have jumped onto the laundry bandwagon. Today’s detergents are far more luxurious, almost scented closer to a spritz of perfume than a waft of generic chemicals.

At A Glance: The Best-Smelling Laundry Detergent

The best-smelling laundry detergents will not only clean your garments (that’s still their main purpose, after all), but gently perfume your fabrics for a scent that’s not-too-overpowering, but will actually last. Nothing beats that “fresh” smell of just-washed clothes straight out of the machine, but these detergents take it one step forward, elevating your load with collaborations from designer perfume brands (think Capri Blue, the in-store “Anthropologie scent,” or DedCool, the creator behind TikTok-loved perfume “01 Taunt“).

Whether you want to start actively looking forward to laundry day (it’s the little things), or you just want to smell as luxurious as your clothes feel when you put them on, we’ve rounded up the best-smelling luxury laundry detergents money can buy. Who knows? Someone might even think you just lit up a Le Labo Santal candle in their vicinity.

What Are the Best-Smelling Laundry Detergents for 2025?

We searched for the best-smelling laundry detergents online, we evaluated the brands based on ingredients, fragrance type and strength, overall quality, price, along with getting well-rated user reviews. Here are our top picks.

This highly-coveted, best-selling fragrance from DedCool has been transformed into a detergent that we can’t get enough of. The vegan and cruelty-free formula is described by the brand as ‘a coming-of-age story’ that ‘smells like daydreaming about your first perfume’. But I think the scent perfectly encapsulate a sweet yet mature vibe, thanks to blend of bergamot, fresh dew, cassis, vanilla and amber. This warm and sultry detergent is formulated with plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, making it a solid pick my sensitive skin, too. It’s not too overpowering, but lingers on my clothes for a least a few days after a wash (enough to pick up a compliment or two).

They come in 32 fl oz biodegradable canisters that last up to 60 washes (which we’ve found to be the case). If you’ve got a more sensitive nose, or you still want to layer a cologne on top of your daily fit, I’m also a fan of DedCool’s dryer sheets (although they have a much more subtle scent, take that as you will from a laundry snob).

Laundry Sauce is elevating laundry day by combining its powerful stain-removing formula with luxury fragrance-inspired scents in a pint-sized package. It’s like if the perfume counter at your favorite boutique merged with your neighborhood dry cleaner — all in a pod. There are nine scents to choose from but we’re partial to “Italian Bergamot” which is reminiscent of breezy summer days on the Italian Riviera. We can’t wait to throw on our sheets and be enveloped in our clothes after they’ve been put through a laundry cycle. Unlike cheaper fragrances which are often overpowering and can — literally — cause us to turn up our noses, Laundry Sauce offers fresh scents that are distinctive yet unpretentious. It’s an easy upgrade from generic drugstore detergent and a way to up your laundry game to more grown-up fare.

The #divawash detergent hype is real on TikTok, and we can say that the of rich and warm scent of Glamorous Wash‘s finest laundry liquid “Diva” has our stamp of approval. Upon first whiff, it seems like the major scent notes would clash (fruity, floral, and amber?), but we love the invigoratingly fragrant flowery base that combines with a warm and spicy finish. Scented like stepping into the lobby of an expensive hotel, you can set your perfumes and lotions aside when using this one — it packs a powerful punch, and a little goes a long way here (which works out given that it’s a bit pricier per load than similar options). That being said, it’s still remains gentle enough to use on delicate and specialty fabrics, and cleans positively luxuriously.

If you lean in close…well, you won’t exactly hear the ocean waves, but this herbaceous detergent from Method Liquid is scented like a fresh morning stroll along a misty beach. The zing of the sage notes elevate the classic masculine “water” scent to a really refined level, but won’t wash away your entire savings with the tide. Besides having some fresh fragrances, Method’s detergents also do a great job of reviving dulled whites and colors, and its hypoallergenic formula is also clutch for sensitive skin (unlike with some other scented detergents). For a bottle that promises to get you through 66 loads of laundry, this detergent’s value can’t be beat.

If the Tide pod fiasco of the 2010s taught us anything, it’s that there’s something so playful about fresh laundry pods — but this pick is also better for the environment. Dropps’ eco-friendly laundry option uses 100% plastic-free packaging, plus the pods themselves are free of excess water, artificial dyes and colors that don’t clean your clothing. Like a little “drop” of luxury, their Orange Blossom scented pods leave a vibrant citrus and soft floral fragrance behind that smells like sunshine and getting kissed in the summertime.

When you’re looking for a more elevated approach to tackling your toughest laundry loads, we recommend trying out L’avant Collective. Since it’s ultra-concentrated, you’ll need less than you think to achieve dramatic results, but beyond deep cleaning and powerful odor defense, we were most impressed with its luxurious scent. It leaves that signature “Fresh Linen” fragrance behind that you might be used, but elevates it with crisp, natural notes of geranium, ylang ylang, and bamboo. The scent will also linger for days after they leave the dryer thanks to the enzyme-driven formula (that’ll also help protect colors from fading).

Atticare, an artisan household care brand from the U.K., has a gentle detergent that plays off their sustainable soul with a scent that pulls from botanicals like blackberry brambles, clary-sage, and violet to name a few. It’s a nostalgically herbal fragrance that reminds us of walling down a country lane, with a formula meant for delicates that’s easy on sensitive skin. Don’t get us wrong, it still fights stubborn stains without harmful chemicals, but its clean formula uses ingredients like coconut sugars and natural surfactants that can even refresh even the most delicate fabrics like silk and linen. It’ll do your clothes some good, and leave you smelling like a plant-forward perfumery.

If you’re going to spend hours and hours nestled in your linens every night, they might as well smell like a dream, right? We’ve praised cult-favorite The Laundress before (keep scrolling to read on), but their new Beauty Sleep Detergent will take your wind-down routine to a whole other level with dreamy, perfumer-crafted notes of spicy sandalwood and warm, night-blooming jasmine and lavender. Designed as a detergent for bed sheets, pajamas, and fabrics you’re going to wrap yourself up in, this serene scent gave us that ultimate aaah feeling that made us want to dive into bed at night — and perhaps made it a little difficult to leave in the morning. Even if you don’t wash your bedding as often as you should (guilty), this detergent’s fragrance is quite long-lasting, and if you pair it with their Fabric Spray to freshen and dewrinkle your sleepwear? Now that’s what we call a good night in.

Anyone who has ever worked out even a little knows that the bane of laundry-doing existence is just how much the grind never stops when it comes to getting your activewear really clean. If you’re wondering what to do about the hundredth sweat-induced pit stain or that post-run stank, doing laundry for your workout clothes has never felt (or smelled) better than with DedCool’s new release. They recently teamed up with FP Movement to create a detergent that addresses tough odors and stains while blessing them with the spicy, earthy scent of sandalwood, black pepper, and bergamot. This Detergent+ formula is tough enough to get the grime out of all the synthetic fabrics most activewear is made of, but still gentle enough to use on your intimates. So feel free to get out and work up a sweat — you’ll smell like you just stepped out of the forest, not a sauna.

We were pleasantly surprised when our favorite mall spot for candle-sniffing Bath & Body Works got into the laundry game in late 2023, with customers able to vote on which of their favorite fragrances would get detergent-ized. We’re just lucky that “Sun-Drenched Linen” made the cut, which will leave your clothes smelling like you air-dried them out in the sunshine. While we’ve been nose-overloaded (the precursor to going nose-blind) before when it comes to “powdery linen” scents, this detergent is surprisingly sophisticated, with strong crisp apple notes, and underlying base of soft musk. If that sounds like a lot, you wouldn’t be wrong — but its scent sings like a symphony, and the concentrated formula that’ll get you 60+ washes makes it the whole cleaning package.

Enjoy the indulgent feeling of buying yourself your own bouquet of roses every day with cult-favorite The Laundress’ No. 723 laundry detergent. Everything from your pajama sets to bedding will feel well and truly pampered with a concentrated detergent formula that targets stubborn stains, dirt, and grease. Unlike other detergent scents that feel like an afterthought, this one was crafted by world-class perfumers, featuring the alluring smell of Damask Rose, along with musky notes of geranium, and amber​. We’ve also been using their Delicate Wash (in the “Lady” scent that’s still floral, but with more citrus and musk) for whenever we need a more gentle, concentrated clean, but No. 723 will turn your laundry basket into a fragrant rose garden in bloom.

Like driving by a citrus grove, we can’t get enough of the light, refreshing (essential oil-based!) aroma of Brooklinen’s Dream Clean detergent. While you will want to hold your nose up to your clothes to get a whiff of this scent, the real star here is its clean, powerful formula (free from parabens, petroleum, phthalates and phosphates) and stain-removing powers. Though Brooklinen is known best for their bedding expertise, this detergent isn’t just for your sheets. The ultra-concentrated formula will give your whole load a thorough plant-based clean, while helping you save some water too. It’s bright, it’s welcoming, and it’s sustainable — what more could you need?

If you want your clothes to give off Kendall Roy energy without having to shell out corporate merger-sized bucks, Snif’s “Old Money” laundry detergent is bonafide quiet luxury staple — without the Roy-sized price tag. The Everything Wash removes dirt and odors, while the Old Money fragrance leaves your laundry smelling like a million bucks with a luxe blend of cardamom, tonka bean, vanilla, sandalwood and musk. With a scent as warm and rich as this one, your laundry will automatically be elevated to VIP status. This isn’t just just a flashy clean, though; this detergent brings the quality with a non-toxic, non-irritating, vegan, cruelty-free, and synthetic dye-free formula.

This detergent doesn’t just get earthy on the organic ingredient list, but scent-wise, too. Dirty Labs’ sustainable laundry liquid combines refreshing magnolia with bergamot, and cedar fragrances for a pure, forest-y vibe. Thanks to their advanced enzyme cleaning technology, you’ll also get targeted stain- and odor-fighting power for the fresh-looking and smelling clothes possible.

Capri Blue (aka the in-store “Anthropologie scent”) has brought the experience of shopping around while taking in wafts of their Capri Blue Volcano candle to their luxe detergent. Like the “excitement and energy of a summer night rendezvous,” you’ll be lured in by notes of tropical fruits, sugared citrus, and exotic mountain greens. It’s noticeably softer and sweeter than typical citrus scents, which brings a nice pop to your laundry without getting too tart. It’s also formulated with essential oils (great for sensitive skin), but is concentrated enough to be remove the toughest stains.

Buying Guide: How We Chose the Best-Smelling Laundry Detergents

We take care in choosing the products we present to our readers. While we review descriptions to showcase modern selections with utility, we also rely on promising customer feedback or first-hand experience with the products and brands ourselves. We considered detergents with scents that are strong enough to linger after washing without being overpowering, powerful enzymes/stain-fighting formulas, price, and features like eco-friendly or non-toxic ingredients. The result is a carefully considered shopping list with you in mind.