Which Product Makes People's Clothes Smell So Good?

Updated on April 20, 2018
H.P. asks from South Hadley, MA
26 answers

I know, I know, random question. But one I'm willing to bet someone on this site knows the answer to! :) Which laundry product/brand gives off that strong, pleasant scent on people's clothing... such that when they walk by you at work you know it's coming from a certain brand. I'm thinking maybe it's a liquid fabric softener. I've tried Downy, Snuggle, and countless dryer sheets and can't seem to get the same strong scent. Does this ring a bell with anyone? It's staying power is phenomenal... I got second-hand clothing for my baby boy which was laundered with this particular brand and here we are nearly 2 years later wearing the clothing that still has the scent lingering on it. I am looking for the name of this product. Can you help me find it?

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So What Happened?

Wow, I got some great suggestions on here! Thanks to all who posted helpful suggestions! I will buy Suavitel and Gain for sure to check them out first. I use Tide & Downy now and while it does smell very good, it's not the exact smell I'm looking for. For Peg M. and those of you posting info on how toxic chemicals are, I appreciate the concern but I'm not interested in your feedback.

Featured Answers

M..

answers from St. Louis on

Sorry, Im going to be "one of those" with the super annoying comment. Anything that gives off that much smell has TONS of chemicals in it and isnt good for anyone, especially baby. You could throw a little white vinegar in the load to get any weird smells out.

6 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Well we try to live a chemical-free life so I use Method now (unscented). But I can smell Tide a mile away. I loved that Tide smell!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

No answer here for you, but, I do have a big THANK YOU for asking! I cant tell you how many times I have wondered this very thing. I have gone through countless brands and smells.
I was beginning to think it truly was a secret!

2 moms found this helpful

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P.M.

answers from Portland on

It's one thing to want clothes to smell clean, but quite another to add a layer of scent so that people smell you coming and going. Please be aware that most commercial fabric softeners / dryer sheets are downright toxic, and no child should be exposed to most of the chemicals they contain (google "fabric softener, toxic" for a bazillion warnings about how truly bad these are. (Here's just one of many: http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/articles/toxin5.php)

For people like me, who have developed sensitivities to the load of modern chemicals we're exposed to daily, fabric softeners are a menace and a misery (as are perfumes, air fresheners, and other products). If I am seated in a restaurant or movie theater or waiting in line at the supermarket, and someone wafting these chemicals sits or stands within 10-15 feet of me, I will have to get up and move, lose my place in line, or leave entirely. I've tried to tough it out a couple of times, and ended up so sick I was vomiting and not breathing/sleeping well for up to four continuous days. And of course, the toxic person, who is enjoying his/her fragrance, has no idea that people are getting ill, because it's not good manners to mention it.

Seriously, people need to be able to breathe safely in order to go out in public and work or do the things we all need to do. PLEASE don't add to the toxic load that seriously limits our lives, and puts children at risk for toxic overload.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Ariel. It's a powder product. My husband introduced me to it. It is often found in Mexican stores, but I have been seeing it in name brand stores too, ahhhh I can smell it now. But J.J.'S response made me smile. Oh well, if I get a tiny pleasure out of my day I will still use it. That made me laugh.

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K.P.

answers from Boston on

I think that sometimes you are immune to your own household smells. My mom's clothes always smell good but she doesn't smell a thing.
I always thought clothing that was dried "on the line" was the best smell. If only hanging clothes in our yard didn't look so awful, I'd have my husband hook one up.

2 moms found this helpful

J.J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

t.

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C.M.

answers from New York on

I swear by Gain liquid detergent and fabric softner. There's also a softner called Swivetel, smells great and less expensive.

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S.M.

answers from Boston on

This is so funny! I used to be a mail carrier, and on my regular route there was this one house where the dryer was often running when I came by. I had to walk up to the front door right past the dryer vent, and it always smelled SO GOOD!!! I wanted to knock on the door and just ask what they used to make their laundry smell so good, but I felt pretty stupid so I never did, but I always wondered. I, too, tried several different brands of dryer sheets, picking up packages in the store sniffing them trying to find THE smell. I never did try Gain... since so many people have already mentioned that one, I'll have to look into it.

I think part of it is just being used to the smell of whatever is in your house and not noticing it anymore. One time I brought some cleaned clothes back to a friend and she was like, "oh these smell so good! What do you use?!" Uh... Arm&Hammer liquid detergent and store brand dryer sheets, nothing special. I didn't notice that they smelled like anything!

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T.B.

answers from Miami on

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about! I have gotten BAGS of childrens clothes from various people and wondered, "What soap could smell that good?" I've tried just about every brand, from Tide, Gain (which does smell strong, but doesn't seem to linger that long), Purex, ALL, Whisk. You name it, I've tried it! I've bought various liquid softeners and while they smell good, not long lasting. Shoot, I got a bag of clothes from someone recently and I re-washed everything I was keeping and I could still smell their fragrance even after I washed and dried them with my soap! Amazing!! I have also bought Bounce sheets (Outdoor Fresh scent) and these sheets are quite strong. I do like/prefer the Bounce sheets over the liquid softeners. I would say the next time you smell this fragrance on someone, ask them! Seriously, ask them because I have exhausted trying all the various soaps out there and I swear, the next time I smell that fragrance on someone, I am going to ask too.

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M.R.

answers from Phoenix on

I recommend any liquid fabric softener, and my clothes all smell nice and fresh. Any brand adds that nice smell. The Mexican brands work well. Downy has many new scents like lavenders and jasmines...I use them half strength b/c I have a front loader.

Since you are already using the products that are being recommended, then I suggest you wash out your tub with a load of hot water, bleach and borax and leave the lid open. Make sure your dryer lint collector is cleaned everytime as well.

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J.E.

answers from Boston on

I recently started using Purex Crystals Fabric Softener and LOVE it! The scent lasts long and is very pleasant. :) I have the blue bottle "Fresh Spring Waters" one and I am pretty sure there is another scent available as well. :)

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L.O.

answers from San Francisco on

I don't buy this product often as it's pretty expensive. But I LOVE the scent of Mrs. Meyer's laundry detergent in the "Baby Blossom" scent. The only store I've found it at is Whole Foods, but I'm going to be ordering some through Amazon. I know it's scented so probably has some chemicals, but I only use it on mine and my husband's clothes and because Mrs. Meyer's is considered a safer alternative to other products, I feel a little better about it. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Meyers-Clean-Day-Detergent/dp/B...

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L.J.

answers from Boca Raton on

Yup fabric softener is what gives that nice smell. Suvitel (spelling) smells great. LIke Fabuloso (the hispanic floor cleaner smells yum too). But if you are looking to get scents OUT of his clothes, then you dont really want to cover them up with other scents. It's like putting on perfume when you smell like B.O.

Wash them VERY HOT with oxyclean or vinegar (or bleach if applicable). I like fabric softener, but people with sensitive skin (ie babies) will often break out in a rash....very bad. Also, trying letting the clothes dry in the sun.

PS smells are one of those things. Its like you can't smell your OWN stuff, but everyone else always smells good. It used to drive me nutts going to someone's house with an air freshener and thinking "gosh, their house smells good" but THEY didn't notice and I couldn't notice mine either. You just get used to whatever you smell like.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I use the HE original ALL and Downy. Love it.

Also, my favorite cologne is by Clean and they have a scent called fresh laundry. I have Warm Cotton which smells great too!

I like a clean fresh scent and those colognes are great.

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C.K.

answers from San Antonio on

Tide liquid detergent with Downy in it has a long lasting scent. Gain liquid detergent (original) also smells great and lasts for a long time. The powder smells good too, but the liquid has a longer lasting scent.

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M.E.

answers from Chicago on

Thank you Sheila for your answer! I used to work in a facility with many hispanics and their clothes always smelled wonderful! I'm going to stop by the hispanic market today and get some.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

We love Gain fabric softener. Either liquid or sheets.
I had a male friend who was single and he always smelled so good. I asked him what his cologne was. It was Gain fabric softener.
Anyway, that's our favorite.

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B.C.

answers from New York on

There is a fabric softner called Suavitel, I first found out about it because I went to my dad's house and hugged him and his clothes smelled so good. I asked him about and he showed me the fabric softner tha his girlfriend uses and it was Suavitel. It's actually very inexpensive they have different scents. I buy it bulk at my local BJ's, it smells really good.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I used to have people comment on the way my clothes smelled in a workout class! hahaha I always use Tide w/Bleach Alternative. IF anything else, Bounce dryer sheets.

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L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

people always said our clothes smelled so nice (they tol my hubby at work..not me specifically) We used any kind of soap and then had Downey (in the orange container) We had a SMALL washer and I used the normal amt..so I guess i would be just putting ALOT of softener in there.
I have since LOVED my friends clothes...hers always smell good and she uses bounce...about 4 sheets per drier..I switched to that and love it...cheaper too

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

I think it is Gain detergent and fabric softener. I LOVE the smell of that stuff! I can't use it as my baby is still small and sensitive and have another on the way, but once they are older, I am going back to Gain, it smells so great :D

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Tide original scent liquid, no fabric softener required. (the softener actually mutes the smell) is the #1. Gain liquid original scent is #2

((We're specifically asked not to use either at the hospital because of some people's scent allergies. Tide was on sale last month, hadn't used it in years -I'm not currently at the hospital- and I had strangers doing the 'deep inhale' as I walked past, and my SIL did the 'what detergent did you use????' question))

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A.T.

answers from Hartford on

I have been given clothes from to different people, both of whom I assumed had a cedar closet because of the smell on the clothes. Nope. They used Gain.

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B.C.

answers from Joplin on

I used to buy the Gain in the regular scent and always inhaled deeply each time I opened the linen closet, that scent really lingers! I switched a while back when I started watching what we spent at the grocery store. I will say as a treat a while back I bought some liquid fabric softner, it is made by Downey and in a red bottle called spice blossom and it smells DIVINE! I washed my sheets and used it and they smelled delicious all week!

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K.M.

answers from Rochester on

Oh my gosh! There are so many great smelling laundry detergents out there! I actually just wrote a review of the Best Smelling Laundry Detergents for 2018. I hope you find this review helpful! https://11mulberry.com/2018/04/16/best-smelling-laundry-d...

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