We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best fabric softeners to keep your clothes smelling fresh
They’ll also leave your laundry soft and wrinkle-free
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
If you want the heavenly scent of fresh laundry to fill your home, adding fabric softener to your washing machine is the easiest way to achieve the most fragrant results.
Not only will they make your clothes smell amazing, but the best fabric conditioners can also leave your laundry luxuriously soft and wrinkle-free.
That said, as much as we love their scent and softening powers, fabric softeners shouldn’t be used on all materials. They can reduce the moisture-wicking qualities of some fabrics, make some garments less breathable, and flatten them. Scroll down for our guide on when you should – and shouldn’t – add them to the wash.
While many of us will just pick up a bottle of fabric conditioner on our weekly shop without giving it too much thought, here at the GHI, we know the importance of selecting the best products to achieve optimum results. That's why we’ve done our research to find the very best fabric softeners on the market.
Take a quick look at our top-picks below and scroll down for the full reviews, along with our guide to using them in your wash.
Best fabric softeners
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Make your bedsheets smell nice with our best fabric softeners and protect your mattress with our best mattress toppers - get the recommended buys now!
What’s the difference between fabric softener vs. fabric conditioner?
They’re the same! They are interchangeable names that describe the product’s softening and conditioning capabilities, helping to make our clothes, textiles and bedding smoother, reduce static, and give fabric an extra layer of protection.
What does fabric softener do?
The best fabric softeners work by depositing a layer of positively charged chemical compounds onto fabrics that contain negatively charged compounds. This neutralises the charge, causing the fibres to feel softer and gentler on the skin.
By removing the static, fabric softeners also make clothes appear more wrinkle-free, reducing the amount of time and energy you have to waste on ironing, which gets a big thumbs up from us.
When should you not use fabric softener?
Fabric conditioners should be avoided when it comes to certain fabrics. That’s because the active ingredient in their formulation, which makes everything feel soft, is oil-based. This oil coats certain fibres, making them greasy and slippery, which can hamper absorbency.
In plainer terms, they aren’t ideal for items such as towels and sportswear as they affect their moisture-wicking properties and breathability. But don’t panic, this doesn’t mean you have to suffer a life of stiff, scratchy towels – it’s okay to use fabric softener in your towel washes; just don’t use it every cycle, and check out our handy guide for other ways to keep them soft and fluffy.
Here’s a quick summary of when you should and shouldn’t use fabric softeners for the best results.
You can use fabric softener when washing:
- All cotton garments
- Clothes made from synthetic fibres such as polyester
- Towels - note it can impact their absorbency, so it’s worth leaving it out every few washes
You shouldn’t use fabric softener when washing:
- Sportswear
- Fire-resistant clothing, especially children’s pyjamas and baby clothes, as fabric softeners reduce the self-extinguishing ability
- Microfibre
- Check care guidance for natural fibres, too
How we test fabric conditioners
In the lab, our expert sniffers assessed each fabric softener’s fragrance, from pungent to mild, straight out of the bottle. They then used each product to wash loads of cotton and polycotton bed sheets and compared the results to control loads that hadn’t used any softener.
They checked how each load smelt when wet and whether it felt softer to the touch. They repeated this with laundry that had been air-dried and tumble-dried.
They scrutinised the instructions to ensure they were thorough and easy to follow, checked how easy the product was to dispense, and whether it was free from hazardous chemicals.
We also sent out samples to our reader panel, which were blinded to avoid brand bias. They put them to the test in real-world conditions and gave us detailed feedback on ease of use and effectiveness.
Score: 86/100
If you’re looking for a product that will leave your clothes smelling heavenly, this may be the one for you. Lenor’s Outdoorable softener was praised for its fresh, pleasant and notably long-lasting fragrance after washing both cotton and polycotton fabrics.
When it came to softness, the product performed best after tumble-drying in the lab, producing super soft polycotton garments, while our panel of testers all reported a positive difference in the softness of their clothes after washing.
One thing to note is that the plastic sleeve on the bottle isn’t transparent, which makes it difficult to see how much is left; plus, the sleeve isn’t recyclable. Aside from this, the softener is easy to use and left our clothes beautifully soft and scented.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 462ml; 504ml; 770ml; 840ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 33 |
| Cost per wash | 14p |
| Packaging type | 100% recycled plastic bottle (excluding cap, spout and sleeve) |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes (excluding the sleeve) |
Score: 81/100
With its chiselled nozzle for easy pouring, the Fairy Outdoorable softener was a bit of a fan favourite among our testers. Its ergonomic design also made it easy to hold and the instructions were clear to follow.
This non-bio softener has a rich, creamy, peachy scent with floral notes that our panel and experts loved – even when smelt straight out of the bottle. Our testers also found it held its scent well, keeping their clothes fresh for longer.
It wasn’t as reliable when it came to softness. While our panel noticed a slight positive difference after washing, it didn’t perform as well as some of the other models we tested in the lab. Overall, however, it's a great buy – particularly if you have sensitive skin, as this one is dermatologically tested, too.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 490ml; 770ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 35 |
| Cost per wash | 17p |
| Packaging type | 100% recycled plastic bottle (excluding cap, spout and sleeve) |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes (excluding the sleeve) |
Score: 80/100
For an eco-friendlier alternative, Smol is a great choice. It comes with a reusable bottle-for-life that’s made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste, while the refill cartons claim to generate 43% less carbon than recycled plastic bottles. And if that doesn’t convince you, Smol’s cartons can also be recycled by your local council or you can return them to the brand for free and it will recycle them.
In testing, most of our panel loved the fragrance and found it didn’t dissipate quickly after washing and drying. It was also effective at softening clothes, even when used in washes at lower temperatures.
The bottle does lack detailed instructions and some testers found the refilling process quite fiddly, but those are minor niggles when it comes to such a feel-good product – literally.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 500ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 62 |
| Cost per wash | 12p per wash in the starter pack; 9p per wash in refillable cartons |
| Packaging type | 100% recycled plastic bottle; cartons |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes, the cartons are widely recycled or can be sent back to Smol for free |
Score: 80/100
Our panel of testers were blown away by the fresh, clean scent of this own-brand fabric softener. Its aroma filled their homes and lingered on clothing for long periods – some testers even reported receiving compliments on their freshly-washed items. As a dermatologically-approved fabric softener, it was also a hit with testers who have sensitive skin.
In the lab, our experts appreciated the clear dosage measurements on the lid, which help reduce using too much product in each load. The plastic bottle is quite thin though, meaning testers found it difficult to control how much came out on first pour. This is something you should get used to after one or two washes, though.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 750ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 75 |
| Cost per wash | 4p |
| Packaging type | Plastic bottle and cap; paper label |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes |
Score: 79/100
Scented with apple blossom and almonds, this fabric softener was praised for its gorgeous fragrance, which one tester even described as “delicious”. The product is dermatologically tested, making it great for those with sensitive skin and it's palm oil-free.
Our panel of testers found it left no residue, marks or stains on their clothes and praised the softener’s performance even when they washed at 30C.
While it delivered fairly soft, fresh results, the packaging lost it some marks in our tests. The bottle isn’t ergonomically designed, which made it difficult to hold, plus it doesn’t have a pouring spout so dispensing the liquid into the measuring cap was a little tricky. But, if you’ve got a steady hand, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 750ml; 1500ml; 5000ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 25 |
| Cost per wash | 39p |
| Packaging type | 100% recycled plastic bottle; 99% recycled plastic cap |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes |
Score: 76/100
This conditioner’s fresh linen scent won it many fans in our panel tests. The majority found their clothes took on the fragrance really well, lasted a reasonable amount of time, and kept their clothes fresh.
The instructions were easy to follow, too, and the bottle lid was well marked with 10, 20, and 30ml measurements. Despite this, sticking to the dosage guidance was a little tricky – the bottle’s wide mouth meant it was a little hard to control when pouring.
However, it helped leave clothes softer and all our panel said they would recommend this product to friends and family.
Key specifications
| Size (ml) | 500ml; 1000ml |
|---|---|
| Number of washes per bottle | 50 |
| Cost per wash | 8p |
| Packaging type | Plastic Bottle-for-life |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes, send back your empty packaging and get them refilled |
Score: 75/100
This softener from M&S performed well in our in-house tests, leaving both our cotton and polycotton sheets softer after washing. It has a sandalwood and rose scent, which offered a strong, long-lasting smell. Some of our panel found it a little overpowering and less pleasant than the floral, fresh fragrances softeners tend to have, however, that’s entirely down to preference.
Our expert testers found that coloured fabrics remained vibrant with this conditioner, and it effectively delivered softer clothes after washing and drying. All in all, this is an easy-to-use product that will see you through plenty of washes at a great price.
Key specifications
| Number of washes per bottle | 50 |
|---|---|
| Cost per wash | 7p |
| Packaging type | Plastic bottle |
| Is it recyclable? | Yes |
| Size (ml) | 1500ml |
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
The best weighted blankets, tried and tested
10 best ice cream makers, tested by experts
10 best gas BBQs to buy for summer 2025
15 best memory foam pillows to buy in 2025
