The 8 Best Smelling Laundry Detergents of 2023

Best Overall

Gain Original Flings Laundry Detergent

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  4.9/5
• Effectiveness
  4.7/5
• Value
  5/5

Spoiler alert: Gain appears on our round-up of the best smelling laundry detergents a whopping three times, so get ready to read all about its delightful smell and cleaning capabilities. What set the Gain Original Flings pods apart from the pack was the ease of use and competitive clean. Not only does it leave clothes smelling amazing, but also whites were noticeably bright, and the towel even felt fluffier afterward, too. When we tested, we did not pre-treat any stains, but still these round orbs made a difference, even fully removing tricky chocolate sauce. Plus, they could not be easier to use, with no measuring or pouring involved—just toss one pod into your washer and you're good to go for most loads.

We also appreciate that you can buy refill packs to use with the plastic container, so you're not stuck with extra plastic each time you repurchase. If you find that you're not a big fan of the original scent, they also come in other scents like "moonlight breeze" and "island fresh." Really, there's not a lot we would change about the Gain Flings pods, as long as you have a trusted stain remover you can use when you're dealing with particularly stained or soiled laundry.

Price at time of publish: $22

_{Type: Pods | Size: 81 pods | Number of Loads: Up to 81 | Scent: Original}

Best Eco-Friendly

ECOS Plastic-Free Liquidless Laundry Detergent Sheets

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.8/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.2/5
• Value
  4/5

If you've ever tossed a sheet of fabric softener in the dryer, you know how easy it is. These lightweight sheets from ECOS offer you that same level of convenience for the washing side of your cycle. The sheet dissolves completely in water, leaving no residue or waste behind. And, yep, it smells amazing, as confirmed by our lab testing. We enjoyed the Free & Clear scent, and there's also Lavender Vanilla and Magnolia & Lily, too.

The lightweight, enzymatic formula is made without dyes, phthalates, or formaldehyde, but still packs a punch with cleaning. We noticed a difference in the stains, although as expected it didn't remove them completely, so just make sure to pre-treat when the need arises. After washing, the clothes felt less stiff, and the towel was softer, too. The one thing worth mentioning is that you'll want to store these sheets away from moisture, and don't reach into the box with wet hands because sheets will start to dissolve.

Price at time of publish: $27 for 2 boxes

_{Type: Sheets | Size: 57 per box | Number of Loads: 114 | Scent: Free & Clear}

Best Sheets

Grove Co. Laundry Detergent Sheets

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  3.5/5

Another excellent option that comes as sheets is the lavender and thyme scent of this Grove Collaborative detergent. We loved how it smelled pleasant and fresh when it was in use and then, impressively, once laundry was dried, the lingering smell was simply light and clean. In other words, these sheets are a good choice if you want the smell on your laundry to be nice yet subtle enough that passersby won't be struck by it when you're out and about.

As far as their cleaning capabilities, they weren't quite as impressive as some of our other picks, but if your laundry needs are less about harsh stain removal and more about regular cleaning and freshening, then they could still be a great choice (or, you could always just be sure to pre-treat stains when necessary). And speaking of freshening, we were pleased to see that it left our towel feeling softer and fluffier. The one other potential downside is, like with all sheets, you need to be careful to keep them away from moisture. But overall, we still think they're a great choice for anyone who likes the convenience of sheets and wants their laundry to both feel soft and smell fresh.

Price at time of publish: $13

_{Type: Sheets | Size: 32 sheets | Number of Loads: 32 | Scent: Lavender & thyme}

Best Liquid

Gain Original Liquid Laundry Detergent + Aroma Boost

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  4.9/5
• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Value
  5/5

Once again, Gain impressed us with its incredible smell and competitive stain-fighting. It earned the top spot in a recent overall laundry detergent round-up, thanks to its tried and true performance, dependability, value, and—you guessed it—delightful scent. Notably, it was the only detergent that a member of our testing team was considering switching to after trying it out in the Lab. We had the Original scented version on hand, but a number of other options are available too, including popular choices like Lavender or Orange, as well as more unique options (Apple Mango Tango, anyone?).

Another bonus with the Gain Original Liquid Detergent is that it proved to be a good value. When we calculated the median price per load of the 29 detergents we recently tested, we came up with roughly $0.25 per load. Gain's average price was well below that, at roughly $0.19 per load. Plus, it's readily available at most major retailers, which is definitely convenient. Now, if you tend to shop with an eye for plant-based ingredients, this might not be the choice for you, however Gain does offer a separate Botanicals line of detergents you may want to check out.

Price at time of publish: $17 for 2 bottles

_{Type: Liquid | Size: 65 ounces | Number of Loads: 45 | Scent: Original}

Best Pods

Tide Pods Spring Meadow Laundry Detergent

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  4.8/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  5/5

There’s something to be said for a crowd favorite, and this one does not disappoint. After trying Tide Pods in the lab, we found that it left clothes feeling, smelling, and looking clean—the ideal combo in our eyes. What's more, the pod style of detergent makes it incredibly easy to get your desired results because they're pre-measured. It's the laundry version of "grab and go"—you just pop one into the machine, start the load, and call it good (until you need to move everything to the dryer, of course).

These pods are proof that good things come in small packages, as our testing confirmed that they are indeed efficient cleaning agents. The stains we made on the sample clothing were lightened, fabrics felt softer, and clothes smelled nice, too. We appreciated that the smell was subtle and light, striking a balance between pleasant and not overpowering. All in all, we're fans of Tide Pods, but do keep in mind with these (and other pods), is that you'll need to be careful not to splash them or touch them with wet hands because that can ruin them.

Price at time of publish: $23

Type: Pods | Size: 81 pods | Number of Loads: up to 81 | Scent: Spring Meadow

Best Powder

Gain Original Powder Laundry Detergent

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  4.3/5
• Value
  4.8/5

If you prefer powder detergent, and are looking for something that leaves clothes smelling amazing, then Gain should be at the top of your list. Like other options from the brand, the powder version smells utterly delightful, and performs well when it comes to cleaning, too. It wasn't quite as impressive as its liquid counterpart when it came to stain removal, but there was still marked difference in the spots we tried it on. This pick may be a good option for you if you want similar results to the other Gain choices, but with the scoop measuring process that powder requires. Unlike pods, you can easily adjust the amount you add to each load, and unlike liquid, it's easy to fix if your first scoop isn't perfect.

Powder detergents can be more cost-effective, too and with this Gain pick in particular, you're promised as little as $0.15 per load—well below our median of $0.25. Though, if you opt to add extra or you run larger loads, your mileage may vary. Containers are sold with enough detergent for 80-150 loads, so you'll need to replace less often than counterparts, too.

Price at time of publish: $22

_{Type: Powder | Size: 172 ounces | Number of Loads: 150 | Scent: Original}

Best Floral Scent

Love Home and Planet Ultra Concentrated Laundry Detergent

4.7

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Feel
  5/5
• Scent
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Value
  4/5

The right scent can provide much more than clean-smelling clothes. There’s mounting evidence that smells like lavender have very real physiological effects. In studies, lavender has been shown to have both calming effects and mood-boosting properties. When laundry day has a tendency to be stressful, that sounds like a pretty nice perk. Even better, that's not the only benefit we found with this concentrated formula from Love Home and Planet. It's designed with an auto-dose cap that makes it super easy to measure and pour, so if convenience is a priority when it comes to your laundry routine, we recommend taking a close look.

We also found that more scent remained on the laundry we tested with this detergent than with other brands—in a good way! This delightful and strong scent is especially impressed when you factor in that it's made with 94 percent plant-based cleaners. While the cost per load is a bit higher than some of its counterparts, and the stain fighting capabilities didn't necessarily knock our socks off us, we think it's still a worthy choice a worthy choice for those that prioritize its other features.

Price at time of publish: $20

_{Type: Concentrated liquid | Size: 23 ounces | Number of Loads: 66 | Scent: Lavendar & Argan Oil}