We researched and tested dozens of laundry detergents, choosing our top picks for babies, sensitive skin, and sportswear. Our best overall pick, the Tide Original Liquid Laundry Detergent, infuses clothes with a pleasant yet subtle scent, tackles tough stains, and is formulated for high-efficiency washing machines. Here are the best smelling laundry detergents. What’s the first thing you think of when you think about laundry day (besides the overwhelming pile of clothes staring back at you)? Is it that fresh, clean scent that only comes from recently cleaned laundry? If there’s any upside to doing loads and loads of laundry, it’s having clean, fresh-smelling clothes to show for it. And for many people, the scent of Tide Original has the ultimate association with clean laundry, and that’s why it’s our top pick. Tide Original laundry detergent is a staple in so many households for a reason. It’s the number one recommended detergent by leading washing machine manufacturers, so it won’t ruin your new or well-loved washing machine. It is amazingly effective at cleaning clothes and removing tough stains like grass or grease. And to top it all off, it has a refreshing smell that isn’t harsh or overpowering. Powerful and fresh-smelling? It’s pretty hard to beat that combo. Price at time of publish: $20 Clothes come out fresh and clean, thanks to the formula’s powerful concentration. Just one compact 23-ounce bottle can tackle up to 66 loads of laundry. (For the average American family, that one bottle will last more than two months!) You can feel good about the detergent you’re using, too: The advanced-enzyme formula is made without dyes, fragrances, or artificial brighteners, but is tough on even the most stubborn stains. Price at time of publish: $28 And when it comes to scent, people love Dreft. It has a strong clean smell that many associate with a brand new baby with some going as far as to call the scent “heavenly.” There’s more to it than just smell, though. It’s also praised for its powerful stain-fighting powers. And you know anyone with a baby knows a thing or two about treating stains! Price at time of publish: $24 In addition to great smell, it offers powerful stain-fighting ability, too. Say goodbye to problems with stains. Price at time of publish: $22 Besides the natural formula’s stain-fighting abilities, buyers tout the scent above all. Many say the honeysuckle fragrance is spot on, though not overwhelmingly floral. Others love how the scent lingers, even days after folding the laundry and putting it away in drawers and closets. Price at time of publish: $19 Still, it contains no phosphates, bleach, dyes, optical brighteners, parabens, or SLS / SLES and is made with plant-derived ingredients. This special high-efficiency formula five stars refreshes with a fresh scent. Its stain-fighting powers also receive much praise, with many parents saying it’s the only detergent that gets the smell out of dirty cloth diapers. Price at time of publish: $20 Simply shake some of the scent beads into the cap (a little if for a softer scent; a lot for a stronger scent), toss them into the wash drum at the beginning of the wash (before clothes, laundry detergent, and fabric softener), and wait for your clothes to come out smelling better than they ever have before. Price at time of publish: $13 Beyond the fragrance, customers tout the detergent’s power and longevity. Just one bottle of the highly concentrated formula can tackle up to 66 loads of laundry. Plus, the naturally-derived formula fights tough dirt and stains, without dulling colors of muddying whites. Price at time of publish: $69 for 4-pack
