What is the Strongest Smelling Detergent?

The best thing about going through all the effort of doing the laundry is the smell of clean sheets and clothes.

Sadly, that smell doesn’t last. Sometimes, when that smell fades our clothes end up smelling even worse than they did before we washed them. Or they end up smelling damp and musty.

You can solve these issues by getting a high-quality laundry detergent – that looks after your clothes and has a strong smell. You will find everything you need to know about keeping your clothes smelling good in this article.

First, let’s look at the three strongest smell laundry detergents on the market.

#1 – Dr Bronner’s 18-in-1 Pure Castile Soap (peppermint)

Although this monster bottle says soap on the front, don’t be fooled. Dr Bronner claims this liquid has 18 uses, but it can do much more than that. This soap has been awarded the highest laundry detergent rating by the EWG over 7 times. It comes in over 10 scents, however, the longest lasting scent is the peppermint one.

#2 – Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent (lavender)

This laundry detergent is going to keep your sheets smelling and feeling fresh for a long time after laundry day. It has a lavender scent that is strong, not overwhelming but lasts. This laundry detergent is rated A by the EWG. This means you can rely on it to work well, but not irritate your skin.

#3- Rockin’ Green Natural Laundry Detergent Powder (lavender mint)

If you or any of your family regularly take part in sports or work out then you will understand the need for a supremely powerful detergent. This powder from Rockin’ Green is specifically designed for athletes. It combines the long lasting powers of both lavender and peppermint, that will keep you smelling fresh (until you get tackled into the mud).

What laundry detergent smell lasts the longest?

If you are looking for a laundry detergent that offers a long lasting smell then you will want to look into oil-based fragrances. Most natural fragrances are made up of essential oils. As oil does not mix with water (they are a hydrophobic liquid) they are able to sink into our clothes without being washed away during the laundry process.

Essential oils are a highly concentrated mixture of aetheroleum (the base oil) and oil extracted directly from the plant. They are incredibly potent and have been used for thousands of years to scent clothing.

The three strongest smelling scents are:

Peppermint
Lavender
Tea Tree

Both Peppermint and Tea Tree have a second benefit – there are both natural antimicrobials. This means that they fight and kill bacteria. This is why both these oils are often used to treat acne. If you want to stay smelling fresh then look out for either of these oils in the ingredient lists.

Lavender is known for making us feel sleepy. So this is a great ingredient for detergents that you use to wash your sheets.

*Note – people with sensitive skin may find some essential oils irritating because of their potency.

Why does laundry detergent smell fade so quickly?

Laundry detergents are expected to do two thing:

Clean our clothes
Make our clothes smell good

So, why do our clothes still smell after they’ve been washed? Are there some smells that are embedded so deeply that they can’t be washed out? Or is there something else going on?

The sad truth is that if your clothes still smell after washing then your detergent isn’t very good. A lot of big brand detergents are filled with toxic chemicals that permanently damage our clothes and change their smell. They are stripping our clothes of the bacteria but not really washing them.

These laundry detergents often use even harsher fragrance chemicals to make your clothes smell good when they are first washed. Not only can these chemicals further damage your clothes, but they can also cause irritation to the skin.

If your clothes start to smell bad after the deterrent smell has faded then it may be time for you to start looking for a new detergent.

Chemical free and natural detergents will give you clean, soft clothes with soft scents that may not be very strong but will last for longer. Without damaging your clothes.

How to make your laundry detergent smell last longer?

Picking a strong smelling laundry detergent is only half the battle when it comes to keeping your clothes smelling fresh for longer. There are a few things you can do to keep the smell lasting for days and days.

Firstly, when you wash your clothes add a little fabric softener to the wash cycle. This will help the smell stick to the clothes. And your clothes will feel even better to wear.

As soon as the washing cycle is finished take your clothes out. The longer they are sitting there the quicker they will lose their smell.

After you have taken your clothes out of the washing machine you may be tempted to throw them straight into the dryer. However, doing that will drastically reduce how good your clothes smell. Instead, let them air dry when you can.

Don’t put your clothes away until they are completely dry. If you put away slightly damp clothes you are encouraging them to develop a damp smell. And finally, where you store your clothes should be cool and dark.

A warm location will cause the smell to fade quickly, or even cause your clothes to smell musty.