While unscented detergents are generally recommended this does not mean that there are not scented varieties out there that are safe for your baby. There are quite a few, actually. So why not have the best of both worlds? In this article we are going to discuss the best smelling laundry detergent options so that you can make an informed choice when it comes to your kiddo’s clothing. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Finding the best smelling detergent
Scents are subjective. You might love floral scents where another might find them irritating, for instance. In this vein we’ve tried to find an assortment for you so that you can sample and try them. We also made sure to include some commercial varieties in the mix so that you don’t get stuck with options that all require mail order. With that in mind, we’ll introduce those first and go from there. Please keep in mind, this is not a ‘best smelling
Woolite Baby Laundry Detergent 
With a light ‘baby’ scent that won’t irritate you or your child, Woolite is a commercial brand detergent that you can find easily and put to good use. Hypoallergenic, you shouldn’t have to worry about baby being itchy, and this brand is also free of dyes, enzymes, bleach, and phosphates, so it’s good for you and your baby too. At less than 16$ retail it certainly won’t break the bank and you can very likely find it at your grocery store.
Dreft Stage 1: Newborn Hypoallergenic Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent
Noted as among the best smelling laundry detergent options of 2016 (also a best smelling laundry detergent for 2018 as well), Dreft is a favorite for many when it comes to baby’s laundry. Aside from this is also comes recommended by Pampers and has been around for around 80 years. So, what’s so good about Dreft? Well, it’s also hypoallergenic, like Woolite, but the Dreft brands are specially formulated for different ages. The newborn variety also has the ‘baby’ scent, reminiscent of baby powder, and it’s a little more powerful than the Woolite so whether or not this is good is going to be up to you and your baby. Overall it is well received and comes highly recommended by pediatricians as well, so this is also an important factor to consider. Pricewise it is a little more than the Woolite, at around $19 retail.
Seventh Generation Baby Concentrated
Laundry Detergent
This one was voted as one of the best smelling laundry detergent options of 2017 and for good reason. It has a fresh scent derived of botanicals and essential oils (mostly citrus, it’s quite nice), and it has a quadruple-enzyme formula for fighting stubborn
” Seventh Generation also can boast that it is 95% bio-based.”
stains. With no dyes or artificial brighteners, Seventh Generation also can boast that it is 95% bio-based. While this is not necessarily important to everyone, some out there may appreciate keeping their detergents as nature-based as possible and Seventh Generation gives you that option. Last but certainly not least, this detergent is excellent for sensitive skin. So if baby has been breaking out from some of the more commercial options out there then you should give this one a try. This one retails at around $25, which is a little more than the first two offerings but certainly not overpriced for what you get.
Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent for Baby
Another offering with the ‘baby’ scent, we like this one because the scent is ‘just strong enough’. Not overpowering but you don’t feel like you are just washing your laundry in plan, old water. It’s also very good at its job. Your clothes come out clean and fresh smelling and importantly, it’s also dermatologist tested so you won’t have to worry about any skin irritation with this product. The price is also very hard to beat. At around $11 retail per bottle, you can get the clean that you need without feeling like your wallet is being cleaned in the bargain.
So which one did we like the best?
There were a number of factors to consider. The strongest smelling detergent among the batch was the Dreft and as this received a mixed reception then we took this out of the final running. We liked that the Seventh Generation was largely bio-based as well, but this one also got a mixed reception on its scents (despite that they are derived from essential oils.. If you are fond of those then this might well be your winner.). Woolite gets kudos for being enzyme, bleach, and phosphate free but in the end we have to admit that we really like the Purex. It’s the most affordable of the bunch, the smell is strong enough to notice (but not enough to be a menace), and it’s easy on the skin. With these factors going for it we can recommend that you give it a try and then simply experiment with the others if you like. They are all excellent detergents, as it were, so the final judgment is going to have to come from you.
In closing
Today we’ve discussed what we feel are the best smelling detergents that are easy on the skin and low in chemicals so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to your baby. We hope that the mini-reviews for each product will help you to choose (or at least to narrow down) your ideal selection. While they all have their particular strengths we feel that you can’t really go wrong with any of the options from this list so if you experiment with them then you may do so in confidence. Also, should none of these fit the bill, there are a number of ‘do it yourself’ detergent recipes out there on the internet. Most involve peppermint and other oil extracts and can give you a more natural scent should you decide that you might need a custom solution for baby’s laundry needs. Until next time, we wish you the best!
