The Best Laundry Scent Boosters in Canada
Sometimes we just need to add a bit of a boost to our laundry, despite the laundry detergent doing its best. Some calming lavender for our bedsheets and pillows, a zesty citrus scent for our clothes to start the day off on a nice note, or just a fresher laundry scent without wanting to use dryer sheets or if you’re just wanting to have a nice blend of scents.
Our list below has the top-rated laundry scent boosters and all of them have multiple scents to choose from while retaining quality, so you can’t go wrong.
Our Top Picks
What to look for in laundry scent boosters
Not all laundry scent boosters are created equally. Here are some points to keep in mind when looking at trying out scent boosters:
Hot vs cold washes – Most laundry scent boosters will dissolve in hot or cold water but check to make sure! Just as laundry detergents can be made for cold water or hot water specifically, the same goes with scent boosters. They are made to dissolve in water in your wash, but just as a caution – make sure the ones you’re interested in are made for your washing cycle temperatures.
Scent boosters with additional purposes – Most scent boosters simply add in fragrance to your washing loads. Some, like Arm & Hammer, have some scent boosters that additionally include baking soda to eliminate tough odours along with your laundry detergent to get an even cleaner wash with the additional bonus of scent boosting to make the freshness last a lot longer – perfect for towels and stubborn workout clothes.
Scent boosters vs fabric softener – Scent boosters are not at all similar to fabric softeners, as some people think. Fabric softener can leave residue and destroy down fabrics by softening the threads – scent boosters dissolve completely and only leave behind their scents to impart freshness for weeks at a time.
Length of time scents last – Not all scent boosters last the same amount of time, and depending on how much you use plus how ‘worn out’ your clothes or towels get during the week, the scents may fade faster in some brands than others. Some can last for up to 12 weeks, some only 2 or 3 days. Many people use scent boosters in clothes and blankets they’re setting away for when the seasons change and come back to fresh smelling clothes/blankets months later!
How much to use – The beauty of scent boosters is that you can easily use more or less to measure out your own personal preferences for scent strength for your clothes and towels. Figuring out your preferred amount can also help with purchasing and understanding how many laundry loads you can get out of one or two containers.
Other uses – Laundry scent boosters can also be used as deodorizers or scent boosters in rooms as well if they’re kept in a mesh bag or out in a bowl. Be careful not to leave them out where pets and children can reach them, as handling scent booster beads is not advised, let alone if they were to accidentally eat them.
Downy Unstopables
Downy Unstopables (spelled with only one ‘P’ for commercial reasons) is one of the most well-known and was one of the very first in the game for laundry scent boosters. They tout the #1 Scent-Booster Brand for good reason as well.
These scent booster beads are easily dissolved in hot or cold water washes, with the scent lasting for up to 12 weeks (from wash to wear, it will fade faster with wear) and with daily wear, the scent will still last for upwards to a week depending on the wear/tear your clothes go through.
They can be used on all colours, black and white clothes, and in hot or cold water – whatever you need to get your clothes looking their best, these scent beads will dissolve along with your washing cycle and impart the fresh scents without any residue on your clothes or with anything left in your machine that may reduce the life cycle of your washing machine. They’re perfectly safe to use and don’t cause any issues with washing machines or your clothing. There are several scents to choose from and several sizes as well.
Pros
- Strong scents.
- Works in all machine types and water temperatures.
Cons
- A bit more expensive than other scent boosters.
Gain Fireworks Scent Boosters
Gain’s Fireworks Scent Boosters are scent beads that are thrown into the washing machine before the clothes, that will dissolve in hot and cold water without any lingering residue.
They are good for any clothing colours, black and white clothing, and also had the additional benefit of adding softness and diminish static, much like fabric softener but without the potential residue or accidentally damaging of the clothing fibers. You don’t have to worry about any of that and only reap the benefits of wonderful smelling clothing. The static help is particularly useful if you live in a dry climate, especially during wintertime.
It can also help fight wrinkles as well. The scent beads come in multiple different scents, so there is most likely one for you whether you prefer fresh clean laundry scent boosted up, zesty citrus to brighten the day, or a calming scent for bedsheets and pillows.
Pros
- Great scents that are long lasting.
- Adds softness and static control as well.
Cons
- Bit pricier than others.
Arm & Hammer Laundry Scentsations
Arm & Hammer’s Laundry Scentsations make for a great double feature of scent boosting along with odour neutralizing along with your regular detergent to help you get truly fresh laundry each time.
If you find yourself washing a lot of sports clothes, gym clothes, towels, etc. these are perfect to try out. They’re also a great buy if you’re sensitive to how strong other scent beads and boosters are, even after reducing how much you use – you may prefer these, as the reviews all state that they are more subdued but still wonderfully pleasant. You can always add more if you would like a stronger scent. There are multiple scents available as well.
Some reviews state that the product itself is fantastic, but the bottle packaging could use some work as the cap can sometimes be a bit harder to place back on or not knowing where the ‘full cap’ limit is when filling the scent beads to throw into the wash.
Pros
- Great for a more subtle scent compared to others.
- Great odour control.
- Small bead size is more evenly distributed and dissolved.
Cons
- Cap shape is a bit odd to use for sizing.
- Depending on how much you use, you may need to purchase more often.
Downy Infusions Calm
Downy’s Calm Infusions brand of scent beads are their line meant more for bedsheets and towels, as the lavender and vanilla scent are perfect for bedtime. The scent lasts for a week or more, just in time for the sheets to be washed and refreshed.
They dissolve easily in hot and cold water, just like their other scent boosters, and these are also perfect for storing extra blankets, sheets, sweaters for the seasons, as the scent will last for weeks just like they’ve been taken fresh from the dryer and ready to use without needing to wash out any musty closet or under the bed smells away.
This lavender and vanilla bean scent is highly rated and recommended from many other websites and reviews as being one of Downy’s best scents that they have available out on the market today.
Pros
- Long lasting scents.
- Great value for bottle size.
Cons
- Bit pricier.
Ivory Snow Blissfuls
Ivory’s Snow Blissfuls scent boosters are great for anyone that wants to refresh all of their baby’s clothes with a soft fresh scent, or if your children are a bit older but you still want to have that baby fresh scent – this is the one for you.
Shake a little or a lot of the scented beads into your washing machine before the clothes and detergent, and the scent will last out of the dryer as well within diminishing after the heat cycle. They dissolve in hot or cold water and are a good deal for the amount you receive for the price.
Some reviews have stated that the scent can be fairly strong if you put a little too much, but for bedsheets, baby clothes, pillow cases, and other things even such as machine washable toys like teddy bears, Ivory’s Snow Blissfuls are top-rated scent boosters that can elevate and freshen up your home while being gentle on everything it is used for.
Pros
- Great baby fresh scent.
- Gentle scent and easily dissolved beads.
Cons
- May be too strong scented for some users.
Our Methodology
For this article we chose the best laundry scent boosters based on top rated reviews, user reviews, and personal uses of these products for their quality and ease of use, along with budget friendly price points.
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Updated date
November 8th, 2023
About the author
Nikki Lyka
Nikki Lyka is a reviewer and writer at Rank-It.ca that’s written about a variety of subjects from the best fantasy novels to travel guides and blogs. When she isn’t researching and typing up a storm, she’s generally found winding down with tea, video games, practicing aerial hoop, photography, and reading good horror novels.
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