7 Luxe Laundry Detergents for Daily Pampering
All the items highlighted here have been chosen independently by our editorial team. Nonetheless, if you make a purchase via our retail links, Condé Nast might receive an affiliate commission.
Here’s a secret: Using one of the best luxury laundry detergents is a low-effort, high-reward indulgences that make your whole life (and laundry room) feel a little more like a Pinterest board. Yes, the basic stuff works—the same way scrubbing down with a boring bar soap will get the dirt off your skin—but life is short, so why not elevate
your routine
Luxury laundry detergents offer all the effectiveness of the large containers you typically carry from the pharmacy, yet they come in different forms.
smell way better
And they are crafted with greater care. Additionally, if you’re not into fragrances, many options are available without scents, making them more appealing for sensitive individuals.
sensitive skin
So, if you allow it, doing laundry encompasses more than just removing grass stains. It’s also about pulling a batch of freshly dried, clean garments from the dryer, burying your nose in your most loved T-shirt, breathing in deeply as they do in commercials, and feeling content with splurging on an upscale detergent bottle. Can you visualize this? Absolutely, we can imagine it vividly.
Our Premium Selection of Lavish Laundry Soaps
-
Best Overall:
The Laundress Signature Detergent
, $26 -
Best Fragrance:
Dedcool Dedtergent Milk
, $35 -
Most Concentrated:
Homecourt Cece Laundry Detergent
, $48 -
Best Fragrance-Free:
Dr. Barbara Sturm Washing Powder
, $60 -
Best Tablets:
Blueland Laundry Detergent Kit Starterset
, $30 -
Best Duo:
Snif Laundry Starter Pack
, $42 -
Best Steal:
Bath & Body Works Moonlit Goddess Laundry Detergent
, $20
Maximize every laundry load with these premium, strong, indulgent soaps, ready to earn you plenty of compliments about how great you smell. Our team highlighted the cleaning agents that received positive feedback during testing, and we also discussed with specialists regarding the effects of choosing scented varieties.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can scented laundry detergents be harmful to your skin?
- What factors should you consider when selecting a premium laundry detergent?
- Meet the experts
- The process we use for testing and reviewing products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall:
The Laundress Signature Detergent
Why it’s worth it:
Straightforwardly put, The Laundress’
2024 Best of Beauty-winning
Signature Detergent is offering a luxurious experience. This versatile cleaner has a rich fragrance that is opulent yet subtle, featuring hints of lily of the valley.
musk
, along with sandalwood for a fresh, invigorating aroma. This formula effectively tackles dirt stains and grime during each wash cycle. It’s suitable for all items in your laundry basket, though it excels particularly when used on whites and colored fabrics. The product includes a small measuring scoop to ensure precise dosing, which helps maximize the usage from each bottle. Given its high concentration, only a minimal amount is needed per load.
The Laundress offers a wide range of other premium laundry items, such as
stain remover pretreatment
,
wool and cashmere spray
, and a static-reducing
fabric softener
.
Feedback from the content director for the tester
Kara McGrath
:
I’m a fan of every detergent from The Laundress; they make clothes feel both soft and spotless without leaving behind the odd residues you often get with some, particularly those that are strongly fragranced. However, the Beauty Sleep fragrance stands out. Infused with hints of sandalwood and jasmine, it has the elegance of a high-end perfume rather than a regular fabric freshener. Although it comes at a premium price, I use it exclusively for washing my bed linens, which means one bottle can last me multiple months. Despite having quite delicate skin that usually reacts poorly to scented items, I haven’t experienced any problems using these products.
Size:
32 ounces (providing 31 washes) |
Fragrance notes:
lemon, bergamot, lily of the valley, musk
Best Fragrance:
Dedcool Dedtergent Milk
Why it’s worth it:
As diehard fans of
Dedcool’s Milk Eau de Parfum
, we were thoroughly delighted when the brand released its Milk Detergent. This laundry product has an irresistible appeal.
skin scent
The current load includes everyday scents like amber, bergamot, and white musk. This detergent offers great value; with each purchase of 32 ounces, you receive enough for 60 launderings, suitable for all types of clothes including light colors, darks, and undergarments. It has a subtle fragrance intensity—perfectly appealing to some but not as impressive to those who prefer stronger scents. For a trial run, consider buying the two-ounce size to sample the smell before committing. Should you decide to stick with it, an economical option would be purchasing a 64-ounce refill pouch priced at $60. Don’t forget to also pick up
dryer sheets
For an additional burst of aroma.
Feedback from the associate beauty director for the tester
Sarah Kinonen
:
Initially, one might not expect laundry detergent contained in a metal container to be particularly appealing. However, after trying Dedcool’s Dedtergent, your perspective will change. This Los Angeles-based perfume company, known for their award-winning Xtra Milk fragrance, has ventured into detergents with several of their signature scents. Despite having a smooth consistency similar to conventional cleaners, this product imparts a gentle, delicate aroma onto your laundered garments.
Size:
32 ounces (60 washes) |
Fragrance notes:
amber, bergamot, white musk
Most Concentrated:
Homecourt Cece Laundry Concentrate
Why it’s worth it:
Homecourt’s Laundry Concentrate distinguishes itself with an ultra-concentrated formulation, ensuring efficiency—just a small amount can handle quite a bit of laundry. The product is packaged in a stylish pump bottle, making usage clean and straightforward while allowing precise measurement. Depending on the size of your load, just use three to five pumps; each bottle provides approximately 70 launderings. This concentrate works well for all types of fabrics, including light and dark garments alike. Additionally, it offers several refined scent options, among which we particularly enjoy Cece—an enticing mix featuring spicy cedarwood accented with cardamom, cinnamon, and white leather notes. We appreciate having clothing that carries a hint of allure after washing them.
Feedback from the senior editor for testers
Jesa Marie Calaor
:
“I love Homecourt’s Cece Laundry Concentrate for how it’s compact and not-at-all daunting to move from my car to my laundry room. I use four pumps per medium load, and my clothes come out looking and feeling so clean.”
Size:
16 ounces (up to 70 washes) |
Fragrance notes:
cedarwood, cardamom, cinnamon, white leather
Best Tablets:
Blueland Laundry Detergent Kit Starterset
Why it’s worth it:
Free of plastic residue and environmentally friendly, Blueland’s Laundry Detergent Starter Set offers a cooler alternative to traditional laundry pods with its dry-form, powdered detergent tablets. These premeasured tablets effectively tackle stains and come in two versions: Fresh Spring Bloom for those who prefer scented options and an unscented one for sensitivity concerns. The set includes 60 highly concentrated tablets designed to be kind to fabrics while still being powerful at cleaning.
sensitive skin
, ensuring there’s no residue left inside your washer’s drum. By enrolling in Blueland’s subscription plan, you can guarantee an uninterrupted supply of detergent and also receive a 20% discount. Just remember that these tablets should not be used for cleaning silk, wool, satin, or cashmere fabrics.
Feedback from the commerce editor for testing
Sarah Han
:
For over nine years, I’ve experienced city living in New York apartments where having an in-unit washer was often non-existent. Carrying heavy detergent bottles alongside large loads of overdue laundry isn’t something I look forward to. However, Blueland’s tablets come in compact sizes despite being stored in a sturdy metal container holding 60 tabs! They’re simple to carry and effortlessly drop into the washing machine. The result? Clothes just as fresh and clean as those washed with Tide, perhaps even cleaner due to their delightful Spring Blooms fragrance that acts almost like natural perfume. Absolutely love this!
Size:
60 tablets (30 to 60 launderings) |
Fragrance notes:
Spring Bloom; floral-citrus
Best Fragrance-Free:
Dr. Barbara Sturm Washing Powder
Why it’s worth it:
High-end detergents don’t necessarily equate to being perfumed. A prime example is Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Laundry Detergent. The skincare line recognized for its scientifically formulated, gentle products designed for those with sensitive skin applies the same meticulous care to washing clothes. This scentless, plant-derived detergent includes additional beneficial ingredients.
aloe vera
And it includes panthenol while avoiding preservatives, enzymes, microplastics, dyes, and brighteners. This makes the formulation mild overall. Additionally, it’s safe for delicate fabrics such as wool, silk, and cashmere, allowing you to pamper your cherished items with some extra care.
Size:
33.8 oz |
Fragrance notes:
fragrance-free
Best Duo:
Snif Laundry Starter Pack
Why it’s worth it:
Snif’s Laundry Starter Pack goes all-out when it comes to aroma. With five scents available, our favorite is Sweet Ash—a blend of juniper, fir balm, golden cedar, creamy tonka beans, vanilla pod, and white moss. The kit includes their signature Everything Wash Detergent, which should last through approximately 32 washes, ensuring your clothes come out spotless. Also included is a Scent Booster designed to enhance the fragrance; this can be used for around 25 loads. While not necessary each time, adding some can intensify the smell without using too much product—you might finish off the boosters first due to limited usage. However, they add an extra touch of luxury. When doing smaller laundry batches, just fill one detergent cap—that’ll suffice; adjust accordingly based on load size.
Size:
16 ounces of detergent, 8.5 ounces of scent booster |
Fragrance notes:
juniper, fir balsam, golden cedar, creamy tonka bean
vanilla bean
, white moss
Best Steal:
Bath & Body Works Moonlit Goddess Laundry Detergent
Why it’s worth it:
We’ve all entered a Bath and Body Works store where an overwhelming array of scents greets us, but nestled within this multitude is the charmingly delicate Moonlit Goddess Laundry Detergent. It’s mild yet captivating, featuring notes of lavender, pear blossom, and vanilla that evoke freshly laundered clothes with just a hint of allure. This high-concentration detergent offers excellent worth; from one 32-ounce bottle, you can handle either 64 smaller washes or 32 larger ones. The sole drawback might be dealing with the somewhat persistent cap. However, truthfully, as soon as you catch a scent of it, any inconvenience fades away.
Size:
32 oz. (32 to 64 washes) |
Fragrance notes:
lavender, pear blossom, vanilla
Frequently Asked Questions
Can scented laundry detergents be harmful to your skin?
No, scented laundry detergent doesn’t necessarily harm your skin. Nonetheless, if you have sensitive skin, it’s best to choose detergent formulated specifically for delicate skin types. You might find high-end options available too; just ensure they’re unscented. As experts explain, “laundry detergents may lead to irritant dermatitis due to strong chemicals such as surfactants—including substances like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), which strip moisture from the skin—and contact dermatitis triggered by recognized allergens including fragrances and preservatives.”
Jessie Cheung
Board-certified dermatologist based in both Chicago and New York City, currently practicing in Manhattan.
Howard Sobel
, MD, elaborates: ”
Contact dermatitis
This can happen when your skin experiences an allergic response to a product you’ve used on it, despite not knowing about such an allergy. As Dr. Sobel explains briefly, “Formulas designed as hypoallergenic, free from fragrances and oils, will prevent irritation for those with sensitive skin.”
The positive aspect is that higher-priced detergents, such as those listed here, often use formulations with fewer chemicals, opting instead for more natural, plant-based components. Regardless of whether your skin is sensitive or not, using the wrong amount of detergent can still cause irritation. According to Dr. Cheung, “Applying excess liquid detergent might result in residues, which increases the chance of irritation—even when using a mild formula.” She recommends adhering strictly to the recommended detergent quantity and adding another rinse cycle as an additional safeguard.
What factors should you consider when selecting a premium laundry detergent?
The selection of an upscale laundry soap primarily depends on personal taste, as it frequently does. What sort of aroma are you looking for? Where do you stand regarding how much you’re willing to spend? Which types of fabric do you typically launder? You might have to experiment a bit until you discover the ideal one, but opting for scents you enjoy is generally a reliable strategy.
Meet the experts
-
Jessie Cheung
, MD, a certified dermatologist practicing in both Chicago and New York City -
Howard Sobel
, MD, a board-certified dermatologist located in NYC
The way we assess and evaluate items
When
tests a product
Our editorial team examines it comprehensively to ensure they provide you with the best service possible. They evaluate components, critically assess brand assertions, and whenever needed, analyze peer-reviewed scientific and medical research. Besides putting all products featured in each review through rigorous tests, we also consult specialists in various domains such as dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine for insights and guidance.
vet the ingredients
and formulas.
To compile our selection of top-tier luxury laundry detergents, we evaluated each item based on five key criteria: ingredient quality and cleaning effectiveness, packaging design, scent profile, consistency, and fabric care. Our assessment involved input from both internal staff—including writers, editors—and external experts such as certified dermatologists. For further details about how these products were tested and rated, please refer to our comprehensive methodology section.
review procedure and techniques section
.
Our staff and testers
A cosmetic item is often bought individually. Whether you’re looking for a facial lotion to tackle ongoing dry skin or seeking a novel nail care product to incorporate into your weekend pampering session, you could also just be exploring the newest arrivals in the hair sector. Regardless of what you’re after or your specific requirements and worries,
strives to guarantee that you will find everything we recommend in our stories genuinely appealing. Achieving this requires not only a varied group of writers and editors but also frequent consultations with numerous external testers and specialists from various industries.
After all, can we
really
indicate that a skincare product is the
“ideal” for individuals above 50
If the only people whose opinions we’ve gathered are under 30 years old, can we truly consider a premium diffuser worth your valuable money if it hasn’t been tried with curly hair? We’re proud that
our staff
encompasses a broad spectrum of ages, skin tones, hair types, genders, and cultural backgrounds, allowing us to effectively evaluate any beauty products that enter our collection.
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-
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