Lenor = Downy

[nickuk]

Hello everybody.

Here in the UK, Lenor fabric conditioner has had a packaging redesign lately. It now shares a logo with USA Downy. See pictures below. I personally like the new design.

I bought a bottle of `Summer Breeze' and was very surprised that the scent has changed too. This has been the same for as long as I can remember!!

I did quite enjoy the previous Summer Breeze but found it a little strong. However, this one is absolutely to my liking! The scent is lighter and really appropriate for a FS. It goes beautifully with either Ariel or Daz powder, haven't tried any other combinations yet.

This also really reminds me of `April Fresh' Downy which I had a bottle of a good few years ago. If it's not the exact same scent recycled, it certainly has similarities to my nose. I remember thinking how much the April Fresh Downy was reminiscent of (now defunct) Yellow Bold powder, and I think this is too. Of course scent is quite subjective though.

I was wondering if anybody else had tried this (and if so what their opinion is), or if someone could confirm if any of the other Lenor scents have altered?

Take care

Nick

 

[nickuk]

Apologies, the title of the thread should have a question mark at the end since I am debating rather than stating a point.

 

[liamy1]

Oh I hope I like it

I love the smell of the Yellow one, hope I like the new one.

I haven't bought any Lenor for a couple of months (have a massive bottle of the yellow and 2 big bottles of the blue).

Will pick some yellow up when next shopping.

I actually have a big (180 load i think) bottle of Downy April Fresh, (about 2 years old) so will compare the scents. April Fresh is one of my faves of all time, but interestingly, I can't recall it being similar to yellow Bold- but can only just recall that scent.

I know P&G have had a shake up of the scents of detergents in last few months,

Ariel has changed.

Daz has changed (and it now is very close to USA Tide, but not ORIGINAL Tide scent, to me, it's closer to Tide Clean Breeze).

Also Fairy has changed and it smells like the Daz scent before the recent change (and I'm not all that keen on that scent ) However, for softness, nothing comes close to Fairy detergent, so will keep using it.

So I do think P&G recycle/swap scents around, so it could well be as you say.

Also bit of trivia (if you didn't know) they were going to rename Lenor to Downy in 2002, but they abandoned the plan.

 

[liamy1]

Might actually,

Go on a shopping spree and get a bottle of the blue, yellow and green Lenor's. To see if any/all scents have changed, and get back to you

I do have a bit of a detergent/softener thing, so have literally bought/used nearly every branded laundry product going, only a few that I haven't as have not liked it at the store.

Will have a sniff of the purple lenor, but I am not all that keen on the purple one, so unless a dramatic change, probably won't buy.

As a side note, I like Comfort's purple one, although it smells naff all like lavender (even though it's called lavender something - lavender bloom i think).

 

[nickuk]

Hi Liam

Sorry to have orchestrated a fabric conditioner shopping trip!! I often end up donating stuff to good causes as I just end up with way too much.......

I'm going back a bit further than you when I had April Downy, and our friends across the pond have said that has changed recently too (for the worse is the general consensus) but it could well have smelled nothing like yellow Bold. My sense of smell is a bit crazy. Maybe a bit like Daniella Westbrook's `one nostril' after doing too many drugs, I think I have the laundry scent equivalent of nose abuse. Not wishing to trivialise drug addiction.........

So Daz has changed too? Don't think the new one has made it to Essex yet as I bought a couple of days ago and it was the same. I'll look out for that one. Has it also had a redesign? A bit of trivia for you is that I remember someone on here saying the citrus version smells very close to original USA Gain.

The purple Lenor I always thought smelled like Radox or some sort of foam bath. Perhaps a bit of a granny smell? I bought the green Febreze one (old packaging) recently and really like the simple fresh scent, but it's just a bit strong for our needs.

Completely agree with your comments about the Comfort.

Yes, I heard about the planned name change from Downy to Lenor. Do you remember that gloopy `fabric enhancer' stuff started life as `Downy' over here, before going to Lenor and then finally being dropped? I quite liked that product. However I don't think the brand `Downy' would work here as it's also a vile term of insult used towards people with Down's syndrome. At least that's why I always assumed they dropped it.

Let us know your findings after the shopping spree!

 

[launderess]

Sadly Downy "April Fresh" Fabric Softener Of Today

Smells nothing like the stuff of old. That is what one recalls from the 1970's through say early 1990's. At least here on this side of the pond.

Being as this may in an odd twist Tide with a "touch" of Downy does have a scent more like Downy fabric softener of old. So P&G does still have that formula kicking around.

 

[liamy1]

Daz

Yes the packaging changed on the Daz too. I bought some, (possibly about a month or 2 back) and still had some Daz left (in the old packaging) and the secnts were definitely different to my nose.

Could be suffering the same as you, I have sworn before that different scents of softeners in the same range (eg Comfort Exhilarations) were starting to smell the same on the finished wash (scent abuse lol)

Out of interest, what type of good causes take unwanted product off your hands? To be honest, I have managed to scale down to where is not too much of a problem now, but over last few years, the amount of nearly full products I have trashed has been criminal. I do give to family members, but they can only take so much at a time.

I am going to try to keep the collection scaled down, so I don't end up in the same position and purchase very judiciously, but I fall for new products every single time.

 

[spoodles]

Yep, I got some new Lenor Summer Breeze last weekend and it really does have a Downy scent to it. I've always liked Summer Breeze but I think this might be the best version they've ever had. Had a sniff of Spring Awakening in the shop and it didn't seem to have changed but I rarely use that one, so maybe it's had a tweak as well.

For some reason they've made the new extra large bottles less concentrated than all the other sizes, so they only have 83 washes instead of the 116 they had before, they've done it with Fairy softener too. They've also brought back the "Parfumelle" name for the premium Lenor range.

 

[nickuk]

Launderess, lovely to hear from you. I do hope you're not getting too many nuisance calls (especially if on the slimline cordless telephone) for the Chinese takeaway, it being Friday evening!

I too always sigh when they change the classics and wonder why they have to. When there is so much shelf space for new fangled tart's handbag type scents, why not leave the old ones alone?

Liam, well blow me if Daz hasn't changed!! Stuck the old nostril in the box and you are quite correct, it's different. Hadn't even noticed.

Good causes I donate to....school (for washing tea towels etc).....local launderette for the punters to use........and have also donated to a refuge for homeless gents too.

Spoodles, I'm pleased I'm not going totally mad and you too can whiff something Downy-esque in the Summer Fresh. It is great though, isn't it? I hope they leave the formula alone for a bit.......

 

[liamy1]

Hi Nick,

Right, went to Morrisons today and got a bottle of the Yellow Lenor (They did have the blue and green as well, but all bottles of them are still under the old logo at the moment), and...

You're completely right, it is as close to Downy April Fresh as you can get (without it actually being Downy AF).

I really like it (from the smell in the bottle), will be doing some laundry tomorrow (been out all day today for Horse Riding Gala and visiting the MIL).

Liam

 

[liamy1]

Almost forgot...

Now that I know about Lenor Yellow.

If you want to "boost up" that Downy AF scent, if you use Lenor Unstoppables "spring" scent - in the almost red cap (NOT the pink-y cap which I think is called "bliss").

The spring scent is sold in the US (i dont think bliss is) and spring is sold to go along Downy AF.

 

[nickuk]

Thanks Liam. Have never been down the unstoppables route but am open to giving them a go alongside non fragranced (or no) liquid FS. I'll pick some up tomorrow when I go shopping.

I hope that you enjoyed the new yellow Lenor (if you've done laundry yet today) as I personally think it's even nicer in use than in the bottle.

 

[liamy1]

Brilliant

Got some in now, but it's a load that cat use FS LOL

Next load will be the one.

I know chemical overload is frowned upon on here, but I can't deny, I love the Unstoppables (don't like Comfort's version though).

There is only one scent in UStops I don't like which is "Lavish" (gold cap) - it's very similar to Lenor "Gold Orchid" FS, very summery/suntan lotion, coconutty smell - just not to my taste and is the only one I have given away from the whole range.

Fave so far is "Fresh" (blue cap) followed by "Uplift" (green) then "Spring" (red). "Bliss" (pink) is ok too.

Super-duper excited anyway, as we have just got "Dreams" (black cap), they have that in the US, and I've been hoping for ages that we get it, so I can try it and we finally have!!

 

[liamy1]

Forgot,

I started out only using Ustops either with no softener, or unscented, as was worried about scent clash.

However, I did start experimenting on scent combos, and luckily, only had 1 combo I could not bear (which was some years back, think it was Gain "moonlight" flings + lenor Fresh Ustops + Costcos lavender scent gems FS (it was so strong wearing a top made me ill).

But, Ariel Pods + Fresh Ustops + Morrisons own brand "summer" FS makes a really really good combo, it's a clean-y/almost sporty (but not aftershave sporty) type scent, it's a scent that you could just never create with detergent and softener alone.

 

[hoover8pulse]

Ooh pleased to see a thread on this!

Absolutely love the new Summer Lenor! I have a bottle of Downy April Fresh here that I got in May and the smell is really similar, not the same as the Lenor has a summery twang to it but the smell is lovely. Not overpowering, sweet or sickly, just pleasant and lasts a little bit before fading. So far none of the others have changed, just the Summer Breeze but I love the new logo too, far nicer than the old one and they've got rid of the 'super concentrate' thing too! On finished laundry it smells so divine without an overpowering fragrance, and it pairs very nicely with Ariel.

When in Home Bargains yesterday though the old 116 wash bottles have now gone to 83 washes but still hold 3l (or thereabouts). A bit odd really, unless Lenor are now offering a slightly less concentrate version like Downy does in the US.

Liam, loving the unstoppables! I try to stay off them but I really can't, adore the blue one, the green one and the red one. Must try the spring with the new Lenor Summer, did try them with Spring Awakening and the result was lovely! The new Dreams ones are absolutely brilliant, apparently they smell of lavender and vanilla but pair brilliantly with Lenor Moonlight Harmony.

In the US, the dreams ustops are part of the Sweet Dreams collection, wish they'd launch that here! I would love it!

Lenor and Downy are essentially the same product, just with different scents for each market. Like Liam says, they nearly scrapped the Lenor name and was just going to have Downy, but they decided against it after they thought markets who associate the product with Lenor would not like it to be called Downy. Also interestingly, I read that a 40/44 wash bottle of Downy/Lenor has enough softening agents to soften a football pitch worth of fabric!

 

[hoover8pulse]

I've got to say, I am loving P&G laundry stuff right now. Ariel powder smells very similar to the Essential formula (does anyone else think this, when I sniff the box I swear I've smelt the fragrance before but can't remember where from) and the other products in the range are brilliant.

 

[liamy1]

Oh good,

Great to hear the dreams ustops are nice, haven't got any yet as only in ASDA out of the main chains I believe, and I haven't been able to get to one..

Ariel has got a great scent to it, and it does look like PG "rotate" fragrance formulas, so could well be another scent you have smelt before, even if not Ariel Essential.

I too love PG products, never, ever had a bad one from them.

 

[hoover8pulse]

Dreams Unstoppables

I got mine from Wilkos for £4 for the big one if that helps. Do you have one nearby? They have both sizes but like I say the 375g are £4. I have also noticed they have now launched a 700g bottle of Unstoppables! I also got the new Lenor from Wilko also for £1.75.

Ariel a scent is really nice and clean, it hasn't smelt this way for at least 10 years or so. It would be nice though if they called it 'Ariel Essential' again though! I agree with you though, I've never been disappointed from a P&G product.

Also, Bold has changed fragrances. The packaging has had a redesign and has the new Lenor logo stamped on the box, the lavender and camomile has toned the perfume down so it's a lovely pleasant scent and not overpowering. The blue one also smells different and is a clean fresh scent. They have also launched a green Bold to replace the orange one.

 

[liamy1]

You're kidding me?

They haven't brought green bold back have they? Was under the "active fresh" label last time and LOVED it!!! I actually was gutted when it went. Wonder if it is anywhere near active fresh, really, really hope so.

Yes I do have Wilkos nearby, will see if I can get there before Asda (although planned for Asda for tonight).

Thanks, didn't know about all these new prods. I don't have the space, haha I will make space.