What is your Favorite Detergent/Cleaner Scent?

[lakewebsterkid]

Growing up I was raised on P&G products and still use them today. Tide was the most used and we have tried every variation. My favorite scents in order are Clean Breeze, Fresh Scent (Coldwater), and Original all in liquid forms. The powders smell good too. I'm not too big on many others, especially cheap detergents. Downy has always been used in either April Fresh or Clean Breeze but a new favorite has risen to the top. The Infusions Citrus Spice smells really good when dried, not really in the bottle. My favorite combos are any of the listed Tides and Downy Clean Breeze and then the Tide Original with the Citrus Spice.

The Gain scent is okay in moderation with things like Swiffer products etc. Cascade action packs smell good also in the fresh scent. I like to see other peoples opinions as I want to try more products and branch out!

 

[kqkenmore]

So that is what happened to Pine sol  they took the pine oil out of it. I knew that something happened when I went to use some and it made me about vomit from the smell that is why I don't buy it any more. Is there any pine cleaners that contain pine and have a better scent? 

 

[danemodsandy]

Pine Cleaners:

If you will look in dollar and discount stores, they usually carry Pine-Sol clones for not too much money. You're looking for something that contains a certain percentage of pine oil. I think it's something like 8.6% or something like that. It's the same amount that was in Pine-Sol before that product was changed. Dollar General and Family Dollar are your best bets.

Don't ask me why discount stores can afford to put real pine oil in their products when Pine-Sol says they "can't" any more; they've said the supply of pine oil available is not equal to their needs.

All I can say about that is that the new scent is not equal to the job of killing the smell of B.S.

 

[launderess]

Real Pine Oil

Costs money same as lavender and other natural oils. Why go through that expense when you can cheap out with synthetic? Especially when these pine cleaner makers aren't going for EPA registration as a certified disinfectant. That is the real purpose behind pine cleaners but requires a certain ratio of pure oil. If you examine containers carefully not many pine type cleaners are certified disinfectants.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Point Is:

That Pine-Sol claims it can no longer afford that percentage of pine oil, but many dollar-store clones contain that percentage. Not all - I've checked. But some do.

You don't think that's a bit odd?

 

[launderess]

Maybe, maybe not

If the "dime store" brands are private label perhaps the maker does more volume than Pine-sol thus can break even.

Since one totally detests the scent of Pine cleaners never really bothered looking at prices. I will never, ever, never, ever use the stuff... *LOL*

 

[danemodsandy]

If You Think....

....The smell of old Pine-Sol was detestable, you should take a whiff of the new, pineless version.

That stuff would gag a maggot.

 

[artcurus]

Favorite clothes soap-SURF Ocean Breeze powder. It has a very light lavender fresh smell. DONT buy the liquid version, it's worthless.

Dusting-Original Endust in the red can. OMG, this stuff makes the house smell so good,but it's only available through Janitorial supply houses.

Dishwashing-Believe or not, any cheap Lemon scented dishwashing liquid (grandmother used this type)

Cascade Professional for the "big" jobs.

Regular scented Lysol for various uses around the house. For some reason this has been pulled also from stores, but is available through Janitorial supply houses and Home Depot of all places.

Sprayway Spray Glass cleaner

 

[gusherb]

I picked up a bottle of Gain Original HE liquid, and a bottle of Tide with Febreeze and will be trying them out this weekend. I accidentally grabbed non HE in the Tide so I'll have to be careful with it in the front loader. (Though last time I used non HE liquid it didn't over suds like I've had happen years prior)

As for that Pine Sol, the last time I was near that stuff was probably when it still used pine oil and the scent was so offensively strong that I'd become irritable and start feeling (b)itchy.
Now I'm tempted to go to a store and smell the current stuff, I'm sure the look on my face will say FAR more then words ever could about it.

 

[jeffg]

For general floor/wall/etc cleaning we've never found anything with a better residual scent than Spic 'N Span powder. Used in recommended amounts it's very pleasant and the scent is gone altogether within a day.

 

[yoblount]

Downy April Fresh

The original April Fresh scent, not the new crap that smells like cotton candy...

 

[murando531]

I completely agree...

...about Downy April Fresh. It nearly makes me sick. I can use Clean Breeze sometimes, Spring & Renewal is my all time favorite, but I steer clear of Mountain Spring or April Fresh. Way too strong.

 

[gusherb]

Me too

The April Fresh makes me wanna hurl, my least favorite softener scent. I'm numb to Mountain Spring, Clean Breeze is my favorite amongst the original scents. I'm using Spring & Renewal right now and have been for awhile, I really like it but have to go light on it or the perfume will nauseate me, especially mixing that with Tide detergent.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

The stuff my grandma used, which was a mixture of Tide, Clorox, Bo Peep ammonia and Spic And Span...

That is, the aroma of the stuff, stored in the big, tall, white metal storage cabinet in her laundry room...

-- Dave[this post was last edited: 9/5/2014-21:59]

 

[murando531]

gusherb - Very true about the Downy S&R fabric softener. I usually only fill the cap to cover the bottom really, about halfway to the lowest measuring line. The most I'll ever use is the bottom line for really large loads. It's just enough to leave a light scent without overwhelming the clothes or making them oily. I usually follow that rule of thumb with every fabric softener though.

 

[circlew]

Speaking of Pine-Sol

My Aunt Doris knew the family that had started the company. It is now owned by the Clorox Co.

The website for Clorox Professional says that the multi-surface formula contains "pine essential oil" and surfactants. It is also an EPA registered disinfectant.

Several other companies make pine oil cleaners, including ZEP and Spartan Chemical.

http://www.cloroxprofessional.com

 

[iej]

Smells I like:

Unilever Persil Powder and Persil Small and Mighty Liquid. I'm quite partial to the scent of Ecover Amongst the Flowers Fabric Softener. It's not at all floral btw, it's just a very natural scent.

I don't really like any strong artificial scents at all.

I grew up in a house that had oiled hardwood floors so there was always a vague scent of linseed and cedar wood. We also always washed the floor with a little touch of essential oil in the water along with some kind of floor washing solution specially for oiled hardwood which had a very natural scent.

Shower gels : Peach and Apricot oil Original Source Skin Quench (Cussons)

I spend lot of time in France as a kid too and Le Petit Marsellais range of of shower gels also is quite nice for a mainstream non pricy brand. I tend to go for really natural orange blossom based stuff a lot.

L'Occitane do some really nice shower gels too.... Speaking of which, I need to go shopping tomorrow.

Deodorants: Usually seem to end up going back to L'Oriel Men Expert.

Colognes tend to like stuff like Issey Miyake .. just fresh / not musky or too woody either.

Also love smells like real vanilla pods, fresh baked bread, scones, coffee, really herby food (especially Italian) and real tiger lilies ...

Quite like natural lavender too.

Smells I really don't like:

Old-fashioned Dettol, Savlon or any of those pine disinfectants.
Most synthetic floral scents.
Bounce
Some of P&G's stronger scents used in their laundry products over here - Not a big fan of Bold and Ariel was absolutely unbearably smelly for a while in powder format while their liquid formats are quite 'clean' smelling.

I really like the smell of Le Chat (French version of Henkel Persil).

 

[zanussi_lover]

Favourite Detergents - UK

Daz washing powder (equal to Gain in the US) - Smells like line dried cotton (wonderful)

Formil Non Bio Powder - Smells like old fashioned soap powder from years ago, simple soapy smell

Persil Small and Mighty Non Bio Liquid - Has a lovely soapy smell with undertones of Vanilla

Comfort Jojoba Oil Conditioner - Has a beautiful fragrance with honey, and vanilla undertones, and it has none of this fresh release crap in it.

Comfort Pure - Smells like dove bar soap, and has a gentle scent which lasts.

Lenor Pure Care (Almond Oils) - Has a beautiful light fruity scent, that has hints of orange and peach - this Lenor doesn't have any freshness enhancers in it which means it just lasts on the fabric for a few days, as opposed to a cloying heavy chemical smell for weeks and weeks and weeks.

I hate Lenors classic line up. Lenor is Downy in the US, and they completely ruined the April Fresh Scent (its called Spring Awakening here). All of them have fresh lock technology which binds the freshness to the fabric, which means the conditioner is very strong and has an overpowering chemical scent, as opposed to the scent of fresh spring flowers which lasts for a few days, then disappears.

We have a range called Lenor Pure Care which is suitable for sensitive skin which has mild fragrances and no fresh lock technology which I can use.

We lost the original scents of Lenor from about 2009 when they played with the formula, and added more chemicals that stick to the fabric to make it last longer. I find that I can't use it as it induces breathing problems, and I can't stop coughing.

 

[iej]

Comfort pure's not too bad, but I find it has a strong undertone sometimes.
I don't like the Lenor equivalent though or Fairy softener at all really - they have a very clingy smell that I can't quite explain.

Some of the store own-brand 'pure' fabric softeners are good. Aldi have one with cotton oil that smells really quite pleasant.

Tesco's version of "pure" isn't bad.
SuperValu (one of the major chains here in Ireland) has quite a nice own brand 'pure' conditioner which I suspect is made by McBride (doesn't specify on the label though, just says made in the EU for Musgraves (SuperValu). You might find it in Budgens in the UK which is also one of their brands albeit a smaller convenience store format.

I prefer to use Ecover though because it's something that's not rinsed out and I don't really want air freshener like scents next to my skin.

 

[zanussi_lover]

Detergent Scents I miss and ones I dislike

Ariel Washing Powder from the 90s till 2005/06 when they reformulated it - Sweet Grassy Scent which was pleasant before they turned it to a stinky pine citrusy chemical fragrance.

Ariel Alpine Powder

Daz Automatic/Daz Ultra - 1990s - Lovely smell from my childhood

Bold All in One Spring Fresh (Blue Box) (The powder my mum used as well as Daz when I was growing up)

Original Blue Surf Automatic Powder from the 90s - had a simple soapy cotton fresh scent

Original Blue Comfort (90s until 2007)

Comfort Silk and Comfort Lily and Riceflower

Comfort Creme - Almond Oil (2006)

Lenor (90s Lenor) in the blue dilute bottles with the coloured caps (Spring Awakening/Summer Breeze/Alpine Spirit/Oriental Blossom/Carnival Passion/Clear Dawn/Delicate Fresh) - before they messed about with it

Detergents I hate the smell of.

Ariel (all range) - too smelly

Bold - too smelly

Surf Tropical - Makes me wheeze and choke (too strong)

All Lenor softeners (too cloying and stinky) - apart from pure care range

All Comfort Softeners (too cloying and stinky) (Blue one is okay in small doses) apart from Pure, and Jojoba Oil

 

[maytagbear]

I cut the current "April Fresh" Downy

with Downy unscented, 50-50, and that works well for me. Almost getting to softener season....October/March.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[mrb627]

Laundry Detergents?

I suppose I have grown fond of the current Wisk offering. But Gain powder is acceptable too.

Malcolm

 

[jeffg]

"cut the current "April Fresh" Downy
with Downy unscented, 50-50, and that works well for me. Almost getting to softener season....October/March."

Softener use in our house is limited to socks, and we do the same cutting, except it's more like a 90%/10% ratio of unscented/scented. Just several drops are enough to mildly scent an entire load.

Also not a huge fan of the newer more concentrated Downy. It softens well but doesn't seem to rinse off completely between washings like the older stuff did, which results in accumulation problems. Every few washings we skip it, socks are still more than soft enough just from residual product.

 

[gusherb]

Funny you mention that about the Downy, over the past year I have had to use it very sparingly because it no longer completely rinses out of the softener cup in the dispenser of our front loader, Downy is like sludge now. I had the same problem with the liquid Tide w Febreeze too, I had to put the little dam "up" for powder in order for it to completely rinse out, mind you this was with 140 degree water running through the dispenser.

 

[jeffg]

I think the push for smaller packaging, along with reduced shipping costs etc make manufacturers develop these more concentrated formulas. But at some point the cost-cutting starts taking a toll on product performance. Original Downy softened better (maybe not "more"), and didn't build up over time.

 

[liamy1]

Scents

Just adding a bit more to the thread.

I'm a big fan of all P&G products (I did stop using them for a time, but back with them now).

I love the US Tide line up (I'm in the UK, but will pay heavy $/£ when I can spare it, to have it shipped over) Also still love Downy April Fresh, (even the new one *embarrassed*)

Our April Fresh, called Spring Awakening over here (as mentioned above). Used it on and off for nearly all my life, and still to this day, not 100% sure on it - I do like it, however, as I never have just one softener in the house (more like 20 lol), I don't use it continuously - there are some detergents the Spring Awakening REALLY does not mix well with (IMO) but it mixes beautifully and the best with Fairy detergent, also mixes well with Ariel. I have used it with others and it has been ok, and some I have had to rewash.

Lenor also used to do one called Natural Balance, which I LOVED. But as always, they discontinued it (this would have been around 15 years ago).

Lenor also did another - can't remember the name (they have just changed the name of it to "Ocean Breeze" along with the smell) the previous formula was nice, but VERY strong, used it on the bedding, got in bed and had to change out the bedding, it was just too strong.

I really love my laundry detergents (and mainly because of scents that I can try out)

So there aren't many that I don't like.

The one or 2 I don't like:

Unilever's Comforts "Vanilla creations" variation, makes me want to hurl, but as above, their Jojoba oils one is amazing.

Also Unilever KILLED Comfort "lily and rice flower" by tampering with the formula and calling it "strawberry lily kiss" it's not as nice as it was. For some reason, you can still get the original in the discount stores (Poundstretcher and B&M) but in the main stores Tesco, Asda etc it's only the new one. The original formula is in the 5L tubs, but the scent was changed around 6 years ago, surely stock can't last that long?

I'd bore you all if I mentioned my Favourites as have too many.

 

[liamy1]

Oh yes,

Zanussi_lover.

Completely agree, could have cried when they got rid of Ariel Alpine *red face*

 

[iej]

P&G France still has Ariel Alpine

Ariel France
http://www.lafamilleariel.fr/Products/ArielLiquid.aspx

Ariel Fraîcheur Alpine comes in all formats.
Powder, Foil Wrapped Powder Tablets, Liquid, Excel Gel, eco doses (liquid tablets) and les Pods 3-en-1.

So stock up in La France & smell of les Alpes!

France has a *much* wider selection of detergents than the UK & Ireland. You've all the major players instead of just P&G and Unilever and I really think it makes a difference to the range and the price.

Unilever, P&G, Henkel and Colgate Palmolive are all in their market as well as really good store and small brands.

http://www.lafamilleariel.fr/Products/ArielLiquid.aspx

 

[liamy1]

Thank you

Thanks iej, will have a look at that link.

 

[jeffg]

"France has a *much* wider selection of detergents than the UK & Ireland."

You can count on nobody outside France being aware of that, now that Google is censoring, excuse me I mean manipulating search results. Including international sites.