Best Smelling Detergent for Clothes – Why I Switched from a supermarket brand to Distinctive

I never thought I’d be a person who cared this much about laundry.

Have you seen the TV ad? A man in his thirties is watching a nature video about orca (whales). The screen shifts to show the male baby orca. Sir David Attenborough explains that the young male orca stays with his Mum for life. At this point the chap watching TV looks at his Mum. Then, in shock, he comprehends he needs to make plans to move out. Well I had a similar moment with my laundry choices.

A couple of years ago, I started searching online. I was looking for the best smelling detergent for clothes. This happened after yet another wash where everything smelled fine. Not bad. Not offensive. But just like I remembered smelling as a kid when my Mum did my laundry.

And I got to thinking. That wasn’t very cool. I am a thirty five-year-old male living an otherwise luxurious bachelor lifestyle.

I most definitely didn’t still live at home with my Mum doing the laundry. No offense Mum – your laundry is totally fine. But as an adult, I had a stunning stylish apartment in London’s West End. It had high ceilings and big rooms. The decor was stylish. And an amazing wardrobe of clothes, plus designer shoes.

My lifestyle didn’t involve going to many supermarkets.

I hardly cooked at home these days, let alone browsed a supermarket laundry aisle. For a while I put my laundry out, at a cost of £32 a load. Then I understood that this was one significant chore I actually enjoyed doing myself on a weekend. Doing laundry and ironing is very satisfying. Hanging clean pressed shirts amplifies this satisfaction. It’s a calming Sunday task. Somewhere along the line I realized supermarket pods were just not the fit.

And that was the problem.

I didn’t want my clothes to smell like everyone else. I wanted something cleaner and deeper. I desired something more like the Molten brown toiletries I buy. It needed to have a subtle, masculine edge.

So, I searched online for the best fragranced laundry brand. I found Distinctive and cautiously tried it with a mini 2 wash pack. I was sold. The whole apartment smelled amazing whilst my clothes were drying making my lazy Sunday even more enjoyable. I remember making a coffee wit my new machine and walking around smelling the “air not the coffee.” Their Opulence of Amber fragrance perfectly compliments the Taylor’s of Bond Street old Sandalwood scent. The first tester was a huge hit.

The Frustration With “Standard” Detergents.

Most mainstream detergents fall into two categories:

• Overpoweringly strong that recognizable detergent smell – that you can smell on the tube and instantly know as laundry.
• Or so imperceptibly light on scent that there’s nothing.

And it isn’t always appropriate to smell of expensive aftershave from top to toe either. I often wear a Taylor’s, or Molten deodorant, during the day. I skip aftershave entirely. The Distinctive scent is just enough as a layer on top of that. But, I do wish they’d consider doing a deodorant.

Over the last couple of years, I tried a few different brands. They claimed to be masculine laundry scents or the best smelling detergent for clothes. I can honestly say Distinctive is the best.

Before I found Distinctive.

All I got was:

• Residue build-up from fabric softener
• A heavy artificial smell

Distinctive by comparison is balanced with a warm base of Ambergris, Vanilla, Sandalwood, and Cedar wood.  Clean. Sophisticated. Slightly deeper in tone.

There’s a subtle masculinity to it — not loud or overpowering — but confident

I’ve found the best smelling detergent for clothes that actually suited my style

What Changed in My Routine

With your first order, Distinctive sends you an introduction letter. It educates you about changes to the way you wash and care for your washing machine. I hadn’t ever cleaned the washing machine before. I can tell you it was positively disgusting. There was black mould and gunk in the drawer. Grey looking matter was stuck in the rubber seal around the drum. The filter was totally clogged up. Who knew the washing machine needed regular cleaning?

• I switched to longer, slower wash program
• Stopped overfilling the drawer
• Removed fabric softener
• And I now de-scale my machine every few months. With nothing special just vinegar.

The result? Clean machine and no mouldy odour, plus clothes that smell Distinctive and not like a supermarket brand.

Why Smell Matters More Than You Think

You don’t realise how much scent shapes perception until someone comments, “What do you use on your washing?”

That’s when you know you’ve found something better

For me, that’s exactly what Distinctive delivers:

The best smelling detergent for clothes 
It’s about subtle background confidence.
It’s about scent that lasts when someone gets close to you.
It’s about clothes that smell uniquely Distinctive.

Distinctive have received a couple of awards for their scents. They were bench marked as the brand to beat by fragrance house Givaudan. They were also recognized as the best fragranced laundry brand in the UK 2026. Read more here.