Why doesn't my washing smell like theirs?

[sparklyIsPretty]

When I visited my mum last week, she had used the loveliest smelling washing detergent/softener. I asked her what it was and then got some for my washing.

I was disappointed to find out my washing didn't smell the same.

Anyone know why that could be?

Not putting up enough in?
I double the recommended dose on the label

Clean your washing machine

Dirty washing machine or she's drying it outside and you aren't

Be glad it doesn’t? The smell of fabric softener makes me feel queasy 🤢

Do you put more clothes in the machine than she does?

Is your washing machine clean?
Different type of water (hard vs soft)
What temperature are you washing stuff on compared to her?
How are you drying clothes compared to her?

Did she dry the clothes differently? I don't use fabric softener anymore but when I did it smelled stronger if I tumble dried the clothes afterwards rather than hung them on the line.

We both line dry.
My washing machine was purchased 2 months ago so very clean.
I do live in a hard water area though so maybe that's it. I didn't realise that would make a difference.

Also, the smell was completely different. Like two different scents even though it's the exact same products.

Does she use those "scent booster" things on top? I haven't personally gone in for them really but I got a bit overexcited in Wilko one day and bought a bottle and they do definitely increase the newly-washed smell.

I've experienced this when someone told me what they used and it didn't smell the same. Are you using the same detergent too? What softener is it? I have an addiction problem to Mrs Hinch frosted eucalyptus 🤣🤣 you can get it in The Range still. Xx

I use a magno ball, helps soften the water, and it makes a difference too.
Have one for my dishwasher too

Maybe you’re nose blind to your own washing? A friend asked me why my clothes smelled so good the other day and I can’t smell my clothes at all… Soft water, no softener here!

A 2 month old machine can still not be clean if you haven't run a maintenance wash in that time and shut the door between uses.

If you are drying in the same way, I wonder if it's a result of:

• smaller dosage
• the smell takes a while to transition between the 2 products (the first might have formed a bit of a build up on the fabric which will take time to replace)
• Nose blindness

Has your mum got an old machine? Both me and mum have found our washing is just not the same since getting new machines. She’s always moaning about her cardboard towels! Her old machine used to use hot water. We’re convinced cold fill aren’t the same. Also new water efficient machines just do things differently! Don’t overfill your softener drawer. I found that if I filled it too near to the top I couldn’t smell it - it was all getting swished away before the final rinse! Filling it less I’ve found that works better for me! I’ve learned to live with my disappointments but it’s so so hard. I am extremely sensory-led and smell and touch bring me immense joy so I’m heartbroken when it’s taken away from me 😟 I am still not quite over Asda discontinuing their ‘Line Fresh’ smell. Now that did bring me joy! I’m still imagining it now. And missing it… 😢

Scents smell different on different people, two people can wear the same perfume and it smells differently on them. Was your mum wearing the clothes you liked the smell of? This could be the reason yours smell differently.

It obviously doesn’t make the OP feel queasy or she wouldn’t be trying to recreate the smell 🤷🏻‍♀️.
I also suggest cleaning your washing machine.

Useful 🙄 bored are you?
It's ok to use fabric conditioner, just because you don't like it. What a pointless comment to make, move on if you can't help the op

Just wondering if you're using a different clothes wash to her and that's making the difference.

Are your clothes clean enough? Sorry, there’s no way to ask the question delicately. But I’ve found with cold washes that body odours build up underarms and crotches over time.

If your mum has an older machine her clothes might just be cleaner.

Maybe your machine rinses more effectively?

Hard(er) water could be something to do with it too.

A totally pointless reply 🙄
I agree to putting less FS in

I agree that smelling fabric softeners on other people is awful. A clean smell is actually no smell.

You are probably overfilling machine. Modern washing machines don't use as much water so although they say they are eg 10kg in my opinion if you put that much in whilst the clothes come out clean they dont smell great. I often do an extra final rinse.

I think that the scented stuff stays in the washing machine for a while. It also stays on clothing - - you can go to wash worn/dirty clothing but still they smell of the scent. Maybe after a lot of washes the scent will build up. That said, I am not sure all the artificial stuff in the air is particularly healthy.