If I passed you on a narrow path, would I be able to smell fabric softener down wind? 

[Anndalouzier]

Just been on a walk and struck by how many people you pass don't smell of perfume, instead they smell of eau de lenor
is there something that you do/aspire to? How much of the stuff do you use to make it so strong?
I don't mind it in laundry. Just not my signature scent™️

I'm very sensitive to some smells and fabric softener and strong washing powders give me a headache. I can't sleep in a bed that stinks of toxic chemicals.

I don’t want people walking near me to be able to smell fabric softener or perfume, although at least smelling of fresh washing is often much more subtle than getting choked by loads of deep musty perfume.

Oh come on the smell of fabric softener is nothing like the health hazard of second had smoking. If the scent of something like fabric softener makes you so ill you just being able to function in society in general, there are smells and fumes all around you like food outlet outputs, exhausts, etc. Someone is not selfish by using softener because you’re sensitive.

I use the non perfume kind of fabric softener, otherwise the clothes will be full of static in the house.

I don't like the way that the combination of brighteners and perfume attract butterflies and moths to lay their eggs on washing rather than food plants (it's also why some people have loads of butterflies land on them in a butterfly house - and I suspect why some are constantly bothered by bees/wasps/etc). Insect life is under so much threat, I can't bring myself to do it just for my clothes to smell.

Don’t be so ridiculous! Ffs, you can’t dictate what scents people use just because a TINY minority of others (or the majority of MN it would seem!! 😂🤯🤦‍♀️🥴) don’t like it!

The mobile phones and WiFi everyone’s using to comment on this thread probably have more of an impact environmentally than anything else, but sure, let’s pretend to be holier than thou and look down on people for using fabric softener.

Couldn’t agree more. Live a blameless life and then you can criticise others ..

I’m not sensitive, I am allergic. So are a growing number of people. Car exhaust isn’t particularly a problem.

I know people are in denial, but it really is just a matter of time before the health implications of the various components in fragrance mix I and ii are better understood. It won’t be a matter of banning them from personal use, but at the manufacturing stage.

But car exhausts are a problem for others. They hugely trigger my husband’s asthma. Or are we only talking about banning things that are a problem for you?

i have a very keen sense of smell and can smell it from some distance. I don't get why so many people layer themselves with so many competing smells: shower gel, skin lotion, clothes with strong smelling conditioners on etc etc.

But I do love the candles that smell of clean laundry.

I’m allergic to blueberries, should we ban them too?

Add strawberries to the list as I’m allergic to them.

And there goes the hyperbolic responses. It is like clockwork. People don’t want to listen that these things are harming them too, it just isn’t as obvious as with some of us.

The rates of people with diagnosed problems is rising. It is well documented. Manufactured fragrances are making people sick. People just don’t want to listen.

I’m happy to listen to the fact that you are allergic to fabric conditioner. I empathise. As I said, car exhausts are a nightmare for my DH’s asthma and I am allergic to a few things including strawberries and pineapple.
It is completely unrealistic to ban any of those things because a small number of people have an allergy to them.

I smell like a mixture of Fairy and Jimmy Choo. I look and feel like a haggard old witch since having my DS, but at least I don’t smell like one

I hate the smell of it. It doesn’t matter that flavour you choose, it just smells of chemicals. It always feels like it’s there to mask a real smell - there’s a Fabrezeness to it.

I’ve said this a couple of times but it’s unlikely that fabric softener is masking another smell… it is used in a wash, alongside washing powder, so chances are if it smells of fabric softener it is also clean, as it’s just been washed. Febreze is different because it isn’t used in a wash, alongside washing powder. I can’t imagine anyone putting something in the washing machine with just fabric softener and no washing powder just to mask the fact that the clothing isn’t clean 🤷🏻‍♀️

I want to reek of soap personally.

I grew up poor wearing clothes for a week or more, bathing once a week and no deodorant etc.

I'd bathe in the stuff if I could. I particularly like the Snow White apple smelling stuff (never watched the film).

🤣🤣🤣🤣this thread has me creasing
You are actually moaning people smell clean I use vanish unstoppables washing liquid and comfort in every wash I bet all the people moaning are the ones that think its acceptable to shower once a week and change pj's or clothes once a week

You don’t smell clean. People
who smell clean have virtually no scent at all. All you need to be clean is plain soap and water.

My point is that the small number of people with the allergy are the warning sign. The actual ingredients are unhealthy for everyone. They are in fact just as dangerous as other substances that are now restricted or banned. Eventually, people are going to realize the damage that is being done to everyone.

I have plenty of allergies that are inconvenient. They aren’t remotely the same as this. I avoid those allergens and deal with the impracticality all the time. They are to things that are perfectly to safe for other people to consume and use. At most I want more detailed product labeling on products and more detailed labeling in restaurants for those kind of allergies.

For anyone interested, I recently bought the yellow Aldi 'So Soft' fabric conditioner.
Cheap as chips and (to my unsophisticated nose) smells amazing!
I think it is their rip off of Lenor but you can definitely smell it when the laundry comes out of the dryer.
Maybe not in the spirit of this particular thread but for the apparent minority of us that do prefer the smell of fabric conditioner to that of BO/wet dog/literal shit I thought I would share.