The Secret To Laundry That Smells Good — For Longer
Today our home and lifestyle editors are reviewing Downy’s In-Wash Laundry Scent Booster Beads. Keep reading to explore the products, our editors’ first impressions, and our final thoughts, or skip to:
The Brand & Products
Downy is a classic American brand that kick-started the fabric enhancer market. Their revolutionary in-wash Scent Booster Beads are an easy add-on to your regular detergent that will help you personalize how your family’s laundry smells.
We’ll be looking at the following:
- Downy Unstopables – The core expression of Downy’s scent booster line. Bold, unmistakable freshness designed to stay with clothes and linens for weeks.
- Downy Unstopables Unlimited – Developed by world-class perfumers, fragrance-inspired scent boosters that luxe up your life.
- Downy Light – Designed to be gentle, an option made without dyes or heavy perfumes.
First Impressions
Like death and taxes, laundry is an unavoidable part of life. There’s the gathering, sorting, washing, transferring heavy loads to the dryer, folding and… within days it’s back to being funky and stale.
We’ve tried nearly every laundry product out there. Most either smell basic or fade quickly. Going in, we assumed Downy Scent Booster Beads would be the same.
But as we got closer, our doubts vanished. Downy is America’s #1 scent booster brand, used from homes and Airbnbs to Little League sidelines.
Rather than using only perfume oils like traditional scented products, the beads use motion-activated, extended-freshness technology. Fragrance is infused into fabrics and gradually releases with movement.
The variety of scents is fantastic. Downy Light has fresh picks like Ocean Mist, Cherry Blossom, and White Lavender, while Unstopables Unlimited features notes of bergamot, warm cashmere, eucalyptus, and more. There’s a fragrance for all your moods. We just had to give them a try.
Our Verdict
When we pulled clothes out of the dryer, they smelled marvelous. But the real difference with Downy Beads is that they continue to smell fresh.
Downy’s Unstopables deliver up to 6× longer-lasting freshness and odor protection compared to detergent alone. The aroma subtly surfaces as we move through our lives (when pulling on a beloved sweater or walking our pup). After up to 12 weeks in our dresser drawer, we can pull on our most comfy jeans, and they still smell like gorgeous vanilla and cedar!
The Unstopables Unlimited Collection takes Downy Unstopables to unbeatable heights. Inspired by fine fragrances, this is where scent becomes an experience. We must give a shout-out to No.26. This harmony of rose, honey nectar, and oakmoss is like slipping into freshly pressed sheets at a 5-star European hotel.
Downy Light is perfect for those who are sensitive to heavy perfumes or want a clean scent that won’t take over a room. We just love the scent of Cherry Blossom on our towels. It’s like wrapping up in a field of sakura, white musk, and freesia.
The beads are safe for all machines and fabrics, including synthetic fabrics, and easy to use: simply toss them into the empty washer before adding clothes and detergent.
Final Thoughts
Get hotel-level freshness at home with Downy’s In-Wash Scent Beads. From breezy Downy Light to compliment-getting Unstopables, and the sophisticated Unstopables Unlimited, these beads turn a thankless chore into a task you may not mind doing.
