Soft, Comforting and Clean: These 9 Perfumes Smell Just Like Fresh Laundry
One beauty editor shares her roundup of the best perfumes on the market that smell like fresh laundry.
During winter, my perfume collection consists of sweet, gourmand fragrances that smell like festive desserts. I douse myself in notes of gingerbread, chocolate, and caramel, but now that summer is here, the only thing I want to smell like is fresh laundry blowing in the breeze. I am all about embracing those fresh, clean vibes for the warmer months, and as a beauty editor, one way I do that is definitely through scent.
Whether it's organising my space and lighting one of the best candles to enjoy a night in, changing my sheets and giving them a spritz of linen mist, or swapping out my fragrance for a fresh-laundry perfume, I find that these little changes make the biggest difference to my mood.
What Is a "Fresh Laundry" Perfume?
"When I think of a fresh-laundry scent, I usually think of a blend of soft synthetic musks, airy aldehydes, delicate florals like lily of the valley or neroli, and creamy woods such as sandalwood or cedar," says Cherry Cheng, fragrance expert and founder of Jouissance Parfums. "Together, these notes create the impression of crisp linen, clean skin and fresh air rather than detergent."
So, what fresh-laundry perfumes am I reaching for this summer? Luckily for you, I've tested some of the best clean-smelling scents on the market and found some absolute gems that really do smell like you've just stepped out of the shower and grabbed your outfit from the washing line before heading out the door. Keep scrolling for my top picks, and prepare for an influx of compliments.
9 of the Best Fresh-Laundry Perfumes 2026
- Best Perfume Overall: Byredo Blanche, £155
- Best Affordable Perfume: Zara Energetically New York, £36
- Best Luxury Perfume: Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle, £205
- Best Subtle Perfume: Jouissance En Plein Air Eau de Parfum, £180
- Best Unique Perfume: Borntostandout Naked Laundry, £173
1. Byredo Blanche
Key notes: Aldehydes, pink pepper, white rose, neroli, peony, violet, blonde woods, musk, sandalwood
First up is my most-worn perfume this month. Fresh, soft and a little floral, Byredo Blanche is easily one of the best clean-smelling perfumes out there. What I love about this scent is that although it's delicate, I can still smell it on my clothes hours after spritzing. If you want a true, powdery, fresh laundry scent, this is the fragrance to invest in.
2. Zara Energetically New York
Key notes: Cardamom, jasmine, sandalwood
When it comes to affordable perfumes, I know I can rely on Zara for expensive-smelling scents that don't break the bank. One of my favourites has to be Energetically New York. Whilst this is incredibly fresh thanks to notes of cardamom, it also has this slightly spicy, woody aroma that adds a really invigorating touch. It's not a fresh-sheets-on-a-Sunday kind of fragrance, but it is like slipping on a crisp white shirt before heading out for drinks.
3. Acne Studios par Frédéric Malle
Key notes: Sandalwood, peach, vanilla. white musk, frankincense
Not only is this one of the best fresh-laundry perfumes, but I count it as one of the best perfumes full stop. A collaboration between Acne Studios and Frédéric Malle, this fragrance combines fresh aldehydes with soft floral notes for a truly stunning finish. To me, it smells like wrapping up in a plush cotton towel fresh out of the shower at a five-star hotel. Oh, and this scent lasts all day long.
4. Jouissance En Plein Air
Key notes: Grapefruit, bergamot, lemon, white flowers, musk
"This is a subtle but long-lasting scent that really clings to skin, hair and clothes," says freelance beauty editor Grace Day. "Yes, it has sweet hints of musk, but in my opinion, it smells just like fresh laundry thanks to uplifting notes of bergamot, grapefruit and clean white florals. I love this for spring and summer."
5. Borntostandout Naked Laundry
Key notes: Mandarin, mimosa, white caramel, creamy milk, amber woods, tonka bean absolute
As the name suggests, this perfume has been designed to smell like fresh laundry. However, it's a little different from your usual clean-smelling scents thanks to notes of caramel and creamy milk. In my opinion, it's like wrapping up in a cosy jumper that's just come out of the dryer. It's a warm and comforting freshness that makes it unique.
6. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Linen Mist
Key notes: Lemon, bergamot, fresh white flower accord, light musks
Okay, this is technically a linen mist, but you can also use it on your clothes to create that beautiful, fresh-laundry scent. It's probably one of the closest scents to actual laundry that I've ever come across. Lemon and bergamot smell fresh and uplifting, whilst musky floral notes add that powdery, comforting touch. In true Maison Francis Kurkdjian style, it's a work of art. I use this on both my clothes and bed sheets and never get tired of the expensive-smelling aroma.
7. Maison Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning
Key notes: Lily of the valley, pear, aldehydes, ambrette seeds, iris, rose absolute, orange flower, white musks, patchouli
You didn't think I'd do this roundup and not include this scent from Maison Margiela, did you? Possibly one of the most popular clean-smelling perfumes out there, it's like lounging around in fresh sheets on Sunday morning, with nowhere else to be. The fragrance is fresh, uplifting, comforting and calming all at once, and a great introduction to the world of fresh-laundry perfumes.
8. Memree Soak
Key notes: Bubble bath accord, coconut water, sandalwood milk, white suede
"It's almost impossible to distinguish the individual notes in this perfume because they all blend so perfectly," says Day. "It's fresh, clean and to me, the ultimate fresh-laundry scent; the olfactory equivalent of stepping out of a hot bubble bath and enveloping yourself in a big fluffy towel."
9. Tory Burch Cosmic Wood
Key notes: Cardamom, ambrette, jasmine, sage, vetiver
"I don't think you can imagine or do justice to this perfume just by reading the notes; you have to smell it to believe it," says Day. "It's woody, but in a really fresh, subtle way, just enough to add a bit of depth and longevity, but on skin it reads as a really crisp, clean scent."
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