Fabric softeners give your clothes a pleasant fragrance and fluffy texture and make wearing freshly washed clothes feel even more refreshing and comfortable. However, some fabric softeners can either have an overpowering scent or don't make your clothes feel as fluffy or soft as you'd hoped.
If you're looking for fabric softeners that won't overpower your nose while still making your clothes feel just as good, consider Japanese fabric softeners. Since a wide variety of fabric softeners are available from well-known brands such as Landrin, Flair, Soflan, and Downy, many people may not know which one is right for them.
To help you figure that out, we gathered the 13 best-selling Japanese fabric softeners from e-commerce sites popular in Japan, such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, and tested them all.
We then chose and ranked the ten best products based on our test results and put what we learned into a buying guide to help you choose the best Japanese fabric softeners available online in 2022.
Eiichi Ishikawa is a first-generation olfactory measurement operator, which is nationally recognized in Japan, making him an expert on smells. Eiichi is also a licensed odor control advisor. After working at two companies specializing in odor control, Eiichi launched his own firm as an odor detective, working with various TV shows, magazines, and major companies to test the deodorizing properties of various products as well as provides technical guidance.
Hakuyosha Co., Ltd. (Hakuyosha Cleaning) Manager Clusters Co., Ltd. CTO Kensuke Kanzaki is currently a manager at his family's long-established dry cleaning company as well as is the chief technical officer (CTO) of a tech company. Kensuke has developed the delivery dry cleaning service Nexcy, operating a dry cleaner that can collect and deliver laundry from all over Japan. Known as the "Laundry Professor," Kensuke provides laundry advice through social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, as well as actively hosts seminars to invigorate his local community.
After joining mybest, Chihiro has tested over 750 different household goods, such as laundry detergent, dish soaps, fabric softeners, eyewear maintenance goods, towels, and pillows. Chihiro believes that you should choose products that you use daily that are actually best for your needs and that are effective.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Japanese fabric softeners do just more than fluff your towels and add fragrance. Japanese fabric softeners offer various functions that cater to the seasons in Japan and lifestyles of Japanese households. For example, since Japan has a long hay fever season in the spring, many fabric softeners will have anti-pollen properties. In addition, air-drying is much more common in Japan than machine-drying, so many softeners will also have antibacterial agents to prevent odors bought by indoor air-drying.
Additionally, unlike many fabric softeners sold in the US, Japanese fabric softeners have milder fragrances, with some products even having little or no scent at all! Many Japanese people are pretty sensitive to artificial scents, which is why many Japanese products, not just limited to fabric softeners and detergents, have less fragrance. However, there are also Japanese products that have strong scents, but not as strong as American softeners.
Moreover, unlike in the US, most Japanese people hang-dry their laundry. Dryers do a great job of reducing fragrances with hot air, which is why some speculate that American fabric softeners have such strong scents since most of that fragrance will become lost in the dryer.
Here are four essential points to keep in mind when choosing a fabric softener product to purchase.
Many fabric softeners are marketed as products that give your clothes pleasant aromas.
While some aromatic types leave a more potent fragrance, there are also subtly scented and unscented types for those more sensitive to fragrance.
Floral-type fabric softeners are characterized by their perfume-like scent and higher lasting power. They are recommended for those who don't necessarily want to wear perfume but want clothes to have a pleasant floral scent for everyday wear. There are various fragrances to choose from, including soapy and herbal aromas.
Many products that received high ratings in our fragrance test had floral scents. Additionally, some aroma-type fabric softeners show gradual changes in fragrance over time.
Avoid blending multiple fragrances just because they smell good independently. Even your favorite scent can often become overpowering if mixed with others.
The fragrances of these products were made and tested by professional blenders of each manufacturer, so we recommend that you use them as they are, without blending others.
The lightly scented and unscented types are recommended for those who don't like strong scents or for those who already wear perfume.
When we checked how strong the fragrances were for products labeled lightly scented, we found that even 24 hours after washing, the scent was still strong enough to be noticed. However, the aroma was weaker than that of products that do not claim to be lightly scented. Towels washed with lightly scented softeners left little to no noticeable scent after 48 hours.
The lightly scented type has almost no scent once the garments are worn, but the fragrance is strong enough to be noticed while drying freshly laundered clothes.
Using fabric softener to add a pleasant fragrance to your clothing is meaningless if the scent is lost immediately after washing. On the other hand, if the scent is too strong, it can be overbearing. For our fragrance quality tests, we highly rated products with soft, non-overpowering fragrances.
One way to choose a softener with a soft fragrance is to check the fragrance strength guidelines listed on some products and avoid those labeled as having a "strong" fragrance.
It is difficult to determine how long the fragrance lasts without actually using the product. During our fragrance longevity tests, we highly rated products with a fragrance that lasted 24 to 48 hours after washing. Please check out the products rated highly for fragrance longevity and use them as a reference when purchasing.
Be careful about not adding too much fabric softener as overpowering smells could disturb others around you. Using more softener than the specified amount may emit a stronger scent than you realize, which can lead to smell harassment (the act of making others uncomfortable due to the scent) or harm the health of people with chemical sensitivity or those who are sensitive to certain fragrances.
Use fabric softeners while keeping an eye on the material of the clothes you wear daily. Chemical fibers such as polyester absorb fabric softener ingredients easily and retain a strong fragrance, while natural fibers such as cotton soften and balance out the scent.
Fabric softeners contain surfactants that prevent clothing fibers from tangling with each other and resisting surface friction. Coating the surface of the threads with the surfactant makes the fabric fluffy, voluminous, and smooth to the touch.
We evaluated this in our tests by washing towels 20 times and air-drying them each time to make them rough. We then used each fabric softener and measured the thickness and smoothness of the towels when folded.
Our results showed that fluffiness didn't always equal smoothness, as some towels were left fluffy and voluminous but rough in texture. The products that received exceptionally high evaluations are introduced in the image above, so please choose from the finish you want to emphasize.
NatureLab's Laundrin Laundry Softener Classic Floral is anti-static and removes dust and pollen effectively from clothes. A unique feature of this product is that its fragrance changes from peach and apple to a rose, muguet, and jasmine blend, and finally to a woody, musk, cedar, and balsamic aroma blend.
In our fragrance quality test, many of our testers commented that "the fragrance was soft and pleasant," and that "it had a subtle floral scent that was not too strong but just right." All of our testers universally liked the fragrance, so this fabric softener is worth trying for those who have trouble choosing a fragrance.
In our fragrance lasting power test, the fragrance remained moderately strong at both 24 hours and 48 hours after washing. Although the texture of the clothes was only moderately fluffy, it was smooth and soft to the touch.
P&G's Lenore Eau de Luxe Mindfulness Sleep Series fabric softener is said to have a luxurious aroma, scented with Jasmine Rose, Camomile, and Sweet Orange. It is also thought to be the first fabric softener specifically designed to enhance mindfulness and ease of sleep.
It received high scores in our fragrance quality tests with testers commenting that "it has a calming and gentle scent suitable for bedding," and "the elegant scent with a subtle fragrance left a good impression." In addition, the fragrance's lasting power was very strong with aromas remaining well even after 48 hours.
In addition, the towels washed with this product were made much smoother and fluffier. This product was highly rated in terms of its fragrance, fragrance longevity, and fluffiness tests.
NS FAFA Japan's FAFA Fine Fragrance Beauté also uniquely has a fragrance that transforms over time. It is also anti-static and strips pollen off of clothes, coming in handy during hay fever season.
The floral fragrance was highly evaluated by our testers as it wasn't too weak or strong. We gave its fragrance longevity a high score as well as the scent successfully remaining for 48 hours. After 24 hours, the fragrance was quite sweet, but after 48 hours, it had changed to a fresh floral fragrance.
In addition, the fluffiness test showed that the towels washed with this product were 0.59 inches thicker than towels washed without the fabric softener. If fragrance is the most important aspect of a fabric softener for you, we strongly recommend this product.
Released in May 2022, Kao's Humming Deodorizing Real Feel W Power Splash Citrus Fragrance is a fabric softener that is said to deodorize sweat and body oils extremely well.
In our fragrance tests, opinions were split with some testers being satisfied with the faint citrus scent and others not liking the sweetness of it. However, the fragrance stuck around well, even after 48 hours, showing that the scent had great lasting power. The towels were also 0.31 inches thicker and smooth to the touch in the fluffiness test, scoring quite well in that regard as well.
Daiko's Gonesh Ultra Softener Ocean is a fabric softener made in collaboration with the famous incense brand Gonesh. This product paid lots of attention to detail not just in terms of fragrance, but also in terms of packaging as well, made to be aesthetically pleasing in your laundry room.
In our fragrance quality tests, some of our testers didn't like the faintly sweet scent, which led to this product earning an average score. In our fragrance longevity test, the scent remained strongly after 24 hours and faintly after 48.
In our softening ability test, the texture of the towel washed with this product was smooth to the touch. However, this product didn't perform well in the fluffiness test, as the towel's thickness increased only by 0.16 inches. If fragrance is an important aspect for you, this product is worth considering.
Kao's Humming Deodorizing Real Feel Rose Garden Fragrance removes pollen from clothes and prevents detergent stains on clothes. This product specializes in deodorization and is recommended for people concerned about the smell of sweat and cigarettes or for those who air-dry their laundry indoors.
The fragrance is bold and vibrant with a hint of rose, but our testers did not particularly like the scent. In our tests for fragrance longevity, this product was highly rated as its aroma remained moderately strong 24 hours after washing and faintly 48 hours after washing.
In the fluffiness test, the towel volume increased by a sufficient 0.51 inches. However, in our softening ability test, this product did not perform very well. If you are looking for a fabric softener with a rose scent, this could be an option for you.
Lion's Soflan Aroma Rich Ellie contains natural aroma oils and is said to have a long-lasting fragrance. With its deodorizing and antibacterial effects, it is recommended for those who want to remove the smell of sweat and cigarettes from their clothes.
The fragrance has strong longevity, lasting well even after 48 hours. However, our tests for fragrance quality showed that some people might find the fragrance to be too strong. For this reason, it did not receive a high rating in this category.
Further, the fragrance was sweet and floral 24 hours after washing, but after 48 hours, the sweet floral scent faded and changed to a fresh, soap-like scent. This product performed moderately in our fluffiness and softness tests as well. If you want a fabric softener with a fragrance that changes, this could be an option.
P&G's Lenore Happiness Dreamily Fluffy To The Touch is said to have a fragrance that lasts for one whole week. It is also anti-static and prevents your clothes from picking up and absorbing pollen.
Our testers did not particularly enjoy this product's faintly sweet, floral fragrance. That being said, the fragrance remained strong after 24 and 48 hours, indicating that the fragrance has .
The fluffiness test showed that the towels were 0.24 inches thicker and soft to the touch. If you prefer a faintly sweet fragrance, this fabric softener may be a good choice for you.
White Lily Fabric Softener Concentrated Type is made by SHIRO, a company known for selling cosmetics and skin care products, containing plant-derived softening ingredients.
The product was highly rated for its fragrance, with testers saying "It has a gentle, soothing floral scent that's perfect for daily use," and "It has a lovely, natural sweet scent."
The fragrance longevity was also pretty good, with the scent being detectable, albeit only faintly, 48 hours after washing. The fluffiness of towels washed with this softener was improved, but only an average amount.
P&G's Lenore Super Deodorant 1 Week Fresh Green Scent is a product that is said to have high deodorizing power and its fresh green fragrance makes it suitable for washing bedding.
The fragrance of this product was not rated particularly well by our testers, with some saying it reminded them of air fresheners. That being said, a few said it smelled "refreshing and clean."
This fragrance did well in terms of longevity, with the aroma persisting strongly even 48 hours after washing. In addition, the towels washed with this fabric softener were 0.67 inches thicker and softer than towels washed without fabric softener.
To help you find which products are the best Japanese fabric softeners, we gathered the 13 best-selling products from e-commerce sites popular in Japan, such as Amazon, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Shopping, and tested them all.
We tested each product for the following:
First, we tested the quality of the fragrance.
We gathered six Japanese testers and had them smell freshly laundered towels using only the fabric softener and judge which softener had the best aroma, particularly focusing on which one they would want to use daily.
Next, we tested how long the fragrance of the fabric softener lasted.
We did this by comparing the scents of towels laundered with only the softener 24 and 48 hours after they had been washed.
For this test, we enlisted the help of odor expert Eiichi Ishikawa, who's a first-generation olfactory measurement operator and licensed odor control advisor, and had him judge which softeners provided the longest-lasting fragrance.
Next, we tested how well each fabric softener could provide fluffiness.
We measured the height of folded towels that were freshly laundered using only the fabric softener and judged the more voluminous towels to be fluffier. The towels we used in our tests had been washed 20 times and had rough surfaces.
Lastly, we tested each of the softeners for their softening abilities.
Using the towels used in the fluffiness test, we felt each towel to judge how soft its texture was.
We asked a professional for tips on properly using Japanese fabric softeners. Look to incorporate them into part of your laundry routine!
For fully automatic top-load and horizontal washing machines, simply put the softener into the inlet for fabric softener before you start washing. It will automatically be added during the last rinse. Since most washers have separate inlets for detergent and fabric softener, be sure to put them in the correct places.
For washing machines without a softener dispenser, you will need to open the lid of the washer during the rinse cycle and add the softener manually. Note that some washing machines may have two rinse cycles - in this case, be sure to add your fabric softener in the last rinse cycle!
Be sure to add fabric softener separately from detergent because if they are mixed, they can react to each other reducing the effectiveness of both.
To maximize the effectiveness of the fabric softener, it is essential to follow the prescribed amount. Be sure to add the specified amount of fabric softener for the amount of laundry and water you have at hand.
Do not add more fabric softener than the specified amount for higher effectiveness or overstuff the machine with the laundry to save money. This can cause problems such as stains not being appropriately removed and unusual odors.
If you wash clothes with excessive amounts of fabric softener, the softener may cause the detergent to be ineffective. An excessive amount of fabric softener can block detergent from working effectively at removing the stains from the fibers in your clothes.
Also, if more than the proper amount of laundry is put in proportionately, there wouldn't be enough water to clean your clothes effectively either. If fabric softener is used while the laundry is still dirty, the softener can mix in with the dirtiness, causing black stains and foul odors.
If you want your laundered clothes to retain the fragrance of the fabric softener, we recommend against machine-drying, as some of the smell can be lost in the process.
Many people prefer to use a dryer after washing towels with fabric softener because it makes them even fluffier.
In this case, it is recommended to stop the dryer when the towels are only half-dried and shake them well 10 to 20 times before leaving them out to dry naturally. The key is to fold the towel in half, place it over your fingers, and shake it firmly 10 to 20 times.
If you want to add even more volume and fluffiness, you can shake it firmly up to 50, or even 100 times.
Once you've picked out a fabric softener, it's time to pair it with the perfect laundry detergent product! Check out the linked article below for a detailed explanation of Japanese laundry detergents and other products to help you step up your laundry game.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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