Heavenly Scent Or Product Overload? We Tested TikTok's Viral Laundry Cocktail

Adulting is hard at times, and while people are still eagerly awaiting the time parallelograms finally serve their purpose, finding household hacks can quell the sting — especially for those of us who still don't fully understand how taxes and insurance work. Thankfully, TikTok continues to save the day with tips and tricks anyone can try, and the newest trend is targeted toward the best-smelling laundry you've ever experienced. A recent viral video breaks down a new combination of products, which, when used together, creates a scent so delicious you might wonder how no one has TM'd it and started selling it under their own name. The mixture, which includes Gain Midnight Breeze detergent and dryer sheets, Downy Rinse and Refresh liquid and scent beads in Ocean Mist, and OxiClean, has been tried and tested by both the TikTok and Instagram community, and the reviews rave about the results. 

The original video by @lexielouuuuu explains that during a recent stay at an Airbnb, the sheets and linens had such a good aroma that after the trip, she rushed to the store to purchase the laundry room product combination. While the majority of comments have been in agreement that this concoction is one of the best laundry hacks around, some people have noted the excess of chemicals being combined in one load. One way around this is to be conscious of how much of each product you use, so I kept this in consideration when trying the viral laundry cocktail.

One of my biggest concerns when using new or multiple laundry products is discomfort. Sometimes, strong scents irritate my sinuses and make me itchy. But I also love the idea of having people note how good my fabrics smell, so off to Target I went to purchase the necessary items. Whether it's because they're already popular or because of this viral trend, my local Target was out of several of the products, so I ordered them, though you can likely find the products at other home stores. That told me that each are well-liked individually, which was encouraging since I usually stick to my same brands.

I purchased the Gain Midnight Breeze in the 88 fluid ounce bottle ($9.99) and the dryer sheets (same scent) in the 105 count for $4.49. I stopped using dryer sheets because of the drawbacks like heavy amounts of chemicals, opting instead for dryer balls or nothing at all. However, for this test I decided I would give them a try for the full effect. I also snagged the Downy Scent Beads in the 5.7 ounce bottle ($4.99), Downy Rinse and Refresh ($12.99 for 48 ounces) and a tub of OxiClean (3.5 pounds for $10.49). Each of these is sold by the brand with the intention of leaving laundry smelling fresh, so the thought of combining them all did feel overwhelming, especially for someone who uses one detergent and no additives like stain removers or fabric softeners.

I watched several videos to see how much each person used of each product, but none of these specifically explained the measurements. I'm sure there are videos that do, but with so many people trying this trend, it was difficult to sift through them all. Instead, I read what each product suggested, and then used about a quarter of that, as @thehomeadmin on TikTok said that using the full portions could be overwhelming to people who are sensitive to smells. Even the New York Times agrees that the most laundry detergent you need per load is around 2 tablespoons. The bottle of Gain recommends filling the cap to just below the first bar measurement for a medium load, so that was the only product I followed the brand's instructions for. The scent beads don't specify how much per load, so I followed @thehomeadmin's recommendation for ¼ capful of the downy beads.

For the Downy Rinse and Refresh, the bottle notes to add to your fabric softener slot, so I splashed just a little in to keep each product amount on the lower side. I chose to use the cocktail on our guest room sheets which were brand new and needed a good wash before we added them to the bed. I also did a load of towels, blankets, and pillow cases for the couch to test how the mixture works on a variety of fabrics (and the lasting power of the scents).

I set the washing machine to cold and did a short 43-minute spin. The beads, Rinse and Refresh, OxiClean, and detergent all go in your laundry load. The OxiClean is optional, but I dropped some in for the full effect. It did feel like a lot of products, but the smells as I opened each one were undeniably delicious. We only wash items on cold, and I also usually hang dry most of my clothing items, but for the purpose of this test I only washed pieces that could also go in the dryer since the dryer sheets are an integral part. Once I had all the products ready, it was time for the heavy duty cocktail, though we obviously cut back on the detergent as mentioned above. I added in all the measurements, did two different loads of laundry, then waited for the results. 

I added the bedding first, then did a load with the pillow cases, towels, and blankets all combined. Upon pulling everything out, the scent was like nothing I've smelled before when it comes to detergent and laundry products. The Gain and Downy complement each other nicely, creating a new fragrance you can't come by at the store. It seems the cycle rinsed away a lot of the residue, leaving behind clean, fresh sheets, cases, towels, and blankets that smelled amazing. I then did two different dry cycles, adding only one dryer sheet per load. 

After everything was dry, I took out each item to fold and put away or add to the bed/couch/etc. The scent wafting off the linens was fresh, and I felt like one of the people in laundry product commercials because I kept inhaling the fabrics. While the detergent, beads, and other items certainly created the yummy aroma in the wash cycle, the dryer sheets help to lock it in. The items felt soft and, despite knowing how many different chemicals I had mixed together in the machine, the linens didn't smell overwhelming or feel too slick with residue. I waited a few days before determining if the scent lasts as long as the viral videos say, and it does. It's been over a week and each item still has a fresh scent that is almost as noticeable as the day I washed them (in a good way).

The bedding, towels, and couch pillow cases were refreshing whenever we passed by them or used them, which was nice since these see a lot of action. The sheets still feel soft even after a dog who thinks they are for her rolled around in them. I also didn't notice any itchiness when using the kitchen towels to dry my hands, and after laying on the pillowcases, I didn't feel overwhelmed by the scent or itchy from these, either. If you can handle all these products in one load, this laundry cocktail is definitely worth it.