Natural Fabric Softener: What to Check Before You Buy

A natural fabric softener is one sold as plant-based, and that word tells you less than the ingredient list does. This guide covers what dermatologists at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) say about scented softener and skin, what to check on a label, an honest look at what is in Sampson's Eco Fabric Softener, and what we could not find evidence for.

For the wider laundry picture, see our fragrance-free laundry detergent guide and our guide to building a home on a budget.

What Does “Natural” Mean on a Fabric Softener?

On its own, very little. “Natural” or “plant-based” describes where an ingredient came from, and none of the AAD or Health Canada pages we read define it for laundry products or say it means fragrance-free or gentle on skin.

The AAD makes a related point about skin care. On its page about testing skin care products, it says to opt for products labelled “fragrance free” if fragrance in skin care products is causing a reaction, and to remain cautious with certain products labelled “unscented” or that have plant-based botanical ingredients, because they may still have fragrance-related ingredients. That page is about skin care, not laundry, so we apply the logic by analogy rather than claiming the AAD said it about softener.

The practical move is to read the ingredient list instead of the front of the jug. A plant-derived softening agent is still a softening agent, and the list is where you find it, along with any fragrance and preservative.

Should You Use Fabric Softener If Your Skin Is Sensitive?

The AAD page we read does not recommend it. In its atopic dermatitis self-care page, written for parents of a child with eczema, the AAD says scented fabric softener or dryer sheets may contribute to irritation. Its clothes-washing tips also say to:

• Choose a sensitive-skin detergent: using a laundry detergent made for sensitive skin may be beneficial.
• Use the recommended amount: the AAD says to only use the recommended amount of detergent and to use enough water for adequate rinsing.
• Wash new clothes first: washing new clothes before wearing them removes excess dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin.

That page cautions about scented softener and does not say whether an unscented one is fine, so we cannot cite the AAD either way. If you have eczema or a rash that keeps coming back, ask a dermatologist before adding or removing laundry products.

What Should You Check on a Fabric Softener Label?

Look at four things on the label. Each one below says whose advice it is, the AAD's, Health Canada's, the product page's or ours.

• Fragrance, not “unscented”: the AAD's guide to eczema-friendly products says to choose fragrance-free rather than unscented, because unscented means a fragrance is masked and fragrance-free means the product is free of all fragrances, even ones you cannot smell. Look for the word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the ingredient list.
• Dyes: for detergent, the AAD advises one that is fragrance-free and dye-free. It gives no separate rule for softeners, so applying the same test to a softener is our reading, not AAD guidance.
• The preservative: the AAD tells parents to talk with a dermatologist if they suspect a sensitivity to preservatives in skin care products, and says testing can show what triggers allergies so you know what to avoid. Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist prohibits methylisothiazolinone (MI) in leave-on cosmetics and caps it at 0.0015% in rinse-off ones, citing sensitization risks. That rule covers cosmetics, not laundry products, so we cite it only to show that regulators flag MI for sensitization.
• The softening agent: the label should name it. The product page for Sampson's softener describes a plant-derived softening active that coats fibres to reduce friction. None of the pages we read rank one softening agent above another for sensitive skin, so we do not either.

If you cannot find an ingredient list you can read, you cannot run this check.

Where Does Sampson's Eco Fabric Softener Fit?

It fits if you want a short ingredient list you can check yourself, and it does not fit if you react to methylisothiazolinone. The Eco Fabric Softener product page lists three ingredients: water, a plant-derived esterquat (the fabric-softening active) and methylisothiazolinone (the preservative).

The product page also describes the formula as phosphate-free, which matches the three-ingredient list. We have not tested that claim ourselves.

On fragrance, the page describes the base formula as shipping unscented and lists a No Fragrance option. It also lists scented options, such as Clean Cotton and Cool Citrus Basil, and its ingredient list covers only the three ingredients above, so we cannot tell you what the scent in those options is made of. If you are following the AAD's fragrance advice, choose the No Fragrance option.

If you already know you react to isothiazolinone preservatives, skip it. The AAD's skin care testing page says you may need patch testing to find out what is causing your irritation. Browse the rest of our cleaning collection if you want to compare formulas.

Are There Alternatives to Fabric Softener?

Yes, and the AAD's clothes-washing tips we read do not call for a softener. They are about detergent choice, dose, rinsing and washing new clothes before wearing them.

People also try white vinegar or wool dryer balls in place of a softener. None of the AAD or Health Canada pages we read tests either, so we make no claim about how well they soften or whether they suit sensitive skin.

If you change what goes into the wash, change one thing at a time. That way, if your skin reacts, you know which change caused it. That tip is our suggestion, not AAD guidance.

When Is Laundry Irritation Worth a Dermatologist Visit?

When a rash keeps coming back after you switch to fragrance-free products, or you cannot tell which product is the cause. The AAD's contact dermatitis tips say that by teaming up with a dermatologist you can get treatment and often find out what causes your rash. The first item below is the AAD's own trigger for seeing a board-certified dermatologist; the other two are our additions:

• You have a rash that blisters, comes and goes, or causes discomfort
• A rash returns after you have switched to fragrance-free products
• You cannot tell which product, ingredient or fabric is causing it

Our complete guide to what fragrance-free means explains how to read the label.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual results may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is unscented fabric softener the same as fragrance-free?

No. The AAD says unscented means a fragrance is masked so you cannot smell it, while fragrance-free means the product is free of all fragrances, even ones you cannot smell. It advises choosing fragrance-free rather than unscented.

Does a natural fabric softener irritate sensitive skin less?

None of the pages we read compare them. The AAD cautions that scented fabric softener or dryer sheets may contribute to irritation, and it does not compare natural softeners with conventional ones.

Does Sampson's Eco Fabric Softener contain fragrance?

The product page describes the base formula as shipping unscented and lists a No Fragrance option. It also lists scented options whose fragrance ingredients are not in the ingredient list we read, so check before buying one.

What preservative is in Sampson's Eco Fabric Softener?

Methylisothiazolinone, per the product page ingredient list. Health Canada prohibits it in leave-on cosmetics and caps it at 0.0015% in rinse-off cosmetics, citing sensitization risks. That rule does not cover laundry products.

Should I wash new clothes before wearing them?

The AAD says yes for sensitive skin: washing new clothes before wearing them removes excess dyes and fabric finishers, which can irritate the skin.

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