Is there a difference between fabric conditioner and softener?

Same thing.

Fabric softener and fabric conditioner are just different names for the same thing. Here in the UK perhaps the term fabric conditioner is more popular, while other countries may prefer to use the word softener. 

The important thing to know is that whatever you call them, they BOTH do the same thing.

What does a fabric conditioner do?

1. Soft, fragrant laundry.

The number one aim of a fabric conditioner is to help your laundry feel beautifully soft and smell amazing.

Our improved smol Fabric Conditioner now delivers double the softness after just 3 washes¹ compared with our previous formula, while still using the same tiny 8ml dose.

And if fragrance matters to you, both of our Fabric Conditioners use touch-activated scent technology to help fragrance stay locked into fibres for longer.

2. Helps in hard water.

If your clothes come out of the wash feeling rough - it could be high mineral levels in the water attaching to fibres and making them stiff. Fabric conditioners can remove some of these minerals for softer clothing.

3. Banish bobbles.

Don’t like bobbles on your clothing? Using fabric conditioner can protect the fibres of your favourite jumper from the friction of your movement. When the surfaces of your clothing rub together (producing the bobbles) the softener keeps things smooth.

4. Soft against skin.

There’s now a smol option designed to be exceptionally gentle too.

Sensitive Peach & Jasmine Fabric Conditioner is dermatologically tested and accredited by the Skin Health Alliance, with a calm, comforting fragrance that isn’t overpowering.

You don’t need to think of yourself as having “sensitive skin” to use it either. It’s simply another gentler option in the smol Sensitive Range.

5. Helps clothes last longer.

As fabric conditioner lubricates the fibres of your clothing, this reduces friction in the wash and also prevents dye loss… which all adds up to longer lasting clothes.

Are there alternatives to fabric conditioner?

If your main reason for using fabric conditioner is to prolong the life of your clothes, there are other ways of doing so:

Choose a delicate wash cycle, don’t overload your machine and don’t overdose with laundry detergent. That’s why smol Laundry Capsules are so useful - each one perfectly dosed for the average load.  

Adding a tablespoon of soda crystals to your detergent drawer can help if you live in a hard water area as this will combat the limescale build up in both your machine and laundry.