Traditional and Modern Fabric Softeners made in Provence

We stock both traditional vinegar-based laundry rinses and fabric conditioners. They are both used in the fabric-conditioner compartment of your washing machine, but they don't work in quite the same way.

A vinegar-based rinse is the traditional option and the one I use at home, particularly for towels. It helps deal with soap and mineral residues left in the fibres and softens without coating them.

Our fabric conditioners are the more familiar alternative. They work on the fibres themselves to leave laundry feeling softer and are ready formulated and fragranced.

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Traditional Laundry Rinses and Fabric Softeners

This collection brings together two approaches to the final rinse: traditional vinegar-based laundry rinses and modern fabric conditioners made in Provence.

Vinegar rinses have long been used in laundry to help remove soap and mineral residues left in the fibres after washing. Fabric conditioners take a more modern approach, acting directly on the fibres to leave washing feeling softer and reduce static.

Both are used at the same stage of the wash, but the formulation and purpose are different.

For customers washing with Soap Flakes or traditional laundry soap, the vinegar rinse remains the closest continuation of the traditional method.
Allergen-Free
FER A CHEVAL
Natural Fabric Softener - Fresh Spring -750 ml
Anti-Static Fabric Softener
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(10)

Regular price £12.50

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MAS DU ROSEAU
Fabric Softener - Fresh Linen Fragrance - 750ml
Traditional Vinegar Fabric Rinse
Laundry

(7)

Regular price £9.00

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French Fabric Softeners

There is no single formulation that defines a French fabric softener.

The products in this collection have been selected because they represent two distinct approaches to French laundry: a traditional vinegar-based rinse made in Provence and a modern fabric conditioner from Fer à Cheval, one of Marseille's established soap makers.

The provenance is important, but so is the formulation. Understanding how each product works is more useful than choosing simply because it is made in France.

Fabric Softener for Washing Machines

Fabric softeners and laundry rinses are added separately from the product used to wash the clothes.

In a washing machine, they are normally placed in the fabric-conditioner compartment and released automatically during the final rinse. This keeps them separate from the laundry soap or detergent used during the main wash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is fabric softener?

Fabric softener is a laundry product used during the rinse cycle to change the feel of washed textiles. Unlike detergent or laundry soap, its purpose is not to clean the fabric. Modern fabric conditioners act on the fibres to leave laundry feeling softer and can also help reduce static.

Are French fabric softeners different?

There is no single French fabric-softener formulation. French laundry products include both modern fabric conditioners and more traditional preparations. Our collection represents both approaches, including a Provençal vinegar-based laundry rinse and a modern fabric conditioner from Marseille soap maker Fer à Cheval.

Where does fabric softener go in a washing machine?

Fabric softener or laundry rinse is normally added to the fabric-conditioner compartment of the washing machine. The machine then releases it during the rinse cycle rather than during the main wash. Follow the instructions for your washing machine and the individual laundry product.

Why use vinegar for laundry?
White vinegar has been used as a laundry rinse for hundreds of years because its acidity helps deal with alkaline soap and mineral residues in the rinse water, which is particularly useful if you wash with traditional soap or live in a hard-water area.
We particularly like it for towels because it softens without leaving a coating on the fibres, helping them retain their absorbency. Put it in the fabric-conditioner compartment rather than adding it with your laundry soap, so it comes into the machine later during the rinse.
How is fabric conditioner different?
Fabric conditioner works in a completely different way to vinegar. It contains conditioning ingredients that settle onto the fibres, reducing friction and leaving fabrics feeling softer.
If that's the result you're used to and like, there's no reason to give it up simply because you've changed to a soap-based laundry product. Fer à Cheval gives you the more familiar fabric conditioner option, with fragrance and softness in one.
Which one should I choose?
If you want the most traditional approach, choose Mas du Roseau. It's a fragranced vinegar-based rinse, so you don't have to choose between using vinegar and having scented laundry.
If you prefer the feel and familiarity of a conventional fabric conditioner, choose Fer à Cheval. It's ready formulated and fragranced, and you use it in exactly the same way as any other fabric conditioner.
We use vinegar, particularly for towels, but there isn't a right or wrong choice here. They're simply two different ways of getting to softer laundry.