I recently lucked into that holy grail of New York City apartment living: an in-unit washer/dryer.

The change felt like a good time to experiment with detergent, beyond whatever happens to be at the bodega when I’ve run out. I’ve been obsessed with perfume for years, and most recently, DedCool’s Xtra Milk fragrance, which feels like the clean, warm scent I’ve been searching for all my life, has become my go-to. Imagine my delight when I realized DedCool also had a line of laundry products, including “Dedtergent” and dryer sheets.

DedCool

Xtra Milk Eau de Parfum

The house brand Dedtergents come in Milk and Xtra Milk, but DedCool also previously partnered with Jen Atkin’s beloved brand Ouai for a limited edition line based on its Melrose Place fragrance, a floral scent combining bergamot, lychee, white musk, and champagne. After selling out its debut in 2023, the collaboration is back for “one final spin” staring Jan. 13, 2025—aka it’s likely your last chance to get your hands on it.

Melrose Place has bergamot as a central scent motif (in line with DedCool’s overarching use of the fresh, orange-y smell). Bergamot smells clean and more natural than the standard detergent fare, but there are some key differences. Melrose Place is a classic scent with a little edge, comforting and relaxed.

So far, we’ve established that the Dedtergents are great if you are a scent snob, but let’s get into the details to see if they are actually worth the price. They come in 32 fl oz biodegradable canisters that last up to 60 washes, the brand says, depending on how much you use. These canisters retail for $38, making the average cost per wash around 63 cents. Though the North Bondi scent is a limited edition, you can also buy recyclable refill packages for Melrose Place, which fills two canisters for $65, bringing down the price to around 54 cents per wash.

If you are a fan of dryer sheets (they do enhance the scent, though being a laundry noob, I didn’t notice much difference other than that), you can get a bundle of the regular Melrose Place canister and the sheets for $46, which is an $8 saving. If you just want to test it out without taking the plunge, I suggest getting the mini version of Melrose Place, which retails for $14.

Sure, you can get 84 fl oz of Tide for $13 at Target if you are looking for a once-and-done, general, and affordable laundry experience. But, ultimately, if you have the money to splurge a little — and taking into account the cost-per-wash, it truly is just a little — the DedCool x Ouai collab is a perfect way to update your dorm room or embrace a more nuanced scent in your apartment. I, personally, just want everything I own to smell like this.