Two things matter when you wash hunting clothes: don't add scent, and don't add UV brighteners. Hunting detergents are built around both. Past that, the differences between brands are mostly maker claims, and the bottles are cheap enough that you don't need to overthink it.
I wash my hunting clothes in Dead Down Wind Unscented Laundry Detergent and use the same brand's body wash and shampoo. Clean clothes go into a tote with a divider and a baking soda sachet. The full routine is in scent control on a budget. The rest of this page is researched, with sources at the end.
Why fragrance-free matters
Regular detergents are made to leave a smell on your clothes. That's the point of them. A hunting detergent skips the fragrance. Many makers also add enzymes or odor-fighting agents, which is where the marketing starts.
UV brighteners and deer vision
Many detergents also contain UV brighteners, which make clothes look whiter and brighter to people. University of Georgia research found deer lack the UV-blocking filter in human eyes, and a 2014 behavior study found deer "have some sensitivity to ultraviolet light."
The National Deer Association's advice is practical: check your clothes with a UV or blue light. If they glow, you need a product made to remove UV brightness. If they don't, just avoid washing them in products with brighteners. QDMA's older write-up adds that this matters most in low light, which is when deer move most, and that most regular laundry products contain brighteners.
Detergents compared
| Detergent | Approx. price | No fragrance | No UV brighteners on label | Maker's pitch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Down Wind Unscented | from $11.99 on the maker's site | yes | not stated on the pages we checked | enzyme odor technology |
| Dead Down Wind BLACK | from $14.99 on the maker's site | yes | not stated on the pages we checked | 20 oz washes up to 40 loads |
| Scent Killer Gold | about $12 on Amazon (32 oz) | yes | yes, "without adding any U.V. brighteners" | HE formula, concentrated |
| Scent-A-Way MAX | about $8 to $14 at retailers | yes | yes, "No UV brighteners" | color-safe, all water temps |
Prices checked October 10, 2026, approximate. Claims are from the makers' listings.
If UV is your concern and you use Dead Down Wind, do the blacklight check yourself. That's the cheapest test there is.
Body wash: where the money goes
Unscented body wash is a small line item. The Dead Down Wind body wash and shampoo (16 oz) is $9.99 on the maker's site. The Amazon listing we checked was $21.68, so compare before you buy. Any truly unscented soap does the basic job of not adding fragrance. Hunting brands add odor-fighting claims on top.
What you can skip
- Paying double for the same bottle. Check the maker's site against Amazon, like the body wash example above.
- Scented "earth" or "cover" versions if your goal is no added scent. Read the label.
Other good options
- Wildlife Research Center Scent Killer Gold if you want a label that clearly says no UV brighteners.
- Scent-A-Way MAX for the same label claim at a low price.
- Field wipes like Dead Down Wind's for after the walk in. I carry scent wipes.
Questions hunters ask
Can I use free and clear regular detergent? Free and clear skips fragrance. Check the label for brighteners, since NDA's concern is UV, not scent.
How do I test for UV brighteners? Shine a UV or blue light on your clothes in the dark. NDA says if they glow, they're UV-bright.
Sources
- National Deer Association, "The Hunter's Guide to Deer Vision": https://deerassociation.com/hunters-guide-deer-vision/
- QDMA Canada, "What do Deer See?": http://www.qdma.ca/en/2014-03-27-13-07-39/what-we-do/deer-biology-management/118-what-do-deer-see/
- Cohen et al., "Behavioral measure of the light-adapted visual sensitivity of white-tailed deer," Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2014
- Dead Down Wind product pages; Scent Killer Gold and Scent-A-Way MAX Amazon listings, checked Oct 10, 2026