“When do you think this towel was washed?” Irene Mwathi-Miheso, P&G Communications Manager asked. Before me, a bright white hand towel, super-fluffy, which smelled like the complimentary ones at high-end hotels.

“Yesterday?” I guessed. The towels still smelled like the fragrance from laundry detergents. “It must have been washed recently.” The towel was actually washed four days ago.

The world’s largest perfumer, P&G, has launched Ariel with a Touch of Downy in Kenya, and is set to change the way you experience your clothes.

The latest laundry detergent offering claims to keep your clothes smelling fresh for ten days with only one wash. Activated by friction and daily use, the micro capsules of refreshing fragrances in the detergent are released slowly.

Research shows that up to 70% of soil in any load of laundry, such as body oils, are invisible and if this dirt is not removed thoroughly, the unseen dirt will cause bad odours. But are all stains and soils the same? To ensure the effectiveness of their detergent, P&G researchers sampled Kenyan stains such as Matoke and clay soil at their lab in Germany.

The latest detergent incorporates the lasting freshness properties of Downy fabric conditioner and is available at leading Kenyan retailers.