Smol Review: Is Smol Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic & Worth It?
I’d been half-tempted by Smol for ages before I actually signed up. The tiny letterbox box, the cardboard packaging with no plastic in sight — it kept coming up whenever I went down an eco-cleaning rabbit hole, and eventually I thought, right, let’s just try it properly.
So I did. And then I kept using it. Several months later I’m still subscribed to a few of the products and off others entirely, because some of them are very good and some are, honestly, a bit average. This is my Smol review: what actually cleans, what doesn’t, whether Smol is eco-friendly (more nuanced than the marketing suggests), and how it compares to Purdy and Figg.
Updated September 2026
What Is Smol?
Smol is a UK-based subscription cleaning company launched in 2018. It was founded by two working parents, Paula Quazi and Nick Green, who wanted a better way to buy laundry detergent and keep it out of landfill. The company delivers concentrated laundry and household cleaning products directly to your door in plastic-free cardboard packaging, all letterbox-sized so no missed deliveries.
The model is simple: you tell Smol how often you do laundry or dishes, they calculate how many products you need, and they send them automatically. You can pause, skip, or cancel anytime. Free delivery on everything.
Their product range now covers laundry capsules (bio, non-bio, fragrance-free), fabric conditioner, dishwasher tablets, washing-up liquid, and a range of cleaning sprays. If you want to try them first, they do a free trial — 9 laundry capsules or 8 dishwasher tablets for £1 postage. The link is at smolproducts.com.
Is Smol Eco-Friendly?
Yes, but the honest answer is “more eco-friendly than mainstream brands, not as eco-friendly as fully plant-based brands.” Smol are careful about this on their own website — they use the phrase “planet-friendly” rather than “eco-friendly,” which tells you something.
What they do well: all packaging is plastic-free FSC-certified cardboard. The fabric conditioner and spray bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic with a refill system, so the bottle stays with you indefinitely. Concentrated formulas mean smaller, lighter deliveries — an independent study found switching to Smol reduces carbon emissions by 35-46% compared to mainstream brands. Everything is Leaping Bunny certified (no animal testing) and vegan.
Where it’s more complicated: Smol still uses some petroleum-derived chemicals — sodium laureth sulfate, acrylic copolymer, optical brighteners in some products. The dissolvable film around the capsules is PVA, which is water-soluble and biodegradable but fossil fuel-derived. And Smol don’t disclose exactly where in the EU their products are manufactured, which makes proper supply chain assessment difficult.
Compared to Persil or Ariel, Smol is significantly better. Compared to Bio-D or Miniml, Smol is less natural. It sits firmly in the middle: a meaningful improvement for households switching from mainstream brands, but not the most thorough eco option available.
Is Smol Non-Toxic?
Smol products meet all UK and EU safety regulations and are safe when used as directed. They contain fewer and lower concentrations of chemicals than leading supermarket brands. But they’re not chemical-free, and the Smol laundry liquid does carry a “causes skin irritation” and “causes serious eye damage” warning — applicable to the undiluted concentrate, not to normal use.
For sensitive skin, the fragrance-free non-bio laundry capsules are the pick. They’re Allergy UK certified, with no perfume, no enzymes, and no colour. My partner has eczema and has had no reaction to these.
If you’re looking for completely natural, plant-based cleaning products, Smol isn’t quite that. Bio-D and Miniml are closer to fully plant-based. Smol’s position is that they match mainstream cleaning performance while being better for the planet — they don’t claim to be chemical-free, which at least is honest.
Smol Product Reviews
Laundry Capsules (bio and non-bio) — the product I’d recommend most readily. At 24p per wash (£5.80 for 24 capsules), they’re competitive with Persil and Ariel, and the cleaning is comparable for everyday loads. Cold water washes at 30°C work well. The fragrance-free non-bio is particularly good for sensitive skin. The bio version handles protein stains better. The one limitation: very stubborn stains sometimes need a pre-treatment gel alongside. But for regular washes these are very solid.
Fabric Conditioner — the refill system here is one of the best Smol does. You get a reusable 100% recycled plastic bottle, then order concentrated paper pouches to refill it. Clothes come out noticeably softer, the scent is light rather than synthetic-sweet, and it works well on towels without affecting absorbency. I’d been a bit sceptical about whether fabric conditioner was worth using at all, but this one made a difference I could feel.
Washing-up Liquid — a proper Fairy alternative. It cuts grease, lathers well, is gentle on hands, and the concentration means a little goes a long way. A 500ml bottle lasted around 125 washes in my experience. Slightly more expensive than Fairy per 100ml but the packaging is incomparably better.
Dishwasher Tablets — fine for regular loads, less impressive on heavily baked-on food. If you rinse dishes before loading (which saves water anyway), they’re perfectly adequate. I wouldn’t class them as better than Finish, but they do the job for everyday use.
Multi-Purpose Spray — this is the one I cancelled. The refill tablet concept is exactly right: you drop a dissolvable tab into a reusable bottle and make 500ml of spray. But the tablet took upward of ten minutes to fully dissolve, and once it did, the cleaning power felt weak. Fine for wiping surfaces that aren’t actually dirty, not much use for soap scum or grease. My local refill shop’s own multi-purpose detergent cleans better and costs less. I’ve written about other spray options in my best eco cleaning products guide.
Smol vs Purdy and Figg
This comparison comes up a lot, and it’s a fair one — both are UK eco-cleaning brands that have built a following among people trying to cut down on single-use plastic.
Smol’s strengths over Purdy and Figg: bigger product range (Smol does laundry, dishwasher, and cleaning; Purdy and Figg focuses on household cleaning sprays), lower price point, and a subscription model that means you never run out. Smol’s cleaning performance matches mainstream brands closely. Their plastic-free laundry packaging is also difficult to match.
Purdy and Figg’s strengths over Smol: plant-based ingredients throughout (no petrochemicals), B Corp certified (a more rigorous accreditation than Smol holds), and the cleaning sprays are noticeably more effective than Smol’s multi-purpose spray. If spray performance is your priority, Purdy and Figg consistently comes out ahead. The essential oil scents are also a step up — more considered, less generic.
The price difference: Purdy and Figg sprays typically work out more expensive per use than Smol’s. If budget is a factor, Smol wins. If you want the most natural ingredients and a stronger supply chain certification, Purdy and Figg is worth the extra.
My personal position: I use Smol for laundry and dishwashing (they win on value and packaging), and I’ve switched away from Smol’s multi-purpose spray toward something with stronger cleaning power. Purdy and Figg is one option there; so is The Green Co.’s GreenTabs system, which I’ve been testing and rating highly for bathroom and kitchen sprays.
There’s no single brand that does everything perfectly right now. The eco-cleaning market is getting better, but it’s still worth mixing and matching based on what each brand actually does well.
Smol Free Trial
New customers can try Smol for £1 postage — 9 laundry capsules or 8 dishwasher tablets. After the trial, Smol sets up a personalised delivery schedule based on your usage, which you can adjust, pause, or cancel at any time online (no cancellation fees, no minimum commitment). My first delivery took 11 days, which felt slow — subsequent ones were 5-7 days.
The referral scheme is worth knowing about: once you’ve had an account for 16 days, you get a shareable link that gives friends the £1 trial offer and gives you 50% off your next order.
My Verdict
After several months, I’m still subscribing to Smol’s laundry capsules, fabric conditioner, and washing-up liquid. They work well, reduced my plastic waste significantly, and the subscription means one less thing to think about.
I cancelled the multi-purpose spray — it wasn’t effective enough for my needs. And I still keep a conventional stain remover for anything stubborn.
Smol is the right choice if you’re currently buying Persil, Ariel, or Fairy and want to reduce plastic and environmental impact without a significant price increase or a drop in cleaning performance. It’s not the most natural option on the market, but it’s accessible, honest about what it is, and much better than most of what’s on supermarket shelves.
For more on building an eco-friendly cleaning routine, see my post on using white vinegar for cleaning — it pairs well with the Smol laundry capsules for a more complete low-chemical approach.
FAQs
Is Smol eco-friendly? More eco-friendly than mainstream brands like Persil and Ariel, but not as eco-friendly as fully plant-based brands like Bio-D. Smol uses plastic-free cardboard packaging and concentrated formulas (35-46% lower carbon emissions than mainstream brands), but still uses some petroleum-derived ingredients. They position themselves as “planet-friendly” rather than completely eco-friendly, which is accurate.
Is Smol non-toxic? Smol products are safe when used as directed and meet UK/EU safety regulations. They use fewer and lower concentrations of chemicals than mainstream brands. They’re not completely natural or chemical-free, though — if that’s what you need, Bio-D or Miniml are closer. For sensitive skin, the fragrance-free non-bio laundry capsules are Allergy UK certified.
How does Smol compare to Purdy and Figg? Smol has a bigger range (laundry, dishwasher, cleaning) and is lower in price. Purdy and Figg is B Corp certified, fully plant-based, and has better cleaning sprays. For laundry, Smol wins on value. For household sprays, Purdy and Figg is stronger. Most eco-conscious households find a mix of both works better than committing to one.
How much does Smol cost? Laundry capsules are £5.80 for 24 capsules — 24p per wash, which is similar to or cheaper than Persil and Ariel. Other products range from £5-8. All delivery is free.
Can I cancel my Smol subscription? Yes, easily. Cancel online through your account settings or email help@smolproducts.com. No cancellation fees, no minimum subscription period. You can also pause or skip deliveries without cancelling.
Are Smol products vegan and cruelty-free? Yes. All Smol products are vegan (no animal ingredients) and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free — no animal testing at any stage. They’re also Vegan Choice Award winners.
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