One of the fondest memories I have of growing up as a kid is the floral scent of Mum's fresh sheets on the bed or the towels in the bathroom.

When I left home, it was a way to combat homesickness, and I would often cruise the supermarket aisle, sniffing many fabric softener bottles, looking for that lavender scent. I am surprised that I wasn't arrested for opening so many bottles.

I don't mind admitting that throughout my adult life I have poured litres upon litres of fabric softener into my washing machine compartment until I heard a radio interview.

The caller to the radio show was chastised for not only using a full scoop of washing powder but also fabric softener due to the adverse effects it has on towels, reducing moisture absorbency, coating them in chemicals and leaving a build-up in the washing machine.

From that life-changing day in the car, I vowed to replace my fabric softener with vinegar and reduce the scoop of washing powder with two tablespoons of bicarb soda.

Ashley Iredale is the team leader of whitegoods at CHOICE and says: "Fabric softeners are largely unnecessary, expensive and have a number of downsides.

"As far as we're aware, all fabric softeners reduce the fire retardancy of clothing, reduce moisture absorbency and don't make your clothes cleaner."

For years, this advice has stuck with me, forcing me to close my eyes and resist the temptation when I venture down the supermarket's washing aisle.

I have been adding two drops of essential oil to my vinegar to squash my desire for a bouquet cemented in my clothes, but it's just not cutting it.

Over the last 12 months, a feeling has been growing inside me: a desire to seek out those coastal scents of Kiama on my towels, a Tasmanian lavender-scented field on my bed sheets, or the exotic aroma of an unnamed tropical fruit on my dressing gown.

The last month, I have felt tempted, as if there were a vanilla and patchouli-scented carrot dangling in front of my face. Softener beads are all I can seem to think about.

These little balls of goodness promise in-wash scent boosting that will last up to 30 days, and in return, I need only take out a small personal loan each time I visit the supermarket.

As we approach winter, and I look towards a summer-smelling scent to remind me of the warmer month, I am torn between the eye-watering cost of scent beads, reflective moisture-absorbing fabric softener, or the gentle approach of vinegar and essential oils.

The quest for that childhood scent lingers, and I fear I may succumb to temptation at any moment. Am I going soft in my battle against fabric softener?