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Not only that, some people (including myself) are sensitive to the oils used. Having underwear that actively makes you itchy sucks. I switched to wool dryer balls and never looks back

I'm happy buying detergent honestly - it last a LONG time when you actually use the correct amount per load. I think the real crime is the "measuring caps" on liquid detergent basically tricking everyone into using WAY too much detergent. Most washers will recommend 1-2 tablespoons of detergent maximum for heavily soiled loads.. Most measuring caps are over that even at the first of several marks, and people rarely think they need the minimum (moar soap moar clean, right?) - so people tend to add 5-10 times the detergent they need.

The best soap for washing machines is powdered. They remove all the extraneous crap that can also cause mold growth in the washer. Front loaders are really bad about this too.

https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/how-do-fabric-softeners-work.html

It was created so that when you dried clothes outside (especially cotton) they didn't get crunchy. The fibers tend to freeze an interlock microscopically when they dry. It coats the fibers and makes them not stick together.

When mechanical dryers became the norm, they needed a new reason, so the called out static. And in some climates, dryer static can be a bit of a pain. Dryer balls supposedly help with this, but I can't find any reasonable data to back that up, and that's just the kind of thing we're confirmation bias over.

Softener can/will build up on the fabric. It can discolor bright whites.

I think the worst of it is:

• if you use it on towels or anything meant to absorb water, it seriously dampens that ability
• it builds up in the nooks and crannies of the washer and it's hard to clean off,
• it's expensive
• for mechanical drying in moderate climates, it does little more than add smell.
• some people have allergenic reactions to it

I worked in appliances for about ten years, and not a single washer manufacturer would actually recommend using fabric softener. It horribly gums up the workings of the machine, even when you use the tiny amount you are actually supposed to (which most people use way too much). They are (or were originally) basically just animal fats and emulsifiers with some fragrance thrown in. They smell awful when they are left stuck somewhere for a long time (like the outer walls of the inner tub of your washing machine - seriously, it probably looks furry if you opened it up to see).

I can't speak to what it does to your clothes specifically, but I can imagine several downsides to essentially coating fabric in lavender scented industrial mayonnaise.

It's more concentrated.