That could be it - I hate that smell. 
I won’t even buy laundry detergent that’s scented with it.
The laundry detergent smells nothing like the real thing (like a “new car smell” air freshener), but I take your point. 
Wash everything in cold, and use the low cycle on the dryer. Works for all but really cheap t-shirts. Tide Cold water works fine.
One in a while, put all the whites in with Hot and bleach.
I’m with air-drying.
But make sure you use fabric softener when you wash them or else they turn into cardboard.