They are very soft and the color is beautiful.  I washed before use and there was quite a bit of lint in the dryer which was expected. The towels have retained there softness and color after many washings and no lint in the bathroom. On the down side they were not as absorbent as I would have preferred. This problem seems to be improving after being washed regularly.  I don’t need to use fabric softener as they have retained the very soft feel. Overall it was a good buy for the money.