Scented Clay
Fresh Step Scented
A dependable grocery-store clay option with decent clumping, a noticeable fragrance profile, and fair everyday value.
Overall score
8.1/10
Cost per day
$0.40
Reviewed Mar 3, 2026
Head-to-head comparison
Fresh Step Scented vs Naturally Fresh Walnut: Which Should You Buy?
Naturally Fresh clumps harder than Fresh Step, pours far less dust, and adds no fragrance. Fresh Step wins on price and on being on the shelf tonight. Nothing else on the sheet favours it.
ReviewCatLitter editorial teamUpdated Mar 3, 2026
This comparison page is maintained by the ReviewCatLitter editorial team and grounded in the same scoring framework used across the published review catalog.
Walnut Shell (Natural)
Naturally Fresh Walnut
A walnut-shell litter that clumps harder than many natural competitors and absorbs odor naturally without added fragrance.
Overall score
8.8/10
Cost per day
$0.54
Reviewed Nov 18, 2025
Overall winner
Naturally Fresh Walnut
Naturally Fresh Walnut is the strongest all-around pick in this comparison for natural clumping without corn.
Lowest daily cost
Fresh Step Scented at $0.40/day
Budget is often the deciding factor in this tier.
Best odor control
Naturally Fresh Walnut at Strong natural absorption
Odor control often decides whether a litter feels tolerable long term.
Tracks less outside the box
Naturally Fresh Walnut at Moderate
Tracking can be more important than overall score in small spaces.
What we actually measured
Every figure below is a reading from our own test runs, not a rating. Where a run never took a reading it says so.
| Reading | Fresh Step Scented | Naturally Fresh Walnut | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dust weighed per pourParticulates caught in the air while the bag goes into the box. Lower is better. | 0.42 mg | 0.13 mgbetter | 0.29 mg |
| Clumps that survived the drop testShare of clumps still whole after a three-foot drop. Higher is better. | 66% | 89%better | 23 points |
| Bag priceWhat the tested bag cost. Bag sizes differ, so read it next to cost per pound. | $18.99 | $24.99 | $6.00 |
| Cost per poundBag price divided by what is in the bag. Lower is better. | $0.45better | $0.96 | $0.51 |
| Cost per dayWhat the box costs to keep running each day. Lower is better. | $0.40better | $0.54 | $0.14 |
| Cost across a yearThat daily cost carried over a full year of use. Lower is better. | $146better | $197 | $51 |
Neither run recorded granules outside the box, ammonia after one day and ammonia after three days, so those rows are left out rather than filled in from a similar bag. The full test data shows every reading we have.
Why Naturally Fresh Walnut wins this matchup
Primary tradeoff: Naturally Fresh Walnut's weakest area here is tracking.
Best dust control here at 0.13mg per pour.
Strongest odor control in this set with strong natural absorption.
It still lands a stronger overall score than cheaper options because it is more balanced.
| Product | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 8.1 | 8.8 |
| Pricing | ||
| Price | $18.99 | $24.99 |
| Weight | 42 lbs | 26 lbs |
| Cost / Day | $0.40 | $0.54 |
| Performance | ||
| Dust Control | 6.2 0.42mg per pour | 8.1 0.13mg per pour |
| Clumping | 7.9 Decent | 8.9 Hard for natural litter |
| Odor Control | 8 Strong fragrance masking | 8.4 Strong natural absorption |
| Tracking Outside the Box | 6.2 Moderate | 7.4 Moderate |
| Value for Cost | 7.9 $0.40/day · $18.99 | 8.1 $0.54/day · $24.99 |
| Features | ||
| Type | Scented Clumping Clay | Walnut Shell |
| Flushable | ||
| Scented | Yes | No |
| Our Verdict | ||
| Best For | Convenient store-bought clay | Natural clumping without corn |
| Read ReviewCheck Price | Read ReviewCheck Price | |
Best fit
Fresh Step Scented
Fresh Step Scented makes the most sense for convenient store-bought clay.
Worth it if
You want a dependable grocery-store clay option with decent clumping, a noticeable fragrance profile, and fair everyday value.
Skip it if
You need a formula that solves natural clumping without corn better.
Best fit
Naturally Fresh Walnut
Naturally Fresh Walnut makes the most sense for natural clumping without corn.
Worth it if
You want a walnut-shell litter that clumps harder than many natural competitors and absorbs odor naturally without added fragrance.
Skip it if
You need a formula that solves natural clumping without corn better.
If neither option is quite right
The closest litters we have tested to this matchup, on score and on price.
Silica Crystal
PrettyLitter
Runs at $0.80 a day. Its dust was never weighed.
Best for health monitoring and lightweight convenience
Soft Wood / Pine
Catalyst Soft Wood
Weighed 0.15mg per pour and runs at $0.72 a day.
Best for cats that reject pellets
Clumping Clay
Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Weighed 0.03mg per pour and runs at $0.51 a day.
Best for dust-sensitive homes
Read the full reviews
Use this page to choose a winner quickly, then open the full product reviews if you want the long-form test notes.
Keep comparing nearby options
Related matchups that share one of the same products and answer the next likely decision.
Related matchup
Fresh Step Scented vs Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
Two perfumed supermarket clays. Clump & Seal holds smell down longer and clumps harder. Fresh Step is the cheaper bag and pours a little less dust.
Winner: Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs Fresh Step Scented
Ultra if you want the box to stop smelling of perfume and stop clouding when you pour. Fresh Step if you want it in the cart tonight.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Dr. Elsey's Ultra vs Naturally Fresh Walnut
Ultra holds its clumps better and pours less dust. Naturally Fresh is the plant litter that gets closest to it, for a little more per day.
Winner: Dr. Elsey's Ultra
Related matchup
Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal vs Naturally Fresh Walnut
Naturally Fresh is the way out of fragrance and heavy dust without paying premium clay money.
Winner: Naturally Fresh Walnut
Related matchup
Naturally Fresh Walnut vs Sustainably Yours
Naturally Fresh is the cheaper natural bag and clumps nearly as hard. Sustainably Yours flushes and tracks less.
Winner: Sustainably Yours
Related matchup
Naturally Fresh Walnut vs World's Best Cat Litter
Corn against walnut. World's Best flushes and barely leaves the tray. Naturally Fresh held more clumps together in our drop test and costs less per day.
Winner: Naturally Fresh Walnut
Quick Answers
Which is better: Fresh Step Scented or Naturally Fresh Walnut?
Naturally Fresh Walnut comes out ahead on the balance of dust, clumping, odor control, tracking and daily cost. Fresh Step Scented is still the one to buy for convenient store-bought clay.
Which is cheaper per day: Fresh Step Scented or Naturally Fresh Walnut?
Fresh Step Scented runs at $0.40 a day against $0.54 for Naturally Fresh Walnut.
Which controls smell better: Fresh Step Scented or Naturally Fresh Walnut?
Naturally Fresh Walnut scored higher: strong natural absorption, against strong fragrance masking for Fresh Step Scented.
Which tracks less outside the litter box: Fresh Step Scented or Naturally Fresh Walnut?
Naturally Fresh Walnut keeps more litter in the box: moderate, against moderate for Fresh Step Scented.