Wash cycle unit dose softener

A unit dose wash cycle fabric softening composition for softening or conditioning fabrics in the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine, said unit dose comprising (a) a compacted granular fabric softener composition or (b) an encapsulated liquid and/or granular fabric softener composition, said fabric softening composition comprising a montmorillonite-containing clay in combination with an organic fatty softening material which is a fatty alcohol or a pentaerythritol compound (PEC) selected from the group consisting of a higher aliphatic acid ester of pentaerythritol, an oligomer of pentaerythritol, a lower alkylene oxide derivative of an oligomer of pentaerythritol, and a mixture thereof, the amount of (a) or (b) being sufficient to form a unit dose capable of providing effective softening or conditioning of fabrics in the wash cycle of said washing machine.