Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Scented sanitary towels

81 replies

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 30/08/2018 05:26

Nearly every week I see a thread started on MN about scented sanitary towels and almost every single day I see them referred to on some thread or other.
At work we see a lot of women, who whilst they come in with something far more serious, are also impacted by thrush, itching and various other irritations because of highly scented plastics worn against the skin.

When I have my period I try to use my mooncup or reusable towels but sometimes (if I come on unexpectedly at work or out and about) I’ll buy pads which 9/10 cause me irritation because of scent.
The whole sanitary protection aisle stinks of this weird part floral/part talc stench which means you cannot discern which brand does or doesn’t smell.
Some are even marked “perfume free” but perfume free does not mean scent free.

This has such an impact on young girls who are largely reliant on what their parents buy, on women and girls on low incomes who don’t have the money to shell out on large one time spends for mooncup and anyway let’s face it they aren’t really for young girls just starting their periods and feeling overwhelmed or something every woman feels comfortable with.

Why on earth to brands like Always, Bodyform etc. feel the need to floral our fannies? Why are our periods so disgusting and revolting to them?
Are they in bed with vagisil etc.?

I truly believe this is something we should tackle as feminists because it is bonkers.

OP posts:
Original poster
HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 30/08/2018 06:29

I think there are a few things we can do.

  1. Stop buying (this doesn’t help the people who don’t have access to larger stores)
  2. Write to the brands
  3. A targeted social media campaign with a good hashtag
  4. Perhaps get @MNHQ involved in a campaign?

Having them add artificial scent to sanitary pads gives the impression that periods are dirty or something that needs to be hidden. This creates a culture of shame around a perfectly natural and necessary bodily function.

OP posts:
SoaringSwallow · 30/08/2018 06:28

Well maybe it'd be ok if they actually smelled of flowers but they smell like chemicals. Absolutely disgusting. And I think the smell is more intense than before. I bought some pantyliners recently and i had to throw them all out on the third day because the packet was smelling out the room. My handbag stank.

I also stick to non scented ones (apart from that mistake!).

But the moon cup doesn't work for everyone. I have had a few different brands and sizes and I understand why people like them. But as someone they don't work for I'd rather have chemical smelling panty liners because at least they're reliable!

Vitalogy · 30/08/2018 05:59

They'll get the message if we stop buying them. Yes, for a while we'll have to go out of our way to do this (I get mine in Tesco, so not exactly going out of my way) but what is the alternative, they obviously aren't listening if the majority of women dislike them already.

What do you think can be done?

Original poster
HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 30/08/2018 05:51

Are all of the big brand ranges now fragranced?

It seems so whenever I have bought them. I end up using one and then donating the remainder of the packet to the staff stash at work.
I will often buy them in a corner shop or the pharmacy at work, where the choice will be Always or Bodyform.

OP posts:
Vitalogy · 30/08/2018 05:38

I've never had a problem whenever I've used them.

Majority of the time I buy the supermarket brand, these ones have been fragrance free, not that it states that, they just are.

Are all of the big brand ranges now fragranced? They should always have a selection of non fragranced. I know the majority on MN seem to dislike them.

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 30/08/2018 05:31

I agree with your post and particularly like the phrase 'floral our fannies'

Swipe left for the next trending thread