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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder what idiot invented scented sanitary pads and tampons?

356 replies

CallaLilli · 15/02/2016 14:58

Because it seems to be getting harder to buy the non-scented kind these days! But honestly, who thought it was a good idea to put something heavily perfumed so fanjo-adjacent? AIBU to think it was probably a man?

And yes, I know I should probably use a mooncup and reusable pads but I'm not quite there yet!

OP posts:
Sanchar · 16/02/2016 21:33

The old unscented always used to give me raging nappy rash and eczema, I dread to think what scented ones would do! Chemical burns probably.

My bits got so bad I stopped using them altogether and went with washable pads and a Jam Sponge, which wasn't absorbent enough, then a Luna cup.
My bits haven't had an eczema flare up for nearly 5 years now👌

megletthesecond · 16/02/2016 21:33

I gasped at someone buying femfresh yesterday. Surely a daily shower, or twice daily if you work out, is sufficient?

Sanchar · 16/02/2016 21:43

I used femfresh all the time when my eczema flared up, it was the only product that didn't aggravate it.

(and no, just water isn't sufficient for washing bloody pubes and germy bumholes. ( I just know someone will come along and say itGrin))

Lweji · 16/02/2016 21:49

I used Femfresh and it was fine. I like products that are soap free.
In the same way that I use a different product for my face.

EBearhug · 16/02/2016 21:55

I googled, so you don't have to.

You can get masculine intimate washes.

One of them contains menthol. The thought if that makes me cross my legs (I'm still remembering the trauma of tee tree and mint shower gel.)

EBearhug · 16/02/2016 21:58

One is a "professional intimate wash" - don't think I'very ever seen a woman's hygiene product described as professional. Maybe salon hair products, but not for less visible parts.

GnomeWare · 16/02/2016 22:05

Menthol menswash, eek. Minty-fresh member to go with the bleached bumhole.

SalemSaberhagen · 16/02/2016 22:14

EBear the Natural Source one? The pain, the pain!

SalemSaberhagen · 16/02/2016 22:16

Sorry, Original Source, not Natural!

To wonder what idiot invented scented sanitary pads and tampons?
EBearhug · 16/02/2016 22:23

That's the one, Salem.

Please don't remind me.

PollyPerky · 16/02/2016 22:35

This chart shows you which are perfume free.

Always

I'm not sure about the active pearls ones- they have a smell I think even though this lot are supposed to be perfume free.

The Infinity packs are perfume free and the Silk collection have a perfume free version.

The orange packs at the bottom of the page are near enough the original pads and are perfume free.

Elledouble · 16/02/2016 22:45

Ugh, the scented pads are disgusting. I accidentally bought some after my son was born (desperate for something less bulky than maternity pads!) and oh sweet Jesus, thrush and healing episiotomy stitches... It was torture. I never buy Always now, I stick to Bodyform.

SealSong · 16/02/2016 22:54

Morrisons own brand are also unscented.

ijustwannadance · 16/02/2016 23:46

I complained about always after being a loyal customer for 20 years. They gave me some bollocks about the scent free ones and acti pearls being under the top layer so not in contact with skin. Doesn't stop them making my fadge itch though!
They sent me coupons for always Hmm

EBear my trauma is from when DP had used lynx shower gel with chilli to wash his bits before bed. 🔥

IrishDad79 · 16/02/2016 23:48

Today 19:37Goingtobeawesome
"I've never seen any masculine wash.."

What the fuck do you think shower gel is?

Smidge001 · 16/02/2016 23:54

Scented should be banned! It can't be good for anyone to have that near their fanjo. I always hunt for unsented, and used to be able to find them, but last two times I looked they were no where to be found. I'm currently in Australia so was hoping it was just the usual lack of choice available here (semi understandable given there are fewer customers), but have been eeking out my remaining few til comin back to England next month!! Now I'm hearing it'll be just as hard to find them there too. Grrr.

It's madness I tell you. Can't we send some sort of link of this (and other similar threads I'm sure I've seen on here before) to the manufacturers?

CallaLilli · 17/02/2016 07:29

What the fuck do you think shower gel is?

Since when is shower gel marketed exclusively towards men for their "intimate areas"?

OP posts:
EBearhug · 17/02/2016 07:47

I can believe that manufacturers' surveys found that women are worried about odour control, because there are lots of ads and so on to pressure you about being worried about bad breath, BO, and any other hint of body odour.

What I don't understand is why they think using an artificial household cleaner smell counts as odour control. If I really felt I needed to use one smell to cover up another, I'd at least want to smell of expensive perfume, and I haven't noticed any of the major perfume houses releasing their own sanitary product lines.

Body form & Always etc could at least have done a bit of perfume research - there are different types of perfumes - floral, green, oriental, etc. We don't all like the same thing - and we don't all suit the same thing, so what smells great on one person might smell like wet hamster bedding on another, because of the way it interacts with our own body chemistry. Although smelling like toilet cleaner is probably a particularly niche market.

And some people are allergic to perfumes in any case, and you'd have thought the number of non-scented, hypoallergenic products on the beauty shelves would have given them a hint there is a market for non-scented.

I just don't understand how they thought the smells they're using, which aren't at all subtle and more likely to be noticeable than a pad which needed changing a few hours ago. It just doesn't answer any concerns about odour control at all (which people shouldn't be worried about at all, but I accept that some are.)

SiriusGoLieDown · 17/02/2016 08:15

I hate the scent. I don't want to smell like an old ladies handbag.

Pleassseeeeee can we set up a mumsnet campaign against them

Snarklepoo · 17/02/2016 08:21

Yup, Mumsnet campaign against.

I will forever associate that smell with having a miscarriage and don't want to be reminded every month. Seems almost like there's no choice but to have smelly ones now.

AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads · 17/02/2016 08:23

If DS is in disposable nappies I always find they smell much more than cloth ones. And it's not just the smell of wee, there's something else too. If disposable sanitary pads are similar then is it really surprising that women are concerned about the smell. But rather than try and fix the problem, they just try and cover the smell instead.

AllMyBestFriendsAreMetalheads · 17/02/2016 08:25

And I've posted before but I feel it's relevant here Grin

Goingtobeawesome · 17/02/2016 08:25

That's rather aggressive, IrishDad, and missing the point..

maydancer · 17/02/2016 08:26

Which tampons are scented? I haven t seen them? Pads I could understand, but tampons live where the sun don't shine so who is going to smell them?

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