To wonder what idiot invented scented sanitary pads and tampons?

[CallaLilli]

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!

May I suggest a pic of tree shaped pine air freshener for labelling purposes!

The special logo idea has made me think - maybe the whole thing was a long term marketing plan so that they can one day sell "special unscented pads" that are better for our health than bog-standard, mainstream scented pads - and of course charge extra for the privilege of special unscented pads!

How about crossed out mushroom?

I think it's basically an arms race by brands to stay ahead of each other and offer new and "better" products.
You'll always have a new marketing ploy, be it scented, scent free, thinner, comfier,

I'd call it the red queen hypothesis, from my field of biology.
They keep running and coming up with new things to stay in the same place.

I'd love to berate talk this over with someone in the industry. I do wonder what their rationale is.

If they are adding something to the product, but able to sell it more cheaply, then the economics don't add up unless the product has changed in such a way that the perfume is really necessary to cover up something worse iyswim. Nobody would make a commercial decision to spend more in materials but to reduce the cost, for no reason.

If it's part of a long-term strategy (planning to re-introduce unscented options at a premium?) then maybe their profits will be taking a hit in the short to medium term (loads of us are avoiding their foul blistering fannypads). I'd love to know.

OR their profits will be sustainable because on the quiet people love that car air freshener/fanny smell. Perhaps it is worth it to normalise scented nonsense for a generation of women, with a view to selling more fanny-freshening accoutrements? Glade plug-in anyone?

Can there be a MN live chat about it from someone from Always who will talk economics, biology, sociology and chemistry? Thx.

Well at least 1 man is responsible for contributing to scented San pro.
Years ago a friend of mine and I were discussing periods and she told me a friend of hers was working for -insert company name as I can't recall- in Italy and they were looking at fragranced products.
I was very much bemused and thought it was the daftest idea but she thought it was a good idea as 'the blood does smell a bit'!!??
She was also Italian so wonder if all continental sanpro is perfumed?
I'm running away now .

I wonder if there's actually a demographic out there who actually like it. Perhaps if you're one of those heavily made up, bleached, painted, plastic type females. The type who drench themselves in nasty perfume and look down on anything 'natural' as being inferior.

I can imagine those types in TOWIE as liking stuff like perfumed pads

The rest of us who don't, will be regarded as cranks who don't care about 'grooming'

The chemicals actually make the menstrual blood smell more in my experience. It smells strong and unpleasant as opposed to just mild and natural.

Does Norway count as continental Margarita? I am shocked by this thread as nothing has changed here. Usually I stock up on sanpro when I visit the UK, but it sounds like I should bring some unscented ones with me.

Ok a quick survey of my continental corner of the world has uncovered some with odor control (whatever they put on it - apparently it retains odor within the pad) but not scented. At least they smell of nothing.
There's a "sensitive" option for some.

the crystals may not be new, but they sure as hell smell a lot more than they used to. Seriously. Acti-pearls everywhere, smelling stronger than ever, in most Always products. They might have changed the formulation or something, or added something to them, but they do smell - open the bathroom cupboard and it reeks! (And these are the pantyliners that are listed on their website as the only 'unfragranced' ones in the selection menu).

trilateral do you mean they have always been scented? Or something else if you stock up from the UK?
(And no I count you as Scandinavian, the continent is only warm places ).

I was appalled after the birth of ds to find my favourite always stank!! Searched around for unscented brands, but before I could fully scope I was pregnant again .
Fingers and toes crossed that by the time I get my next period the manufacturers will have figured it out, and sanitary towels will be whiff free again

They are rank and they should have big signs on the packet saying SCENTED cos I bought some always not realising and they irritated the fuck out of my down below.

hidden i may have some highlights but seeing as i'm heavily tattooed and pierced, i'm quite far from the towie plastic lot

Unbelievably disgusting/thrush inducing eau de period fragrance. It seems to have got passed at board level that they entire 'collection' must smell deeply of 'eau de rancid hidden shame'. They all seem to be. I once had a poor woman waft ' magic tree' past me in the PARK and I immediately knew it was her time of the month. I mean...did we just not realise that we all stank in the past??? Were generations of women just in denial??

Yes, but kali opting to smell like the lodging house cat isn't going to go with your image is it? You need to turn your back on these things.

'Need to turn my back' didn't realise i stopped having a choice!
I have never smelt the pantyliners on others, ever and i know people who use the same sort of items.
Some posters clearly have an unbelievable sense of smell.
Not everybody gets thrush from these.

hidden i don't really give a fuck about my image. I'm not in school anymore.

Seeing as marketing and advertising companies never do anything without a good reason, why do you think these products are scented but don't say so on the packaging? Someone's made a decision to leave it off. Why?

"Can there be a MN live chat about it from someone from Always who will talk economics, biology, sociology and chemistry? Thx."

I'm imagining that meeting where they try and decide who to send to talk to MN and everyone going "weelll I think I'm washing my cat that day...".

I'm imagining that meeting where they try and decide who to send to talk to MN and everyone going "weelll I think I'm washing my cat that day...".

Nah, they'll probably be able to find some man who would willingly explain to all those women why they are wrong and why the manufacturersame are right and scent is essential in sanitary products.

Nah, they'll probably be able to find some man who would willingly explain to all those women why they are wrong and why the manufacturersame are right and scent is essential in sanitary products.

"Our research has shown that, basically, all you women .... you all stink. Our original plan was to market a sandwich board with "unclean" stamped on the front alongside a little bell you could ring while doing your shopping. That way people will know you're on your dirty, smelly period. We couldn't get it past the advertising people so decided that a fanny full of Febreze was the next best thing."

A web chat would be lovely.

slaughter

Scented tampons

The thought makes my fanny clutch

I used scented pads by mistake once never again made me itch and made me smell I use boots/super drug or Sainsburys own brands

And why do tampons have plastic applicators that open up the thought makes me wince (I tend to use lillets) what was wrong with paper ones

scented products are proven to alter the alkalinity of down below potentially enabling overgrowth of yeast infections - hence no tampons. Before I am flamed with my lack of scientific knowledge, I do have 20 years experience of thrush. Presumably we all stink so much the marketing board felt that the slightly lower risk of flooding the shelves with febreze liners was worth it. I have found from getting thrush despite my best efforts that even the ones that don't advertise the acti pearls or whatever still have some sort of perfume now. I really don't need to spend an extra half an hour scrutinising packets in that aisle to second guess if they are or aren't. In my case it makes a difference if they are scented - and now I can't tell.

Give us better delineated choice in our luxury products!

We have been inundated with orders for our cloth pads from a mention in this thread - lots of you are choosing to try our Cloth Starter Packs. Brilliant! Our pads are unscented! Actually they are organic cotton and rather lovely. I am not advertising, I just wanted you to know that women are making new choices having read this thread, which is great.