To think more women want unscented sanitary towels than scented ones?

[SinkGirl]

It comes up here often. And maybe there are some women who want scented towels (no judgement if you do!).

But I had to buy some pads in an emergency today and they were all scented. In the supermarket I have to hunt out the only ones that aren’t scented. It’s bad enough I can’t get Always Infinity anywhere any more but this is inexcusable - the scented ones literally burn my skin, I can’t be alone.

Who are these companies using for their focus groups? Surely women aren’t saying “yes, make all your towels scented please!”... are they?

So time for vote. If you had a choice and if all else was equal would you...
YANBU - prefer unscented pads
YABU - prefer scented pads

Agree. I hate scented pads. Can someone please send a link to this thread to the sanitary towel companies?!

You all need to switch to mooncups!
I got to the point where my period was unbearable. The regular discomfort and hormones mixed with having to use those awful scented pads and the itch that came with them almost had me in tears!
Now I use mooncups and my period is not a big deal.
Scented pads are evil. Most definitley a concept driven by a man!

I only buy unscented, same goes for antiperspirant/ deodorant. I want to smell like my lovely shower gel and pricey perfume, not layers of baby powder.

Well Ive asked them the question and they haven’t answered. How long should I hold my breath for?

There was a thread about Always in FWR that was deleted so I'm going to say it again. Why on Earth don't they listen to their potential buyers and get rid of the smell? I have only bought scented pads by mistake. That stuff just ain't good for the ole fanjo.

Was that the thread about the female symbol on the packaging, and the complaint that it was exclusionary - to which Always responded they would change the packaging? Why would that have been deleted, was the story not true?

I just looked and it's been taken down while the mods check if the story is true or not.

ALongHardWinter it's probably people who have most issues posting

To be fair I haven't noticed problems with scented ones either. I do get itchy but when you have a heavy flow and it gets everywhere, you may well get itchy. And I have thrush anyway scented or not scented.

But the fact that people have said they can smell them a mile off does put me off. And I think the smell (not really a scent, I consider a scent to be pleasant!) has got stronger and when I open my wardrobe I can smell the smelly ones!

Completely agree. This is why I have switched to reusable pads and won’t ever go back to the plasticky ones full stop

Some people are also sensitive or allergic to synthetic scents in general, it's so unnecessary for many reasons.

I complained to Always about the peculiar smell from some of their products and asked them to please make it clear on the packaging whether they were a scented type or not. They replied that it wasn't scent, it was 'odour neutraliser'!

I am past the age of needing these now, thank god. But, and I hate to say it, I can always smell when women are using them. I have quite a sensitive nose, and that smell of cheap sanitised scent is quite cloying. If I stand next to a woman wearing one, it's all I can smell.

Way to go, manufacturers, trying to make us afraid that our periods need 'odour neutralising' whilst making us pong like the inside of a scrapped Ford Capri.

They replied that it wasn't scent, it was 'odour neutraliser'!

Now I want to scream. As if the smell on its own wasn't sickening enough.

Don’t they call it scented? Whatever it is, it certainly smells like car air fresheners.

Odour neutraliser?
Cat litter is meant to do that. It doesn't smell. Not unless you buy a fragranced one.

That's nonsense

I would never buy scented given a choice. I just buy Sainsburys own which are currently unscented and cheap and cheerful to boot. I'm loving the links to the washable towels and might take the plunge though.

I don’t even like coloured loo roll let alone smelly or aloe Vera/Shea butter/whatever variety.

Plain, white, soft, Unperfumed.

To start - google Precious Stars Pads budget range. It's a starting point. The owner's channel on YouTube is really good too.
Loads of stuff on Etsy too.
English Garden Lovelies are fab but hard to get hold of.

birthday11 is the code on Cheeky Wipes.com until Monday 21 October

I get utterly debilitating UTIs for little or no reason, so I certainly can't risk scented pads or even toilet paper! If nothing else the anxiety that it might cause a UTI would probably cause a UTI...

I absolutely hate the scented ones and I've moved to mostly use these other kind that you wash at home and can re-use. They are good but easier to use at home than out and about as I find they don't stay put as well as disposables. God knows what chemicals are going on our skin with those horrid scented ones.

YANBU with bells on. Have to now do a sniff test in the supermarket, but have found supermarket own brands are better for not being scented and it's a bonus that they are cheaper too.

Have to now do a sniff test in the supermarket, but have found supermarket own brands are better for not being scented

Unfortunately it's like food in the fridge. If you store anything strong/spicy/ garlicky enough everything ends up tasting of garlic or whatever

Storing scented near unscented everything stinks anyway

I feel I am very lucky.
We have a shop that sells all sorts of stuff cheaply. Like toilet cleaner, washing up liquid, bog rolls, you get the idea. They have 3 long shelves full of various makes and types of pads. I go in there and stand looking at them for a good 5 minutes before i make a choice. I tried some always pads once that were, i think, comfort ones. They reminded me of pads i used when i was a teen in the 80's.
Other times my head is not in the right place so i go to the only shop i can cope with, at these times and they only have stinky always.

Try a brand called TOTM (Time of the Month) they do tampons and pads and liners. Unscented and organic cotton. Can get online and in some Tesco's. They've literally changed my life!!!