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

Scented pads are vile. I also switched to reusable ones and wish I did sooner.

Op, supermarkets and stores stock their shelves based on what sells. They don't do it based on focus groups. So if there were no unscented ones.then they have removed them as the sales weren't high enough to command them having space.

Polls on mumsnet isn't going to change that fact. Bottom line is shelves are stocked based on what has the highest demand.

I strongly disagree. Women are buying them because there’s no alternative in many places and they need something. Several replaced unscented with scented, they didn’t sell both side by side.

Tampax has scented tampons now. They're disgusting.
Why the genuine fuck would you need a perfumed tampon. Who is sticking their nose up a vagina and thinking "Ooh this would be much nicer with an air freshener"?

Whoever mentioned that scented pads stink of minicabs is absolutely spot on. Having a period is bad enough. I don't need itchy taxifanny too.

Also, what's fucking ridiculous is that as girls we are being told that we should care for our vaginas (and vulvas) by washing with gentle products, not douching etc., that vaginas smell fine as they are naturally, UNTIL we are menstruating, and then we must cover up our stinky, shameful functions or else we are dirty slatterns.

I agree unscented is best I can never find any I have a condition where I have a period then 4 days brake and then 7 days period loop so I always have to have pads and the scented ones really upset the balance

Not allergic or sensitive to the scented ones but oh my goodness the smell of them mixed with period blood makes me want to vomit and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who can smell it either

The only thing that bothers me is the smell (it doesn't upset my skin or anything) but now even the smell of unused ones turns my stomach. Feels like lining your knickers in zoflora doused nappy bags.

Polls on mumsnet isn't going to change that fact.

Perhaps not. But with almost 1,000 responses already, that’s a way larger sample than those always quoted in adverting for women’s products (which can be as few as 11). It’s way larger than a focus group. And it’s certainly got more chance of having an impact than me emailing or tweeting them individually (several PPs have done this, as have I, and have been directed to a product that’s fantastic but hardly available anywhere).

Do I think Always will pull scented pads from sale because of this thread? Of course not. Could online discussions like this lead them to at least discuss having more unscented products available? If they’re even a vaguely effective business, it should.

And surely it costs extra money to add scent to their products? Here’s a way to cut costs and increase sales to women who have stopped buying their products or buy something else whenever possible. Bonus.

Nothing wrong with my sense of smell thanks Knife. It's more likely that I don't go sniffing up the sanitary protection aisle or around women at work.

I've never smelt stinky blood from a woman on her period, but I've frequently smelt the god awful scent used for pads.

I used a moon cup until I stopped bleeding, but DD finds it hard to find unscented pads for heavy flow.

Period underwear does not work for heavy flow, IMO.

I use a menstrual cup now but when I used to use pads I always hated the scented ones with a passion. They smell horrible anyway but they made me really uncomfortable and sore too.

Scented ones don't irritate me but I hate the smell, I avoid a lot of stuff with artificial perfumes these days, I can almost taste them they're so strong. I tend to regularly shop in either ALDI or LIDL and they seem to only stock scented (either their own or Always). Maybe I should fill in their online survey on the receipt and tell them how much it pisses me off. As to stocks in supermarkets, I find there tends to be full shelves of Always but emptier shelves of Bodyform, I assume that's because people are snapping up the Bodyform

onanothertrain I'm not some weirdo sniffing women at work. But believe me, I can smell those "fresh" pads without even trying.

If you were in my office, I'd know when you were on without even trying.

I'm.pretty stunned that some people are unable to connect the facts that girls are period shamed in schools, women re forbidden to enter spaces of worship whilst menstruating, they get sent to sleep with the cows and die of exposure or smoke inhalation in period huts..menstruating women and girls are deemed as unclean and we have scented period products.

Shiny wrappers and a dedicated aisle on the supermarket done negate the fact that theres still an.underlying mysogynistic element to.periods just like any.many other places...our attitudes arent that superior . Visit a dr for period problems and see how far you get...

Scented are awful. I ended up at the doctors having STI tests before I figured out that the itching and BV were caused by these stupid pads. A complaint to Always got me precisely nowhere, other than the most patronising email I've ever received, so now I boycott all their products. I buy Kotex in bulk from Amazon, Naty liners from Ocado and also use a Mooncup. Sorry to hear so many others are having problems but also glad it's not just me!

You are not wrong. They are disgusting. I use bodyform now as unscented. Would be interesting to know if bodyform sales have gone up. I got some Carex handwash the other day in Aloe Vera and I can't stand to use it because it smells like the Always pads. Gross! The smell of them make me sick. I've got very sensitive bits I really don't want anything scented going on down there. In emergencies I've used them and I HATE it.

YADNBU!!!

The thing I hate most about it is the packaging is never fully explicit about whether they are fragranced or not!

I haven't bought sanpro in the supermarket for a couple of years. I used TOTM which come via mail order.

Is there any research into scented pads and cancer yet?

Talc use is linked to ovarian cancer.

Do we just wait a few decades and see?

If in doubt, stick to minimal chemical additives.

Is there any research into scented pads and cancer yet?

Nah. They wanna finish the study about what effect endometriosis has on the attractiveness of women first

YANBU! I have some liners (carefree I think) and the stink in my bathroom cupboard is revolting. I ordered natracare from amazon and they are good but I've always stuck to Bodyform for actual pads although they all seem to be scented too these days.

I use tampons if I'm heavier, I will be very unimpressed if they're all scented as I need the applicator.

It's a while since I've needed sanitary towels but I used Always Ultra with wings and they weren't scented; I didn't know any sanitary towels were scented, sounds irritative to me.

I hate scented sanpro and find the nasty scent used triggers my migraine. Agree with others who have said the labelling on packets is unhelpful (misleading), if manufacturers believe in their hype why can't the clearly state 'scented' on the pack rather than 'fresh' etc.

Bluntness, does that argument (supermarkets have removed them as they didn't sell) apply to chocolate too? So people really didn't want traditional Cadbury's, we wanted the yuk palm oil alternative?

I've started using Natracare stuff. I think it's great. Can't stand scented stuff. You might as well walk around with a placard saying you're menstruating, and the smell is horrid.