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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

280 replies

SinkGirl · 16/10/2019 22:02

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

OP posts:
paap1975 · 17/10/2019 10:38

But basically, scented sanitary items are all about making women feel dirty, and that's actually the worst thing about them in my opinion

staydazzling · 17/10/2019 10:44

scented is terrible if you're sensitive and prone to thrush.

U2HasTheEdge · 17/10/2019 10:45

YANBU

Blood and perfume does not mix well. I smell more using scented ones.

I am going to make the switch to reusable.

poorbuthappy · 17/10/2019 10:47

Most of the own brand towels are unscented.
I have to use night time towels all the time due to flooding issues, and I use:
Tesco
Sainsburys
Wilko
Asda

Plus they are pennies compared to bloody Always.

Pandaintheporridge · 17/10/2019 10:47

Sorry have not read all the thread, is there a similar-but-unsccented pad for all the former happy-Always users? I'm happy to order online but don't want something with a very different shape or texture to Always, just don't want the smell and the subsequent irritation.

Pandaintheporridge · 17/10/2019 10:48

Crosspost with poorbuthappy
I will give supermarket ones a try then

SkaTastic · 17/10/2019 10:49

Don't get Lidl own brand ones my friends!! Blumming useless, giving me the rage getting all screwed up in my knickers.

I hate the scented ones and now have to sniff test own brand ones in the supermarket so I look like a weirdo.

YessicaHaircut · 17/10/2019 11:00

Morrison’s own brand ones with wings are great, really stay put, cost 65p a pack and most importantly are unscented.

BlessedBeTheFruitCake · 17/10/2019 11:18

I hate the scented ones, I just use supermarkets own brands, they're not scented usually. The whole fem products aisle reeks, it's horrid.

Gribbie · 17/10/2019 11:26

Tesco own branded ones are unscented. Scented ones make me so sore.

Burpsandrustles · 17/10/2019 11:30

Agree op, can we tweet or alert these bastards to this thread. The stench is awful.

NoraThePessimist · 17/10/2019 11:54

I agree op, I've used a wad of toilet paper in an emergency because I'm not paying for scented single ones from a vending machine when that's all that was available, the fake overpowering smell makes me feel queasy. I've had some that DH bought that were so strong you could smell them in the bedroom despite being in plastic wrapping inside my knicker drawer, urgh.

Yanbu

wateraddict · 17/10/2019 11:55

I am lucky that I don't have a heavy flow but I am pleased with the mooncup and cheeky wipes period pants, they are much more affordable than modi Bodhi and thinx. I also have both bamboo washable night pads from bloom n Nora which were great for flooding and cotton washable ones from cheeky wipes for lighter days. Lasting years so far and just rinse and wash in a regular cycle.

Geppili · 17/10/2019 12:30

I hate scented pads!

Quellium · 17/10/2019 13:22

I stopped buying Always after nearly a lifetime of exclusive purchasing of their product. Purely because they added that hideous scent to all of them apart from Infinity. And I can't find Infinity anywhere anymore.

ShagMeRiggins · 17/10/2019 13:36

Bottom line is shelves are stocked based on what has the highest demand.

Bluntness, no. Read up on economics and finance, and corporate partnerships. Highest demand isn’t how it works.

SinkGirl, your “men concealing sweaty ball scents” riposte made me Grin. You’ve moved into One To Watch status on my non-existent MN spreadsheet.

Re wings, my daughter (12) loathes them. They interfere with her pubic hair in a painful way. Also loathes scented products (“they’re itchy”) and is delighted by the newly-implemented White Box at school that provides free products to all girls menstruating (which I believe is a new directive from the government after a Cambridge student lobbied on behalf of those young women who missed many days of education because they couldn’t afford pads or tampons).

Those girls probably wouldn’t care about scented v unscented but it’s right they now have another barrier removed that would otherwise keep them from their own free education. This is in Britain.

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer · 17/10/2019 14:02

panda

I get always sensitive...i think they are unscented

EggsFried · 17/10/2019 15:48

YANBU- I'm another one that hate scented pads and would much prefer unscented. My favourite pads are also Always Infinity, but I'm worried about them being discontinued as they seem to have disappeared from supermarkets and are getting harder and harder to find. Nowadays I do a bulk online order from Boots to get them, but it would be much easier if I could just pick up a few packs with the weekly shop like I used to. I dread them being discontinued or becoming scented.

ALongHardWinter · 17/10/2019 16:37

I'll probably get flamed for saying this,but I am astounded at the number of posters who say that they get thrush,or severe irritation from scented towels. When I used to have periods I always used tampons,but in recent years when I've found it necessary to use a sanitary towel for mild stress incontinence,I always go for the unscented variety. However,I accidentally bought a pack of the scented Tena pads a few weeks ago,didn't realise until I took one out of the wrapper. I still used them,and it was fine. No irritation or anything. Am I just a bit unusual?!

aspoonfulofyourownmedicine · 17/10/2019 16:42

I use cloth reusable ones and have done for the past year. No more thrush, no more itching, no more burns. I literally felt like I had chemical burns every month and it took me years to figure out what it was 🤦‍♀️

I get that people don't particularly like reusables, or they may not be absorbant enough, however there are all sorts of alternatives available now

HeyMissyYouSoFine · 17/10/2019 16:53

ALongHardWinter it's probably people who have most issues posting.

I can use scented with no irritation, but I don't like the smell and I've been made aware by family members that the smell is detectable when I do use them.

So, I've switched to mix of Tesco own and reusable after years of using mainly always.

Pandaintheporridge · 17/10/2019 16:59

On their website, Always list the Sensitive range, Maxi range and Infinity as being unscented.

ginyogarepeat · 17/10/2019 17:13

OP, there is a happy medium between the vile, thrush-inducing scented pads, and cloth ones.
I buy non-plastic ones online (from ethical superstore usually) and don't have any issues. You can get ones for heavier flows too. They're more expensive but I just stock up every few months in a bigger shop.

bellinisurge · 17/10/2019 17:25

If you get (or make) a cloth pad with zorb, that might help with absorbency. Or made with wicking top fabric.
You can get post- partum pads (or make them) which are mega and comfy. My dd uses them.

APipkinOfPepper · 17/10/2019 17:55

I hate the scented ones! I used to use always before they all went scented, then switched to bodyform which are not quite as good as the old always ones imo. And now I’ve also got some re-useable ones (with wings with poppers on) and it feels good not to be filling up the bin with plastic!