...By asking my DH to sniff the sanitary pads?

[ToTheRegimentIWishIWasThere]

He didn't sniff them, and came home with fucking scented ones.

I despise them, they stink like someone's sprayed febreeze in a butchers when you're wearing them. Also, they give me thrush.

I asked him to get me some from the shop, he was in there, specified that they needed to be non scented. Asked him to give the packet a quick sniff in the shop. He refused. I wasn't asking him to hold them to his face and inhale deeply, literally just a quick waft past his face.

I think he's being a massive fanny, he thinks I'm unreasonable and it would have been weird.

Who is being unreasonable?

(Iwouldn't mind but he didn't even read them, it literally says *these contain a perfumed "fresh" scent which will make your vulva sore after wearing them. Or words to that effect anyway.)

To be fair I spent a good few mins sniffing them in shops a couple of weeks ago trying to avoid the scented ones and I still managed to come home with ones that have a scent. I think Always likes to spray fragrance over all their pads without making it overly explicit.

In this situation I'd usually send a picture of the packaging of the exact sanitary products I want and hope that's enough to make sure he gets the right ones

Oh my goodness, you can smell the things from an aisle away in the supermarket. You don't need to get that close. They are horrid.

Anyway, I've read it on here many times that people can actually tell if a women is wearing a scented pad. I have never been able to tell.

Is this just a MN thing or true life as well?

Like anything, it depends how sensitive your sense of smell is. I've been aware of it a couple of times when I've sat next to women, always on buses weirdly (or perhaps not so weirdly - buses force you into closer proximity to people than you might otherwise be over the course of a day).

Erm- send a photo of what you want? Isn’t that the most logical thing to do?

Buy (and sniff) your own pads.
I usually do. It was a surprise bonus round period which shouldn't have been due for another ten days.

I was also given one of these as a bonus gift this morning OP. Thank the lord for washables. You have my full sympathy (my DH wouldn't think to read or sniff either).

Bold fail!!

B&M trip done. "Right Reg, show me EXACTLY which ones you want so I'll know for next time!" We also did the sniff test

At least he bought actual sanitary towels. I asked my dh to buy some for me while he was going to the shop and he came back with asda brand incontinence pads.

Apparently he didnt read them just picked them up and chucked them in the basket. FWIW they worked exactly the same

However in your situation I would ask him to spray his dick with febreeze multiple times a day for 5-7 days and see how he feels

Since you mention TTC and irregular periods, have a google of Agnus castus. Some people swear by it as it's said to regulate cycles and aid fertility.

@Blindspot82 I have on occasion smelt packets of pads to make sure they aren't scented. I don't care what people think. I care about my wants. I haven't found it clear some times and would rather smell for a moment than waste my money. Another customer was there once and it was clear she was having a similar dilemma. I suggested she just sniff for a moment as I had as it was clear which were scented and which weren't. She thanked me for my good idea.

Since you mention TTC and irregular periods, have a google of Agnus castus. Some people swear by it as it's said to regulate cycles and aid fertility.

Ooh thank you! Will do some research and Amazon prime some. I remember it being used by a few women when I was TTC with my DS. I always had slightly irregular periods but since having him it's definitely kicked up several notches.

On the back of my Agnus Castus it says "Do not use if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant."

Yes my packet says that too.
I would do more research before using it.
Anecdotally though people do say it helps.

I'm going with DH on this one even though the scented ones give me thrush and bacterial vaginosis

If I saw a man sniffing sanitary pads in the supermarket I'd probably go and get security!

PS: I now buy Natracare via Amazon.

Unscented organic cotton. This is my 1st period using them and they make SO MUCH difference.

No weird scent. No itching. No chafing. No rashes. No BV.

I'd been put off trying them as I thought about the cotton ones I'd used as a teenager that didn't stick to knickers very well and sort of broke up and went weird. These don't do any of that crap.

I've just ordered reusables so I won't have to face this anymore. As a fortunate side effect, DH doesn't either (and yes, he did manage to buy the purfumed ones once. If I have difficulty finding the unscented ones sometimes, I can't blame him with his lack of experience in that area for finding it hard.)

I understand why your DH didn't want to sniff the packets, but I also understand the horror of recurrent thrush and the overwhelming desire to avoid anything that could cause it.

Just give him a brand name of acceptable ones /show him your usual ones and tell him those only.

And recurrent thrush. Get your blood sugars tested. Mine was related to diabetes.

I got banned from co-op for this

If anyone on this thread is allergic to the scented sanitary towels pls pop over to my thread where I am gathering evidence for a complaint to Always

Allergic to scented sanitary products? Add your story here!www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3735349-allergic-to-scented-sanitary-products-add-your-story-here

I always sniff them. I wouldn't think badly of anyone else in the aisle sniffing the various packets, male or female.
In fact, I wish EVERYONE would do it and pull a horrified face so the stores might start pushing back on the manufacturers and stop making this scented crap!!!! No woman wants this! They are bad for us, FFS what world is this that women cannot influence products that are only used by women. Grrr...

@SunshineCake - Yes, but you're a woman! We're talking here about a man sniffing women's intimate items. The OP asked her husband to do this - she didn't do it herself. Remember anyone who saw a man doing this wouldn't know the background of the situation. They'd judge first and ask questions later.

Errrr what?! Don’t be so ridiculous - you genuinely asked him to sniff your pads? And you thought he should? Because that’s normal? I’m surprised he bought them for you at all! Did you want to embarrass him or something? Imagine walking into Waitrose and seeing a guy sniffing sanitary wear!

Body form are better!

If I saw a man dithering in the tampon aisle sniffing packs of ads I'd offer to help, but I'm rocking a harmless-but-still-vaguely-competent old lady look these days. I mightn't have offered when younger.