Please stop Febreezing everything

[Helenahandkart]

Every time I buy something from eBay it stinks. The item itself stinks. The packaging stinks.
If it stank of dog hair or mould or something natural then I could clean it, but no, everything stinks of Febreeze or Zoflora or one of those awful odour remover sprays.
It makes me feel sick, and it’s impossible to get rid of. If I can’t put it in the washing machine I have to put the offending item in the garage for months and hope that the smell will eventually dissipate. I bought some secondhand boots today and now the whole house smells of Febreeze, despite me immediately taking all the packaging out to the bin and putting the boots in the garage.
Please stop covering everything with revolting chemicals. It’s so unnecessary.

@Helenahandkart

‘I like the smell of Febreeze, therefore it’s ok for everyone buying secondhand clothes to have the smell of Febreeze forced onto them’

‘I like strong chemical fragrances, therefore anyone who doesn’t is a drama queen’

‘I buy things on eBay that don’t smell, therefore smelly clothes are not a problem’

As ever, the concept of differentiation is completely absent on Mumsnet.

Sure, but if your problem is that everything you buy on eBay smells too offensive, then what do you think you should stop doing?

Just go to a charity shop or a car boot sale.

@Cinnabomb

I agree. I can’t believe people actually use such scented wash powders and lenor 🤢 they are so vile

This thread is a revelation in laundry snobbery

Unfortunately, we now seem to live in a society that's decided everything has to have an overpowering chemical perfume added.

Where I live you can walk along the street and smell the stench of 'air freshener' coming from people's houses, that's how strong it is.

I'm sure their houses aren't so filthy and stinking that they have to cover any natural smells with this awful stuff and I'm sure breathing it in all the time can't be good for you.

I was looking to buy a house some months ago and every time I went into a house smelling of one of these thing I could smell it on my clothes for days afterward, mainly on my overcoat, as I'd usually just stick everything else I was wearing in the wash.

One of my daughters uses fabric conditioner every time she washes anything and everything in the house stinks of it, again when I've been to her house I can smell it on everything I've worn.

I don't get it, what's wrong with smelling of clean human?

I get extreme scents can be nauseating but come ok. Some of you would rather wet dog, smelly feet or mould?

And the anti-smellers. Not everything artificial is unpleasant. Washing powder, soap and deodorant are good, I'd go as far as necessary :O

I get not wanting overpowering but things gotta smell of something. I'd rather fresh laundry smell (yes, an artificial smell!). Than natural sweat. Not all artificial is bad, otherwise what does your home smell of?

It's normal to use air thingies, candles, burnie bits

• Sure, but if your problem is that everything you buy on eBay smells too offensive, then what do you think you should stop doing?

Just go to a charity shop or a car boot sale.*

That doesn’t really explain why large numbers of eBay sellers have, in the last couple of years, decided that before sending something they need to cover it in Febreeze.

I understand that someone might want their own home to smell of Febreeze etc, if they like that type of smell, but what is the rationale for covering something in such a divisive product before sending it to someone else, who may or may not like it, and who in many cases might even become ill from contact with it?

If I need a new dress I can probably find something on eBay straight away. I might have to visit car boots and charity shops for weeks before I find something that fits the bill.

It's normal to use air thingies, candles, burnie bits

Not in my house it isn't.

Of course I use washing power and I like the light fragrance of it. Also use things like deodorant, shampoo, shower gel and so on because I like to feel clean and fresh but I'm not walking around smelling of something that could knock over a rhino.

When the smell of scented candles or plug in things can be smelled from the street or the smell of this things stay on your clothes for days after you've spent 15 minutes in someone's house, it's just taking things to a ridiculous level.

@dummyd
It’s also normal to have bonfires, wood burners and diesel engines. It doesn’t follow that those things are therefore not harmful.

It might be normal for you to use strong cleaning products and air fresheners and candles, but it isn’t normal for everyone. I don’t know many people who bother with all that crap.

People sneering, be careful of unwitting ablism. I'm autistic and my hypersensitivity to smell is quite common with that as it comes with a raft of sensory sensitivities.
It also got worse after a neurological injury, as did the headaches.

@dummyd

I get extreme scents can be nauseating but come ok. Some of you would rather wet dog, smelly feet or mould?

And the anti-smellers. Not everything artificial is unpleasant. Washing powder, soap and deodorant are good, I'd go as far as necessary :O

I get not wanting overpowering but things gotta smell of something. I'd rather fresh laundry smell (yes, an artificial smell!). Than natural sweat. Not all artificial is bad, otherwise what does your home smell of?

It's normal to use air thingies, candles, burnie bits

You can get washing powder and deodorant that don’t smell and even versions that have no masking fragrance at all. Clean is good and necessary. The scented versions are quite unpleasant for many and actually dangerous for some members of your community.

Who knew nice smells were so controversial! My first someone was that overpowering smells are unpleasant but people hate any smell that is noticeable which is a bit ridiculous. Hating nice smells just because they're artificial. It's ok to have aromas, it doesn't have to be masking.

Imo
Masking sweat after sport = yuck
Using soap or washing powder = fine

We're all different though!

Another who agrees with you OP. Mainly because I'm allergic to Febreeze (or something in it at the very least).
I work in the reuse sector, so fully support the circular economy and buying second hand. I also hate chemical smells especially washing powders/fabric conditioners! I don't get why people use fabric conditioners at all - it ruins the clothes......

@dummyd

A masking fragrance is a fragrance manufacturers put in a product to make it “unscented”. It means it is not actually fragrance free and still dangerous for people with allergies.

I wash my clothes in laundry liquid only. Wash my body with unperfumed non lathering shower cream for dry/sensitive skin most of the time, very occasionally almond shower oil which is very lightly fragranced. Use mildly fragranced Dove stick deodorant. Only burn soy or beeswax unscented candles. If you want to scent your home why not use dried lavender, rose petals or potted herbs, rather than synthetic stinks?

Hating nice smells just because they're artificial

That isn’t what’s happening @dummyd, the strong softener smell for example actually hurts my nose. That’s the only way to describe it. Then I can feel a stinging sensation on that piece of skin in between my nose and mouth for a long time after.

I’d probably be in agony if I went in a house with those bloody wax burner things, febreeze sofa spray, zoflo doused everywhere.

@dummyd

Who knew nice smells were so controversial! My first someone was that overpowering smells are unpleasant but people hate any smell that is noticeable which is a bit ridiculous. Hating nice smells just because they're artificial. It's ok to have aromas, it doesn't have to be masking.

Imo
Masking sweat after sport = yuck
Using soap or washing powder = fine

We're all different though!

But that is the whole point - there are plenty of us who don't think a strong scent of washing powder or fabric conditioner or spray freshener is "nice". The exact opposite.

Is this strong-smelling softener or whatever a UK-specific thing?

What I buy in the US (mostly clothes from eBay and Etsy but also secondhand shops) very occasionally smells faintly of old-fashioned dryer sheets or like someone's attic, mostly items just smell clean. I also don't smell people's clothing softener when I pass them in the street.

What I buy secondhand in the UK does often smell strongly of scented washing products and the smell rubs off on everything it touches.

I hadn't thought about it before but my kilo sale stuff doesn't smell perfumed either and I think a lot of it is shipped here from the US.

Unstoppables - one of the worst smelling culprits - are a US product introduced here.

Where I work the use of any scented products, including perfumes, bodywash, scented laundry products etc. is banned.

That is the case in most workplaces in Canada (BC).

We even had a kerfuffle at our condo over the use of washing powder as the scent was venting from the dryer.

We are told disciplinary action can be taken if you use scented products. Sone people are allergic. We notify all public who attend our building that scents are banned.

The infusion clinic I visit also has huge signs.

It can be difficult managing the issue as there are cultural issues with some groups using a lot of scent.

I still laugh about the time I told a senior employee he had to stop the scent. He denied wearing it. I just looked at him and said well, you smell very nice. He laughed and it stopped after that.

It's one of those things that can be a bit blown out of proportion but it constantly came up at Health and Safety Committee meetings.

@CounsellorTroi

I wash my clothes in laundry liquid only. Wash my body with unperfumed non lathering shower cream for dry/sensitive skin most of the time, very occasionally almond shower oil which is very lightly fragranced. Use mildly fragranced Dove stick deodorant. Only burn soy or beeswax unscented candles. If you want to scent your home why not use dried lavender, rose petals or potted herbs, rather than synthetic stinks?

I don't like the smell of lavender or rose.

I like my synthetic stinks.

@TwuntyFriend

Another who agrees with you OP. Mainly because I'm allergic to Febreeze (or something in it at the very least). I work in the reuse sector, so fully support the circular economy and buying second hand. I also hate chemical smells especially washing powders/fabric conditioners! I don't get why people use fabric conditioners at all - it ruins the clothes......

It's literally never ruined anything I have ever washed. My clothes last for years and years. I wash everything with fabric softener. Curtains, bedding, sofa cushions, dog beds. Nothing has ever been ruined because of it.

@LoveFall I wish they'd introduce that here. My previous work was an open plan office and come 5pm, especially on a Friday, every fucker would start spraying themselves down liberally with deodorant. In an office with no open windows.
Which would then give me a massive headache.

Complained to HR who told me there was nothing they could do. Also did not get the sense I was taken very seriously.
I'm glad I work from home now.

AllThingsServeTheBeam

I agree. I use lenor fabric conditioner and love the smell of my washed clothes.
It really doesn’t ruin them. Linen shirts and cotton jumpers are like cardboard without it.

I bought a non-fragranced brand one time and my clothes didn’t smell clean.

Hair drier on its coldest setting works to blow the smell off.

I bought a non-fragranced brand one time and my clothes didn’t smell clean.

But did they smell dirty?

@NinaDefoe

AllThingsServeTheBeam

I agree. I use lenor fabric conditioner and love the smell of my washed clothes.
It really doesn’t ruin them. Linen shirts and cotton jumpers are like cardboard without it.

I bought a non-fragranced brand one time and my clothes didn’t smell clean.

If I don't use fabric conditioner my clothes are almost squeaky and don't feel nice at all.

Some clothes hold the smell a lot better than others. My house cardie holds it the entire wear between washes. I love it!