The horror of scented sanpro!

[AlpacaLypse]

Hi everyone, any chance of us starting a campaign to get manufacturers to clearly label when sanitary protection products are scented?

I know there are some women who prefer the scented product, but there seems to be many more who dislike it intensely, and indeed some who find these products irritate the skin.

At the moment, labelling seems to be very confusing, with euphemisms like 'odour control', and no ingredient list.

Currently the only way to be sure is to sniff the outside of the package, and even then if the shop is well ventilated and the plastic wrapping is thick, you may still get a nasty surprise when you get home. Not to mention peculiar looks from other people in the supermarket aisle!

Who's with me?

A couple of threads I already know about...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2670728-scented-sanitary-towels-just-why?msgid=61950383

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2678330-AIBU-to-think-Always-dont-actually-employ-women-in-their-marketing-design-teams

Yes, I would like giant neon labelling on the packs "Scented - for god's sake don't buy these, you want the other ones". They are vile, itchy and totally unnecessary.

I agree. Stopped using 'Always' as they are so smelly - now use cheaper ones own brand from Morrisons.

I have been boycotting Always too - I hate the smell - and the implication that I need cheap airfreshener in my gusset otherwise the world will be sickened by the smell I produce.

I use mainly Tesco Ultra Night towels - in the daytime too - because they have wings, so they suit my shape, and are long and comfortable. If I can't get hold of the Tesco ones, I buy Bodyform, because they are not scented either.

I live in fear of the day when the supermarkets decide to put scent in their own brand sanitary towels.

I'm in. I get horrific blisters, I'm dreading using them. I can't use tampons, and don't want to use reusables. I totally agree that clear labels would help a lot. I don't remember this being an issue though before being pregnant/breastfeeding (3-4 years ago). Is it a recent thing these scented pads?

Yes, absolutely.
If they really believe most want this then surely it doesn't matter if it's clearly labelled when it's scented?

What we need is to be able to make an informed choice and we can't when labelling is so unclear.

There also needs to be choice for those of us who don't like the scent or get thrush from it.

I'm in - no one needs to smell like a cheap glade plug-in.

I'm in too - at least if they clearly label the things 'scented' or 'non-scented' it would make them easier to avoid.

Benefits the company too, surely - if they can see how many people buy which variety, then they can can identify whether they are marketing 'to a need' or whether they are hoping to 'create a market' (i.e. the stinky ones are being bought due to no other option being available).

I'm in. They are rank, only ever bought one pack when caught out as they were the only ones in the small supermarket.
I hated them and they made me so sore, coupled with the headache inducing stench I was not happy.
At least if they're labelled I can choose.

I'm in.

If I'm on my period I don't want to advertise it to the world by walking about smelling like an air freshener or cat litter.

Really, who thinks these things up?

I am in. The scented ones smell like furniture polish and give me thrush.
I have resorted to buying maternity pads for night time use as I know they definitely won't be scented.

I'm In.

I just sniff the packers now as I don't care what strangers think and don't want to waste any more money.

I'm in.

I'm in. I have recently been using the Aldi ones, took a few months to realise why I had become red raw and itchy each time.

Count me in. I don't want to smell like a cheap air freshener.

I've twice had to chuck products because it wasn't obvious until I opened the box that they were scented.

I've used Always every month for the past 23 years and had no complaints.
Then I started being really itchy during my period and thought it was my age because I hadn't changed any products I used. Then after a few months of this I was lucky to come across a thread here about the new sented pads, and I realised what was wrong.
I had a load of packs already bought because I like different sizes, passed them on to my daughter, she found she was also allergic to them, so dumped them all and have avoided Always since.
Cheaper brands in discount stores seem to be best option now for unsented.

I'm in too. I use Asda or Sainsbury's ones and they are fine.

I react to them so won't use to them

The whole aisle at Sainsbury's stinks of it. Not pleasant.

I'm in as well. I hate scents on anything, but particularly resent being lumped in with cat litter and nappy bags.

I'm in. Agree it's so hard yo work out which are scented and which aren't (Bodyform aren't).

Agree with all of the above

I'm in!!

Yep. I have asd and sensory issues and they make my physically sick.

Im in. Cant use scented pads as they make me sore and itchy. Am using Always maxi night atm and they arent scented and work just as well. And can we ban those pads with the wipes in too please while we are at it? Tried them once never again.

I'm in too - definitely induce an itch that I don't get with unscented. I always thought they have some kind of plastic or rubber in them, as I have a latex allergy, but it must be the scent.