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

I'm in too. The stench is revolting, the whole sanitary protection aisle generally reeks of it. No wonder they're always on special offer.

I'm in

I'm in.

Wow!

I've never actually spoken to Always about this, has anyone? I'm going to email them now. I know there are other companies making scented, but they do seem to be attracting the most negative comments on here and other threads.

I used Always for years as I thought they were the best. But I don't like the scent (doesn't make me itchy, I just don't like it). I have found that Sainsbury's, Boots and Lil Lets are unscented. I like Lil Lets the best. But I would probably continue to use Always if they didn't smell.

nearlyteatime101 if you're having problems with towels in general, Natracare do an organic / unbleached range which I've found good (very prone to eczema & other skin irritations). They're a little more expensive, but not ridiculous.

I agree with the need for clear labelling. Mostly use washables myself these days but cannot stand the stench of the cheap perfume, or the implications re. women's natural smells being unpleasant And yes, I can and do smell scented pads on other women, despite never having noticed another woman's period smell.

I'm in. I hate it when you have to buy some emergency sanpro, only to discover it's scented. But you have no choice but to use it!

I have been known to use maternity pads instead because I hate scented so much.

Okay, Procter and Gamble have been emailed... website says expect response in 24 - 72 hours.

P&G don't give a shit!!

I'm in! Hate it!

This is the wording I used. Although it hasn't actually been sent yet as I haven't ticked one of their privacy policy boxes, so we have time to add in any extra wise words that anyone can think of.

'Hi, my question is about labelling of scented products. Your website product finder seems to indicate that many of your range of towels are unscented, whereas I and a large number of friends can distinctly smell an odour about them, which becomes even more unpleasant when they are in use for their proper purpose. Notably, a search with the criterion 'non-scented' still produced Always Silk Collection Softer + Fresh - which in its product description includes the words 'same fresh scent'! Always Ultra with Acti Pearls also comes up as officially unscented. This is quite simply not our experience. The 'odour control' chemical smells like cheap airfreshener. Even more seriously, it seems to be associated with itching and rashes.

Many of us grew up trusting your brand and automatically choosing it, but we are now very suspicious of it.

Do you have any intention of labelling your products more clearly as 'scented' or 'non-scented'?

I look forward to hearing from you soon.'

I'm in. I hate the scented ones. Have used Always since I was 12 and don't any more. They stink!

Okay, since no extra comments I've sent it...

And now, we wait. while doing so?

I'm in too.

Moonlight and others, definitely while we wait! Although I do think [bed] will be in order fairly soon, it's been a bit of a busy day at AlcapaLypse Central :)

I'm in. I switched to washables and a meluna cup a few months ago due to the horrendous itching scented/absorbent pearl pads gave me every single month. I know that is not everyones cup of tea so I'm happy to support any campaign that helps other women.

I'm in as well. just labelling them properly would help enormously.
natracare is really good btw. I always --

I'm in. Full marks to Boots, on the side of their panty liners they have a box saying 'scented' and 'non-scented' with a clear tick to indicate which one.

Always have repeated just fobbed off people's complaints, or said that they have some products that aren't scented (but lots of them do contain 'acti-pearls', which DO SMELL whether they are officially the 'scented' ones or not). They have a couple of types without scent, but almost no choice at all - and no pantyliners (at least not decent length ones). I always used to use their long pantyliners, but have had to stop now and use Tesco ones - but they aren't really big enough. It's better than the revolting artificial smell though, which is obvious from miles away. It's a shame, as I used Always from when I first started, but have stopped for the last couple of years.

Yy Crochet 'acti pearls'. I have a feeling that a MNetter has already written to always about this. I'm sure I read it on one of the threads a few months ago that encouraged me to switch to washables.

I'd support this. I won't (knowingly) buy anything scented and definitely support clearer labelling in that regard.

I'm in.