Thursday, December 15, 2005

What's that smell?

Recently, LBCG and I had a conversation about deodorant tampons and other deodorant hygiene products. Neither of us are exactly sure what the point of them is.
tampons
Why is it necessary to try to deodorize something that isn't deodorizable. It's not like deodorizing your garbage disposal; you can't just put a lemon up there and expect it to suddenly be all fresh. You're expelling menstrual blood for God's sake. You can't put a scented piece of cotton up there to suck it up and expect it to smell like spring breezes.

Why and how has our society successfully convinced women that they smell bad? Who decided that when a man is smelly he's "manly" and a woman is just, well, stinky and needs deodorizing? Are you aware of how many deodorizing products there are on the market for women?
Anti-perspirant
Deodorant
Deodorant soap
Body Wash
Body Splash
Scented lotion
Cologne
Perfume
Scented panty liners
Scented pads
Scented tampons
Scented body powder
Feminine Deodorant Spray
Scented Feminine Wipes
Scented toilet paper
DOUCHES

Just to name a few.
Do we really smell THAT bad? Come on, our ancestors barely ever bathed; I can only imagine what an improvement soap and water has made, isn't all of this overkill?

Do women's coochies (stole that word from Sarcastic Journalist,) smell bad?
Well, my limited experience has been a big, NO, they don't, and I really don't understand why we try to tell them that their coochies DO smell bad.
The coochie is made to be "self-cleaning," (like an oven, only different,) and part of it's cleaning process is the menstrual cycle; why screw with that process by irritating it with a scented tampon? Now don't get me wrong, I think it's a good thing to spray out that area once in awhile and give it good once over; you certainly don't want your lover finding toilet paper curlys on you in the heat of passion. But let's lay off making women think that they have to practically exterminate the area in order for them to smell acceptable. Most women smell just fine just as they are. And really people, if you are comfortable enough with someone putting their face in your pussy while you're having your period, I'm sure you (and they,) don't really give a damn how you smell.

Oh, and one final question...
Who buys deodorant tampons on eBay?

26 Comments:

Blogger pack of 2 said...

do you remember that when we lived together...I got the lecture about wearing deod. tampons? You are the reason I no longer wear them.

I never really gave it any thought before our conversation. I think you told me that they increase the chances for yeast infections...that is really why I decided to stop using them.

I agree...punanies don't smell bad:)

S

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:33:00 PM  
Blogger Kathryn said...

Well Woo, I'm glad that I've had a postive influence on your life!!!

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:37:00 PM  
Blogger Gregg said...

I came across your blog while flipping through random blogs. It usually take about 25 clicks to find a good one, but I found yours on the first try. I am really glad I did. Your postings are a hoot!! Hope you don't mind, but I put a link to your site from my most recent posting. I thought my readers would enjoy your wit.

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:40:00 PM  
Blogger Kami said...

Uuuuummmmmm, wow. I just had not thought about this before. I can say, though, that I have never bought tampons on eBay. :)

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:42:00 PM  
Blogger Chickie said...

I think the strawberry scented douches are the most ridiculous things in the world! It's not supposed to smell like a fruit!

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:47:00 PM  
Blogger Kate Giovinco Photography said...

I have never understood the scented tampons. And to top it off they STINK!

I have also never purchased Tampons on ebay and at 45.00 for a box you better believe I definitly wont be in the future!

Thursday, December 15, 2005 7:53:00 PM  
Blogger S said...

I once saw sceneted suppositories in the grocery store. You put this thing up your butt and then it smelled like roses.

I don't need my coochie smelling like popurri, thank you very much.

Thursday, December 15, 2005 8:28:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This post is so funny but sooooooooooooo true! Why are /women/ the smelly ones? Damn if I haven't met so many men who could have used some flowery scent (and not just on his so-called 'manhood'....that would be his SUV or sports car, right?). And do you remember when they used to call it "feminine protection"? LMFAO! I always wondered why I never found a Glock 9mm or a good taser in that section....Yes, women, need protection from their own bodily fluids! of course, the men who made that stoopid marketing decision are the same ones who now legislate what we can do with our own bodies, but I digress....

Just before the glorious endometrial ablation almost two years ago (yes...I get to say my last period was April 2003- YAY!!!), I found Instead soft cups (www.softcup.com). Those things are fantastic! They're totally unscented and so far not associated with any pelvic inflammatory disease. Easy to insert, they last way longer than a tampon or pad ever thought about, and because the menstrual fluid isn't exposed to the air, my coochie didn't smell (I must be a prude or something....my coochiness was most unpleasant during my period...otherwise, quite the pleasant coochie). So here is my unpaid testimonial for Instead soft cups....try it, you'll love it.

Tampons on e-bay? I've seen it all.

Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh, wait - I guess I meant to refer to toxic shock syndrome - not pelvic inflammatory disease. oopsie.

Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:04:00 PM  
Blogger Kathryn said...

Gregg: Sure, sure, link away.

Chickie: Strawberry scent? Oh my.

Kami: You never thought about how your coochie smells?

Flutter: I've never smelt them or used them, I take your word for it!

D: I'm wondering why you were searching eBay for tampons and Today sponges. Speaking of smelly; those Today sponges used to smell to high heaven after they were used and they'd been in the coochie for awhile.

SJ: Rose smelling butt, hmmmm. That's a whole other blog post; maybe you should take a stab at that one.

Little Sister: I've heard of those things but I've never seen them. I'll check it out.

Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:17:00 PM  
Blogger Deadly Female said...

Oh I think we have something similar to that softcup over here - we call it a mooncup. Been meaning to get one for a long while.
Oh and I almost choked on my jaffa cake at this post - so comical! xx

Thursday, December 15, 2005 11:54:00 PM  
Blogger MilkMaid said...

Ok...so....hmm....

Well.

Um.

All I can think of is that we need a peachka (coochie) scented hanger for our rearview mirrors. REVOLT I say! And they should all be in the shape of a tampon. Take THAT society. Plebt!

LOL!!!

Great post, you are funny.

And I agree with the "glorious endometrial ablation" ....best time I've ever spent in the hospital.

Friday, December 16, 2005 5:59:00 AM  
Blogger Kami said...

No, no, no. I never stood there in the aisle, debating between the plain and the scented tampons. I just grab whatever. ;) You crack me up.

Friday, December 16, 2005 7:45:00 AM  
Blogger Pissy Britches said...

This is so TRUE. I have always felt like just b/c I am a female thta every damn part of everything has to smell pretty. I sure don't think my coochie smells bad and Mr. Pissy doesn't either but let me tell you. When Mr. Pissy sweats..that is some stinky shit.
BLAH. I hate the smell of pitt sweat. It is the worst.

Friday, December 16, 2005 9:04:00 AM  
Blogger Caroline said...

I had never had such a deep thought about tampons, until I read your post. As far as how a woman smells. I used to think it was bad (I think I was taught that), but now I really appreciate everything about women's bodies.

Friday, December 16, 2005 9:22:00 AM  
Blogger eyes_only4him said...

I agree with ya..they seel all kinds of shit to make us smell good and they let men go all willy nilly with their oder..

For Gods sake, men stick their hands into thier crotches countelss times in a day, so thier oder lingers all over themsleves..if u ask me..

men need to douche..

Im just sayin;)

Friday, December 16, 2005 3:55:00 PM  
Blogger krazyrabbit said...

Here's is an interesting site http://www.mum.org/Odor.htm that has info about menstural odors, including an nice quote:

In 18th century France, menses was considered to be 'impregnated with subtle vapors transmitted by the essence of life.' These were particularly seducing, as a woman was 'dispersing seductive effluvia' and 'making an appeal for fertilization.' Thus, societies have celebrated the seductive aroma of menstruation, rather than stifled [it].

I am having an "glorious endometrial ablation" next month - can't wait!

Friday, December 16, 2005 7:58:00 PM  
Blogger Elizabeth said...

I have not read all the comments but all I know is those damn things are not good for you. My gyno is adament - NOTHING SCENTED OR OTHERWISE. She echoed your sentiment about it being a self-cleaning entity. Leave it alone - just practice good hygiene.

Saturday, December 17, 2005 7:29:00 AM  
Blogger Zoe said...

I find that bathing daily usually takes care of me. Did you know douches are actually bad for you?

The cervix opens- naturally yet the uterus is not a closed and self-contained entity... douche water(??) can pass through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity leading to all kinds of problems- and I think even PID.

I have a love/hate relationship with tampons. I love not having to wear a yucky pad against my tender skin (and no, I don't want to look like a female sasquatch or would that be sascootch?)...ahem... where was I?

I've heard often the evilness of tampons and shoving BLEACHED cotton-based products up into such tender skin- and I've heard that the product residues from bleaching the cotton may actually lead you to bleed MORE>>... that way you buy more tampons and bleed more... and it's a vicious cycle.

I think that Tampax, Playtex, etc... are in line with big tobacco industry, personally.

I've used with varying success the instead cup- I love the idea and am okay enough with my own anatomy to use it just fine (although messy at times) but unfortunately you can't use instead if you have an iud.

Oh woe is me.

Saturday, December 17, 2005 11:51:00 AM  
Blogger Tammy said...

Scented Tampons on Ebay? That's a new one.

Being a woman can be soo cool. If only men could self clean their parts. Their lucky to manually clean their parts!

Amen, sister.

Saturday, December 17, 2005 3:19:00 PM  
Blogger JaG said...

I'm with you all the way! Women do NOT smell bad.

Saturday, December 17, 2005 5:39:00 PM  
Blogger Michele in Michigan said...

Who buys tampons on ebay? from her? nobody! She charges $15 for shipping!!! Oh, and right in line with this post is her name--lovemymiffy hehehehe

;)

Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:39:00 PM  
Blogger Random and Odd said...

I accidently bought a box and I hate it. There is no way to make a tampon smell like anything other than a 'scented tampon'. They have the funkiest smell in the world.
People who have lost their sense of smell can smell them!

I will only wear the normal ones until Febreeze comes out with a tampon.

I might have a Febreeze addiction...maybe.okay.i.do.

Sunday, December 18, 2005 9:46:00 AM  
Blogger Trop said...

Well said! I love the natural scent of a woman, and that sweet musky smell of an aroused woman especially!

Monday, December 19, 2005 8:16:00 AM  
Blogger goblinbox said...

I can't imagine the peachfish really wants to have all those added chemicals, either. Douches, scented tampons, all that crap can't be good for an otherwise intelligent and as you mentioned self-cleaning organ.

One thing about smell, though: diet makes a difference. Junk food and coffee do the same thing to the cooch that they do to the armpits. (Anecdotally, a guy told me once that as far as cooch goes it was his experience that vegetarians smelled better than meat eaters.)

Tuesday, December 20, 2005 5:49:00 PM  
Blogger Orbilia said...

A similar conversation on my Facebook made me go looking for the why.... and led me here. Loving the blog!

Interestingly the Tampax site DOES advise not to use scented bath stuff or deodorizers in order to minimise the risk of Thrush.... so Tampax, it's okay to shove perfume up yer bits but not to bathe them in it??? come on, get real!

Monday, September 05, 2011 2:51:00 AM  

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