rcd@opus.UUCP (03/09/84)
I'm looking for reactions, experience, etc. on something that periodically
gets me furious: the grand American practice of putting cheap perfume in
damn near everything.
One of my particular problem areas is that I brew my own beer. The hardest
part of good brewing is keeping everything clean. I used to use Dow
"bathroom cleaner" for cleaning out the kitchen sink so that I had a clean
place to start cleaning up the equipment. No more; it now has a cheap
scent added that takes forever to rinse away. I used to use standard old
Parson's ammonia to remove labels from bottles I wanted to reuse. No more;
it now has a cheap scent added that I can't get out of the bottles. I used
to use Arm & Hammer washing soda for the stubborn bottle-cleaning. No
more; you guessed it, it's now "IMPROVED!!" The last one here is the most
ridiculous - how does one "improve" sodium carbonate?!@#$&*^@!!!!
Another example: I happen to sunburn very easily, so to me the PABA-based
sunscreens are a godsend BUT I have to go through an entire display of
perhaps two dozen products to find one (if I'm lucky) that doesn't leave
me smelling like I just stepped out of a cheap whorehouse! (Most also
leave me feeling like I've been basted with pork fat, but that's another
matter.)
And to me, the extreme is scented toilet paper! Come on, there are some
smells that no amount of perfume can cover...
I understand that there are people who are allergic to these perfumes and
that this creates a fairly serious problem.
Is there any sort of organized attack on the silly use of perfumes in
everything? The only solution I've found, which works for some types of
products, is to buy the "generic" or "house brand" products, which usually
don't bother with scents.
I also find it galling that the scents are not only unnecessary but very
persistent and poor quality - it ain't Chanel No 5 you smell.
Oooooff! Should I have sent this to net.flame instead? Anyway, I'd like
to hear some other responses on this nonscents.
--
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcdesr@iheds.UUCP (E. Rieback) (03/10/84)
Being very sensitive perfume scents, I agree wholeheartedly about
the stupidity of adding perfumes to household products. The ones that
irritate me the most are tissues (Puffs are the worst offenders),
detergents, and fabric softeners (the ads may claim to make your
clothes smell "April Fresh", but I call it nauseating).
The scents in cleaning products are not only unnecessary, but
downright dangerous. Crystal toilet bowl cleaners like Vanish have
a too-pleasant, mint candy smell that might easily convince small
children to taste the stuff!
So I say "Down with perfumed household products!" Not only would
unscented products be more pleasant to use, but they'd probably cost
less, too!
E. Rieback
mauney@ncsu.UUCP (Jon Mauney) (03/12/84)
Hear, hear! Down with perfume!
Fortunately, some manufacturers realize that not everyone likes scented
products, so it is possible to vote with one's dollars:
When we moved to Raleigh, we could find only one grocery store that
carried our favorite toilet paper -- Northern, which is odorless,
in white. We went to that store whenever we needed TP.
(Now other stores have it too)
Bounce fabric softener now comes in unscented. They don't even
charge more for this privilege!
Tell your local store manager you prefer non-stinky products. If enough
people do it, they'll think it's a movement, and friends, that's what it
is ...
--
_Doctor_ Jon Mauney, mcnc!ncsu!mauney
\__Mu__/ North Carolina State University