I for won do not understand the current trend towards "scent" laundering

[NotHardly]

Was it not a trend for the last 20+ years that "perfuming or over-perfuming sh*t" would cause problems for breathing, asthma , and other related illnesses?
Have they lost their ever loving minds or simply stupid regarding other folks sensibilities? Asking for a friend who hates man/woman over powering perform sh*t?

[yorkster]

2. I even like some perfumes, but can't stand

the strong smell of some dryer sheets and laundry detergent.

It has been a thing forever and I wish it would disappear.
Haven't worn perfume for several years, but always used it very sparingly.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Especially Gain

Overpowering scent.
I worked on projects with P&G and knew that Gain was regional. The south loved it, even over Tide. The rest of the country was Tide; maybe Cheer for the slightly lower cost.
Now, they've managed to market the Gain scent nationwide that there are mon-laundry products with that scent.
I don't like it at all.
I'm not nuts about fabric softener sheet fragrances either.
Funny thing is, I worked on a project early in my career to optimize the average molecular weight (blend of amine chain lengths) of the active ingredient for, you guessed it, fabric softener sheets! I won't even use them.

[diane in sf]

3. I absolutely hate that toxic shit.

[Mz Pip]

4. I hate scented detergent.

What’s the point? And most of the fragrances are just nasty.

[stopdiggin]

5. chill, man. while you are entitled to your personal preference and/or aversion ...

It's also undeniably true that human beings have been 'scenting' their persons, their attire, their surroundings, their ceremonies, food and drink ... Pretty much since - forever.

Yes, there are extremes (aren't there always?) - and no one is wishing an asthma attack or anaphylactic shock on you or anyone else. But, still ... A little light fragrance on a bar of soap, dish washing liquid - laundry detergent - or the little doohickey hanging from the mirror in your car. Is neither new - or particularly subversive. And those that are not particular fans - are (in general) expected to put up with the lifestyle and preferences of others.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[jmbar2]

9. Actually, about 30% of the population ihas adverse health effects or irritation from scented products.

That's why scents are generally banned in clinics, hospitals, theaters, schools, courtrooms, and offices.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4627866/
https://www.portland.gov/officeofequity/disability/fragrance-free-spaces

I was unable to live in my apartment due to excessive use of aromatherapy by a neighbor. I developed health issues that worsened over several years of exposure until it became unbearable. Had to sleep in my car for about a year until I could find a scent-free place to move. I no longer have the symptoms where I live now.

it can literally destroy people's lives.

[stopdiggin]

13. Bullshit. Sorry for your (individual) difficulties

But to frame dish washing liquid (and underarm deodorant) as a global crisis cause major health difficulties .... Not only not buying it - but it literally screams hyperbole.

Like I said - we literally evolved adding 'scent' to our lives - (while gain both esthetic and practical benefit .. ).
( Now queue the people that are going to explain how fundamentally different using sage - or patchouli - in a healing ceremony - or lemon blossom and lavender in washing one's hair ... The cedar chips in the clothes press and closet - lavender sachet in the sock drawer ... Because 'natural chemicals' verses 'man made' ... Yeah, right ... )

[jmbar2]

18. That was a big leap to dishwashing liquid and deodorant...

Seems kind of hyperbolic.

[stopdiggin]

19. the OP is literal a rant against scented laundry detergent

(and other 'power performs' ?)
it really is no leap at all.

[CTyankee]

24. my guess is that the OP has greater sensitivity to scented stuff than we do.

It's OK to tell us and blow off a bit of steam about it. I guess I might do that too, if I were similarly affected. Or maybe I just don't get out that much.

[Ms. Toad]

31. I have literally never been to a clinic, school, hospital, theater, or office

Which bans scents.

I have many friends who are sensitive, so it is something I encounter regularly - so it isn't that I am oblivious to the concept. The only place I go regularly which is fragrance-free is a week-long gathering which takes place on a different college campus each year. None of these schools are fragrance-free before we arrive, and all return to their fragranced state when we leave. One of the jobs is the advance team is to distribute fragrance-free soap to all bathrooms in the portion of the campus we are in using, and to remove the fragranced soaps - it if they can't be removed to post signs that remind members of the community not to use them.

Off the top of my head, I can name 8 states from coast to coast where we've been, so it isn't just that my state doesn't ban fragrances in its schools.

[bamagal62]

6. I buy unscented everything.

Scented things break me out. Plus, I’m a super smeller. So, perfumes/scents overwhelm me.

[Bev54]

7. Agree completely, from someone who is allergic to many cheap perfumes and colognes.

It is really difficult sometimes as they wear so much it lingers after they are long gone. I can't even go into some drug stores as they make you walk through the cosmetic section to get to the rest of the store.

[Morbius]

8. It's kind of pricey, too.

I think it's just another way to separate fools from their money. It isn't necessary. Clothes that are clean don't smell bad. Clothes that aren't clean aren't going to smell nice no matter how much one spends on washing additives.

[Ms. Toad]

29. Actually, you have to pay more for unscented products.

I'm in a community that is attentive to scents once a year, so I have to have supplies for the week that are fragrance- and scent-masking-free. Those products are considerably more expensive than what I normally use.

Same with unbleached flour.

They charge you more not to add the extra ingredient or take the extra step.

[Marie Marie]

10. I stand in the laundry aisle and open every type of product I want to buy and smell it.

I do like a scent IF it is fresh smelling, faint, subtle and not overpowering. Some products even have a "meter" with scent strength printed on the box.

[summer_in_TX]

11. We have lots of chemically sensitive people in our community because it wasn't used for farming.

So it never had fertilizers or pesticides applied. Our friend Patsy moved here from Houston after she became ill from the petrochemicals so prevalent in Houston (her husband was in the oil and gas industry). Once she got well enough to do so, she joined our church and became active in it.

A lovely, brilliant human being. We learned so much about what before was routine. Perfumes were out, although essential oils were okay. But I didn't care enough about it to risk it for her. We learned to hang our dry cleaning out to air for days before we wore it anywhere around her, and to use unscented laundry detergent as well as organic household cleaners. We switched to using white vinegar for the most part.

Once we got used to paying attention to chemical odors, I realized that I myself would instantly switch from feeling in tip top shape to not feeling great in the presence of certain chemicals. Patsy has been gone some twenty years, but we have never resumed using anything that could be toxic.

Our church built an enclosed room with a separate air system when we built our new sanctuary so that others would be able to come to services without being exposed to harmful chemicals. Those who come can be safe and see and hear everything through floor to ceiling glass walls.

[jmbar2]

17. Wow - what a wonderful church to construct such a safe space

I lived most of my life in Houston. Maybe that had something to do with my later sensitivities as well.

[Rhiannon12866]

12. I have asthma and when my mother went out someplace special, she always wore perfume

So if I rode in the car with her it affected me a lot.

[James48]

14. I'm very sensitive to scents

I was in a hotel yesterday. I think they use some kind of scented powder on the carpeting. It’s so strong I can TASTE the scent of that kind of perfumed scent.

If it is strong, I gag really bad. Even had to have special care with scented talcum or body powder.

[Intractable]

15. I was allergic to my fifth grade teacher.

It was the perfume.

In my retirement community, at the "shows," there's always someone in the audience with too much perfume.

That's one reason I stopped going. The other reason is that they are never any good!

[CTyankee]

16. Remember sachet? It was put in with your clothes in a drawer. Nice, light scent, not overdone....

[milestogo]

20. Scented garbage bags are the worst.

I don't want my garbage to smell at all.

[jmowreader]

21. "Scent" laundering has a very long history

Back in the day, adding lavender to your rinse water was considered the height of luxury.

[Nittersing]

22. I don't have sensitivities, nor am I a "super-smeller"

but just walking down the detergent aisle, it's overpowering. And now, in our store, you have to wait around for a clerk to come and unlock it.

[Polybius]

23. Has something changed?

I notice no difference. Do Gen Z's use more?

[Irish_Dem]

26. I agree, for people with allergies it can become unbearable and detrimental to their health.

I bought some scented laundry soap and garbage bags by mistake.
And had to give them away.
They were making me ill.

[ProfessorGAC]

27. What Trend Are You Talking About?

There have been unscented variants of household products since early in my career, so we're talking over 40 years.
But, the vast majority of those products have been scented.
Some more than others; even to the point of objectionable.
But, there was no "trend" in industry to eliminate fragrances for health issues.
In fact, there's questionable science behind the claims in your OP.
Most fragrances have an olfactory thresholds far below the level that pose a health risk to all but a tiny fraction of the population.
There's a difference between annoying & irritating, and an even bigger difference between irritating & health risk.
You don't like too much fragrance? I get it. I'm not nuts about most of them myself.
But, your reasons seem misplaced & your making claims that just aren't accurate.

[Ziggysmom]

28. Wool dryer balls are awesome and work better for me than dryer sheets with no odor, static

and less wrinkling. To each his own 😊. I do like a natural lavender scent but don’t like Gain or detergent scents.

[hvn_nbr_2]

30. Off topic but tangential: scented and flavored dental floss

Why in the world does dental floss have to have mint flavor? I floss to get stuff out of my mouth, not to put flavors into my mouth.

[QED]

32. I had a bad skin reaction to scented dryer sheets.

Since then, I use unscented detergent and fabric softener. I was using white vinegar as a fabric softener - not sure why I stopped using it. It worked fine and is inexpensive. I also use unscented soaps and lotions.