This is in the US. I buy matches from Costco. The brand name is Diamond, which you can buy in other stores too. I notice that my recent batch smells less sulfurous than the previous. A change in formulation, or am I losing my sense of smell?
Wired article from 2009 detailing the ingredients: What's Inside Diamond Strike-Anywhere Matches? | WIRED
Safety Data Sheet (revised 2015) - PDF warning: http://www.gjfood.com/pdf/msds/199_862230.pdf
Thank you, but neither of those really addresses my question–the last batch of matches smelled more sulfurous than the current one, so I’m wondering why.
Unless I missed something–very possible.
If you had a box of Diamond Matches, the large size, from the 60s and could compare those to the ones they manufacture today, you would see what has happened to U.S. products across the board to “maximize profits” (once the corporate mentality took hold as a psychological disorder nationwide.)
Firstly, the box would be much heavier cardboard; serious cardboard. You held a substantial box that would not bend and was difficult to crush. On its side was a strip of fine, abrasive paper. You had to but draw the match lightly once in a long stroke and your match would flare up mightily!
Secondly, the stick would be twice as thick and almost perfectly square from tip to butt. There would be no risk whatever of a matchstick breaking unless perhaps one got through that was made from wood around a knot.
Thirdly, the head of the match was easily one third more than is found today. The white tip was almost twice as large. The red portion was significantly present. Never would you strike one of those matches (a large Diamond match) and hold it hoping the flame doesn’t sputter out as you do today.
Do they make them any worse than the worse in the box I bought more than a year ago (for hurricane emergencies)? I have no idea. I no longer view Diamond Matches as the matchless product they once were. Every time I see one I’m reminded of how chintzy everything has become that at one time was the pride of U.S. manufacturing - just to increase profit margin and award CEO’s a fat bonus.
I, today, will use any paper match from any matchbook from anywhere. 
Moderator Note
Pithily Effusive, let’s refrain from political commentary in General Questions. No warning issued, but stick to factual responses in this forum.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
I believe there are differences in matches from 50 years ago, but what I’m describing would have occurred within the last two years or so–if it is a change in formulation. Maybe I should write the company of I care so much…but the SD seems like the kind of place where someone might be up to date on match manufacturing processes.
So…corporations are political? They’re not economic facts? Interesting…concept. 
Could it have anything to do with meth production? I coincidentally re-watched an episode of Breaking Bad last night (Season 2, Ep 10) and Walt gives advice to an up and coming meth cook in a hardware store buying supplies. He says “You want matches with more phosphorus.”
I don’t know about the big boxes, but in the 1960’s even the small boxes were made of wood. They sliced off a continuous sheet from a rotating log, then sliced it up to make matches. When they got down to the heartwood, they’d set the blade for a thinner slice to make sheets that were cut and folded to make boxes.
Comparing sds information from 1993-2015 I would say no to less sulfur.
It’s always been at less than 1 percent.
It looks like two reformulation took place in that time period. One in 2012-2013 time frame.
It’s certainly possible last year’s matches were 5 yrs old from DOM
You don’t typically smell sulphur (rotten egg) from matches anyhow, it’s mostly actually sulfur dioxide which is formed from phosphorous sesquisulfide when burnt.
( along with possibly some ammonia or chlorine from other compounds)
Phosphorous sesquisulfide appears to have been dropped from the formula altogether in 2013 or at least dropped to such a low amount they could include it into the proprietary mixture instead of listing it specifically.
So I would say a drop in phosphorous sesquisulfide is most likely.
Moderating
Just stick to factual posts that answer the OP and refrain from personal commentary in General Questions. If you want to post your opinions about the decline in US manufacturing, you may do so in another forum.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
OK, thanks. I can believe that my last bulk pack might have been from a 2013 batch, and the current from a post-2013 batch.