# Feminine hygene products - package design
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 7, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650 "2004-04-07T00:03:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/41 "2004-04-08T17:06:42Z")
Sounds logical to me! Where else would you find “under-leg” deoderant? 😃
In his book **From the Wonderful People Who Brought You Pearl Harbor,** Jerry Della Femina describes the problems the ad agencies had when Feminine Hygiene sprays were first introduced. Very funny stuff.
---
### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/42 "2004-04-08T21:41:41Z")
My ex husband and I used to work for a natural-foods distributor who also carried a lot of general merchandise geared toward the “natural” consumer. He worked in Customer service as one of the few men in the department. One day he told me that he had gotten an order from a store and one of the items on the list had a description of “Digital tampons”. No Einstein, my ex, but even he knew that the idea of digital tampons was beyond bizarre and asked one of the women in the department what they were. She just laughed and held her fingers (or digits) up at him.
I think the episode ruined him for life. 😃
---
### Author:  [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/43 "2004-04-08T22:14:45Z")
> [@ReverseCowgirl](#):
>
> Here is another article about the menstrual taboo in orthodox judaism. While it is a slight hijack, it is darn interesting.
It was an interesting–and germane–article, **ReverseCowgirl** , but reprinting the entire thing edges over into a violation of Fair Use.
If you would provide a link to it that would be fine.
TVeblen,
IMHO mod
---
### Author:  [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/44 "2004-04-09T00:55:36Z")
I’m another who would prefer women wrap these things when they throw them away in public. I always do-hello, germs? (Irrational, maybe, but it’s the same as flushing after you take a dump. I don’t want to SEE shit everywhere).
Scented pads/tampons and sprays-I was always told that they’re unhealthy and can lead to infections. True?
---
### Author:  [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/45 "2004-04-09T01:10:56Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> I’m another who would prefer women wrap these things when they throw them away in public. I always do-hello, germs? (Irrational, maybe, but it’s the same as flushing after you take a dump. I don’t want to SEE shit everywhere).
>
> Scented pads/tampons and sprays-I was always told that they’re unhealthy and can lead to infections. True?
I agree… I mean it doesn’t take more than five seconds to wrap the thing, and while the janitor may be used to look at it, I certainly don’t have any desire to, and I agree… Germs - ew.
I use scented products and haven’t had an issue so far. FWIW.
---
### Author:  [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/46 "2004-04-09T01:24:38Z")
Not entirely on topic: I was using the employee restroom at an AM/PM and happened to glance behind the toilet to a small shelf of, erm, personal monthly-use items. One of the boxes there was someone’s tampons, with an image of a floating sea-green ribbon that said _mini_ in a delicate italic font.
I promptly mis-read it—not surprising, given the color of the packaging—as MINT.
Ewww, I thought. They make flavored tampons? Who knew? 😕
---
### Author:  [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/47 "2004-04-09T01:33:24Z")
> [@RindaRinda](#):
>
> I like OB’s approach - designed by women for women, so they’re more comfortable (their shape is, IMO, far superior to other brands), kinda “let’s be comfortable with our bodies” kind of thing.
Oh, sure it makes good ad copy, but I swear the woman gynecologist who designed them must have been a self-hating transgenderd bitch who needed to market a big-selling product so she could pay to have outdoor plumbing installed.
I tried them one month when I was in my teens. Once was more than enough. I have always had to deal with cramps anyway, and OB tampons made them ten times worse. More yet, on days when I wasn’t cramping, once I had used an OB, I sure the hell would be. The reason was easy to see, when I removed the accursed object from the nether regions of my personal universe. When filled with fluid, OB tampons swell up to the size of Arnold Schwartzenegger’s biceps (mind you, this was back in the days when he was using steroids).
Didn’t finish the package, never bought them again. I actually very seldom use tampons these days, because of the cramp aggravation factor, but OB multiplied my cramps geometrically.
---
### Author:  [@RindaRinda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RindaRinda)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/48 "2004-04-09T02:25:29Z")
> [@Thea Logica](#):
>
> Oh, sure it makes good ad copy, but I swear the woman gynecologist who designed them must have been a self-hating transgenderd bitch who needed to market a big-selling product so she could pay to have outdoor plumbing installed.
Geez.
I didn’t think it was a big selling product, anyway. The applicator types seem to be bigger sellers. I have granola tendencies, so I try to minimize the stuff I need to throw away.
> [@](#):
>
> Filled with fluid, OB tampons swell up to the size of Arnold Schwartzenegger’s biceps (mind you, this was back in the days when he was using steroids).
They do? Not in my experience, but I don’t use the super ones, nor do I have a heavy flow.
Anyway, their shape (which is kinda umbrella-like) makes more sense than the long, thin tampax shape.
---
### Author:  [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/49 "2004-04-09T04:54:15Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#):
>
> I’m another who would prefer women wrap these things when they throw them away in public. I always do-hello, germs? (Irrational, maybe, but it’s the same as flushing after you take a dump. I don’t want to SEE shit everywhere).
>
> Scented pads/tampons and sprays-I was always told that they’re unhealthy and can lead to infections. True?
In my case, absolutely. The only two times I’ve ever gotten a yeast infection was when I tried “deodorant” fem products - once out of curiosity, once faute de mieux. Never again.
And as an aside, I agree with the germ-thing. Wrapping-up is merely consideration of the people, male or female, who are paid to clean up after you. If I cleaned bathrooms for a living, I wouldn’t be thrilled about delving into every other woman’s leavings.
---
### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/50 "2004-04-09T05:12:07Z")
We recently put in new bathrooms in my work place. It was a strange experience having to explain to my male boss that we needed to install trash cans in the stalls, not just near the sinks. I was trying to be as tactful as possible in my explanation, saying that sometimes women wanted to dispose of things while they were in the stall, rather than carry them out into the sink area. For a long moment, he didn’t catch my meaning, and then his face changed as he caught my drift.
Unfortunately, he only put trash cans in half of the stalls. When I questioned him on it, he said that women who knew they might have to dispose of something would look to see if there was a trash can in the stall before they entered. I disagreed, but he was not convinced.
Thus far, there has not been a problem. (I know I don’t look for a trash can-- I assume there will be one. Have you ladies ever been in a public bathroom that didn’t have a trash can in the stall?) I fear that eventually, I will either find things tucked behind the toilet, or the plumbing will be clogged.
---
### Author:  [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/51 "2004-04-09T05:31:01Z")
In the movie “Suits” there was a commercial for a sanitary napkin that boasted increased air flow or something like that; the commercial had live footage of Air Supply and had the tagline: “Your Own Personal Air Supply” It was pretty funny.
---
### Author:  [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/52 "2004-04-09T05:39:32Z")
Don’t you guys have those chemical disposal units in every public and workplace loo?
Worrying about where to put a pad if I was at someones house is one of the many reasons I don’t use them. Yay for flushable tampons.
---
### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/53 "2004-04-09T05:41:30Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#):
>
> Don’t you guys have those chemical disposal units in every public and workplace loo?
What? I’ve never even heard of such a thing. What are they? What do they do? How do they work?
---
### Author:  [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/54 "2004-04-09T05:44:04Z")
Oh and we must just like stinky down here because I had a (quick) check at the supermarket and couldn’t find any pussy destinker or deoderised tampons.
When visiting NZ bring peg for nose or our stinky girly bits might offend you.
maybe that’s why they call as sheep shaggers…the sheep smell better. I had to put that in just to beat any smartarse to the punch.
---
### Author:  [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/55 "2004-04-09T05:46:35Z")
> [@Lissa](#):
>
> What? I’ve never even heard of such a thing. What are they? What do they do? How do they work?
Just like a little rubbish bin that sits next to every loo. It has a little trap door where you put the ummmm used stuff. Thet have big stickers all over them telling cleaners they are not to be emptied and are chemical disposal units. What the chemical are I do not know.
---
### Author:  [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/56 "2004-04-09T05:55:07Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#):
>
> Just like a little rubbish bin that sits next to every loo. It has a little trap door where you put the ummmm used stuff. Thet have big stickers all over them telling cleaners they are not to be emptied and are chemical disposal units. What the chemical are I do not know.
I found this link to one of the companies that supply them. [http://www.ralenti.co.nz/products/nzts004.html](http://www.ralenti.co.nz/products/nzts004.html)
---
### Author:  [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/57 "2004-04-09T07:31:09Z")
> [@Lissa](#):
>
> We recently put in new bathrooms in my work place. It was a strange experience having to explain to my male boss that we needed to install trash cans in the stalls, not just near the sinks. I was trying to be as tactful as possible in my explanation, saying that sometimes women wanted to dispose of things while they were in the stall, rather than carry them out into the sink area. For a long moment, he didn’t catch my meaning, and then his face changed as he caught my drift.
>
> Unfortunately, he only put trash cans in half of the stalls. When I questioned him on it, he said that women who knew they might have to dispose of something would look to see if there was a trash can in the stall before they entered. I disagreed, but he was not convinced.
>
> Thus far, there has not been a problem. (I know I don’t look for a trash can-- I assume there will be one. Have you ladies ever been in a public bathroom that didn’t have a trash can in the stall?) I fear that eventually, I will either find things tucked behind the toilet, or the plumbing will be clogged.
Man, whadda cheapskate! I predict he’s going to end up paying more than he possibly could have saved in plumber’s costs!
I wouldn’t think to look for a trashcan. I’ve been getting my period for quite some time, so I don’t think about the fact that I have it every time I go to the bathroom. That’s usually when you discover - ruh-roh!- time to take care of business.
You’re so tactful, Lissa! I would have been like, “Uh, women need somewhere to put bloody used tampons, champ!” 😃
---
### Author:  [@SparrowHawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SparrowHawk)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/58 "2004-04-09T07:42:12Z")
> [@Lissa](#):
>
> (I know I don’t look for a trash can-- I assume there will be one. Have you ladies ever been in a public bathroom that didn’t have a trash can in the stall?) I fear that eventually, I will either find things tucked behind the toilet, or the plumbing will be clogged.
Yeah, the college I go to doesn’t bother with them. Another good reason to wrap the goods well before disposing of them, since I would never tuck or flush, but carry them out to the main waste receptacle. I try to be civilized, even if they aren’t.
---
### Author:  [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/59 "2004-04-09T10:53:03Z")
Yep, restaurants, public buildings, colleges etc, all have those Rentokil bins with the flip lid, so I never wrap for them. At home, of course, it’s different, irishfella takes out the trash, so I don’t want him to have the vapours.
I remember When I was a teenager and our friend was having a party, He lived with his dad, so unfortunately there was no bin in the loo. I say unfortunately, because it was a sleep-over, and 3 of my friends and I (synchronicity between girlfriends) were forced to keep running to the kitchen palming used products.
All men, even single men, or all male households, should have a rubbish bin in the bathroom. It’s just considerate.
Here, Kotex have a white and red packaging, with lipstick on the tampons, a red candle and a mirror compact on the pads, and a red thong on the pantie liners. Eye catching and distinctive. Thus if irishfella is ever forced to buy me stuff, I can tell him to get me the one with the lipstick/thong/candle on it, even though it’s not the brand I usually buy.
He bought me a packet of Always night pads instead of some applicator free Lilets once. He thought the Lilet box was too small, and couldn’t be the right thing, and I’d get better “value for money” with some heavy duty pads. Men.
---
### Author:  [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)
#### Post date: [April 9, 2004, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650/60 "2004-04-09T11:08:35Z")
Tut-tut to anybody who flushes tampons. They don’t disolve (they’d not work very well if they did!) - they have to be filtered out at the sewage works. And come on, compared to toilet cleaners, those guys _really_ have a bad enough job without it being made any worse.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650.md?page=2)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-hygene-products-package-design/238650.md?page=4)