Gypsy Creams
FDS: Fanny Don’t Smell?
Woman's Own / 16th August 1968
Goodness me. These kinds of products are still available, of course, but I’ve never seen them get full page spreads in magazines like this. Now, I’m not going to argue that menses is the most pleasant of substances, but I can honestly say that I’ve never been able to smell when another woman is on the blob. Basic personal hygiene can normally be relied upon to avoid becoming a public menace, because, although it’s unmistakable up close, the smell doesn’t usually wander out of the crotch area.
Also, these products aren’t only not needed, they’re not good for the vaginal area either. The vagina is a clever little thing, which cleans itself, and anything that upsets the chemical balance up there can cause more problems than it claims to solve, as this article will tell you. Still, it didn’t stop the ‘Ethical-product’ division of Alberto-Culver spending time and money saving women from their FILTHY natural functions. If you were feeling sure about yourself before you read this, you probably weren’t afterwards.
Anyway, I presume FDS stands for ‘Feminine Deodorant Spray’ from the scan, rather than my hilarious guess, but are there any other suggestions?
Tags: adverts totally made of wrong, blatant sexism, dodgy advice, emotional blackmail, health, retail, social history
7 Comments
Blisschick on 16 October 2009 @ 2pm
“the smell doesn’t usually wander out of the crotch area.”
Um…yeah. Hooray.
Zagrebo on 16 October 2009 @ 7pm
I like how they discreetly tip-toe around what the product is really for (“a very personal sort of protection for a very personal problem”) then go on to somewhat shatter that approach by calling it a “vaginal deodorant” nearer the end.
Rachel on 18 October 2009 @ 10am
I’m assuming that this is the ‘Rachel’s gonna love it’ one? ;) And you were right.
This is… mindboggling. As you point out, I too, can never smell when another woman is Walking Along The Beach In Soft Focus. And afaik femfresh etc are just there to provide a more gentle clean to the area as soap/shower gel can sometimes seem a little harsh on the delicately balanced vaginal flora. Sigh.
Anyway, I would suggest ‘Fanny Deviance Shield’.
Tanya Jones on 18 October 2009 @ 10am
Scarlet magazine suggested warm water daily was enough to keep your pesky woman smells under control, but as I have a contraceptive implant, monthly menses are a thing of the past, so I can’t confirm. And I approve of ‘Fanny Deviance Shield’.
Ian Symes on 16 October 2009 @ 7am
Fadge Defence System?