Scented or plastic-topped padsswap toUnscented organic cotton pads
Many pads put a plastic layer against your skin for hours. Cotton-topped pads put plant fibre there instead, and unscented ones skip the added fragrance.
The US Office on Women’s Health advises skipping scented pads, powders and sprays, which may raise your chances of an intimate infection. An unscented organic cotton liner skips the scent.
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Our pick
NATRACARE organic cotton mini panty liners, unscented
Period products sit against some of the most absorbent skin on the body, often for hours. A 2024 study found metals in tampons, organic ones included, and a 2026 FDA study then found almost none of them leach out. Lab tests have found VOCs and phthalates in pads, and a small 2020 study found scented pads carried far more aromatic VOCs than unscented ones. The US Office on Women’s Health says your intimate area cleans itself, and advises skipping scented pads, powders and sprays and washing the outside with warm water. These swaps follow that: a reusable cup, unscented organic cotton pads and liners, and a fragrance-free soap bar instead of a scented wash. Cups and tampons have both been linked to rare toxic shock syndrome, so follow the maker’s wear time.
