Have you ever been strolling through a store when you come across a product that just leaves you confused? This happens more than I’d like to admit. Case in point today? A wide array of scented toilet paper options in the grocery store. At first, I though, “Oh, that’s cool. Peach-scented toilet paper that’s actually peach colored.” Normal enough, right? Nope, not really. I just don’t get it.
What’s the point of scented toilet paper? Is scented toilet paper bad for you?
You see, in France, toilet paper comes in the regular unscented variety but you also have scents like rose and peach and citrus and it is even colored in a shade that matches its scent. And people buy it. Pastel colors, red (ew) and even black exist in fresh scents that you’d never considered before.
I’m not sure if this has caught on in the U.S. to the same extent, but all I have to say is, WHY? And is scented toilet paper bad for you?
Is it to keep your hand smelling fresh after you wipe (doesn’t soap take care of that?). Will scented toilet paper keep your nether regions smelling like freshly-picked fruit after the fact? Maybe it’s to freshen up the smell of the bathroom like an air freshener? Is it just a classy way to give the illusion that we all smell wonderful when we’re on the john?
Really though, regular old toilet paper does the job just fine. I was always a fan of the soft Cottonelle stuff back home. With aloe. That seems reasonable. Besides, isn’t the perfumed stuff more likely to irritate our most sensitive skin?
Do we really need to wipe with a piece of paper that’s floral scented and will find its forever home in the toilet?
Seems like overkill and I just don’t get the point. I mean unless you’re decorating the bathroom with it in a pinch when you don’t have any air freshener. The pastel colors are pretty, but I could get by without the scent. Wiping with something that smells like peaches just seems strange. Scented toilet paper does not do the job any better than regular unscented toilet paper.
Is scented toilet paper bad for your health? I really don’t know but it sure doesn’t seem like a good idea.
Just clean yourself. And keep your bathroom clean. Do it well and there’s no need for fancy scents. That’s good enough for me. I’m a big fan of washing your hands with soap and showering often. And scented candles.
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Never, ever, heard of scented toilet paper before reading about it here. I think on my next trip to Paris I will bring it back as a souvenir for my family and friends LOL !
Hahaha, sounds like an excellent idea. Out of all the scents, the “marine” one smells pretty natural
Nope, don’t buy it. What gets to me are these toilet ‘shops’ now in the department stores. You have to pay to go (and that’s bad enough), and then they’re trying to sell you fancy toilet paper and accessories to take with you. Who buys this stuff? Tourists? “Oh look at this toilet paper? I got it in PARIS!”
Um, wha? LOL
So it’s safe to assume that Australia doesn’t have the scented stuff??
I’m pretty sure i’ve seen this in the UK.
Yes, I think it’s more popular in Europe than the US. Do you use it?
This is interesting. I was just thinking yesterday about the pastel pink and blue toilet tissue that was available back in the 1950s and wondering why no one manufactured it any more. It was not scented, however. I suppose scented toilet paper would create a pleasant fragrance in the bathroom if the scents are of good quality and not like some air fresheners.
In France, they do have pastel-colored TP that’s unscented. But you’re right, I just see white in the US.
Just one hint:
When you are seated on toilets. What is the closest thing to your eyes and nose?
Paperroll. Good looking and scented pleasingly, it changes your in toilet life (8 years of your complete life in average!)
That’s one point I hadn’t considered and makes sense for people who have toilet paper holders near their nose and not behind or out front. In France the toilet room is usually small (and separate from the sink and tub) so it makes sense that you’d want something to get rid of the odor. Thanks for offering your perspective. What’s your favorite scent?
My favorite?
Camembert, of course!
I think the States used to have that. But, it caused irritation on the lady parts, so no one makes it anymore. I wish they’d bring back the colored toilet paper. it’s so pretty.
Exactly, the irritation is what I hate most. The thought of rubbing some artificial fragrance on you know what makes me feel irritated just thinking about it!
Just looked this up because my sister used scented TP (in the US) and I had no idea it existed. Hers smells disgusting, but I’m also very sensitive to scents. I was terrified because when I looked up “sweet scented toilet paper” every single article that came up said I had diabetes!! Thank you for posting this, I finally feel sane
Well, does it have to be useful, to have sense ?? It’s just commercial, no ? I’m french but I don’t use that kind of toilet paper, much more expensive than the regular one. Sometimes at friends’s I’ve see some original paper, but rarely. I’m surprised that you’re surprised, because colored/perfumed toiled paper is a ‘kitsch’ product, founded is ‘kitsh’ toilet rooms and I’d have though it could be very american. Sorry, it seems completely wrong !
Well I think it makes sense as an air freshener and convinces consumers that there’s a need to freshen up stinky bathrooms. Someone above said it was popular in the 50s but since that was well before my time, it was new to me and something I’d never seen until I moved to France!
Yes, they have it in Australia, have done for about 10 years, mostly lavender.
Do you buy the lavender stuff? Is it actually purple in color or just scented like lavender (but white)?
DO NOT BUY! Scented toilet paper is not common in the U.S but we have it and I accidentally bought it once and it gave me a YEAST INFECTION, because of the harsh chemicals they use in it. It also didn’t even make the bathroom smell good or anything, useless.