Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 36, Number 4. 21st March 1973

Penis Sprays Next?

Penis Sprays Next?

Not on your life! Since men have not been subjected to an intensive and demoralising advertising campaign to convince them that they smell, they are unlikely to entertain the idea that an aerosol deodorant is necessary to keep their genitals clean and sweet.

Why then is there a demand (according to retailers, and judging by the proliferation of brands) for "intimate" sprays for women when such things did not exist until about two years ago? Mainly because of advertising. The message has been coming across strongly for years that women in their natural state smell nasty, that to be sexually attractive they must be deodorised from top to toe. Now the last bastion has been attacked, the hygeine ethic has gone too far — is the vagina really so rank?

Let's have some facts:
1. The human body, male or female, smells offensive after a period of time if unwashed — but this is easily rectified by the application of plain soap and water. However, some smell is okay, people — it's human to smell human. You shouldn't have to make like a violet to be socially acceptable.
2. Genital odour which remains after washing could be due to an infection. Spraying in an attempt to cover this could delay diagnosis and treatment.
3. Genital sprays can cause irritation and allergic reactions (very traumatic in this particular region), not only in users but sometimes in sexual partners.
4. Manufacturers put no warnings on the cans that such reactions could occur, nor do they list the ingredients of the products, one of-which is Hexachlorophene which is considered a suspect substance overseas.
5. Most important, these products and the obnoxious advertising for them are extremely degrading to women. If they sell it is only because they capitalise on women's insecurities — insecurities fostered by cunning advertisements.

Vaginal deodorants are unnecessary, they are dangerous, and they are a prime example of Demand Created by Advertising.

— Hazel Irvine