New Breast Cancer Perfume Stinks

on July 19, 2011 at 11:00 AM

$35; Kohls.com One would think any product to benefit breast cancer research would be a good thing, but a new perfume from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is causing a big stink. The scent, named "Promise Me," is expected to raise at least $1 million for breast cancer research. What could possibly be wrong with that?

The fact that it's perfume. Perfumes and scented products are known to make chemotherapy patients nauseated, not to mention the fact that studies have shown a link between chemicals in perfumes and breast cancer. Naturally, breast cancer survivors are seeing red when it comes to this pink product.

Lani Horn, who writes chemobabe.com, shared her outrage with USA Today.

"There have been a lot of signals that Komen has lost touch with its core constituency. But this felt like a personal insult."

Indeed, it does seem a little like raising money for alcoholism research by selling beer, or hawking cookies and baked goods to fund obesity research. While assumedly well-intended, it just doesn't pass the sniff test.

Nancy Brinker, Komen's founder, told the paper she's confident the perfume is safe, and that she's asked the manufacturer to look into removing any "irritating scents." According to survivors, that would likely mean removing the product from shelves entirely.

What do you think of "Promise Me" perfume to benefit breast cancer research?

Image via Kohls.com

About the author Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

Filed Under: breasts, cancer, general health, swine flu

Comments (9)

RanaAurora

on Jul 19, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Thanks for bringing this to light. Sadly, the face of breast cancer support, the pink Susan G Komen foundation, does little for the actual cause.

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RhondaVeggie

on Jul 19, 2011 at 11:36 AM

There are loads of products out there that raise money for breast cancer while simultaneously contributing to it's development. Donating money to breast cancer research is a great marketing campaign because so many people will just look at that little ribbon and trust that it's a good idea to buy the product. Never mind that the product might actually give them cancer while only giving a few pennies to research.

Nonmember comment from Charna rice

on Jul 19, 2011 at 12:40 PM

Can only help can't hurt. Everything to gain and nothing to lose!

Nonmember comment from Caitlin Carmody

on Jul 19, 2011 at 12:47 PM

Hi Julie, Thanks so much for covering this problem of "pinkwashing"--Breast Cancer Action has been running our Think Before You Pink® campaign since 2002 because of marketing partnerships like this. The quote you attribute to BCAction Executive Director Karuna Jaggar is actually from Lani Horn, who blogs at chemobabe.com: "There have been a lot of signals that Komen has lost touch with its core constituency," says survivor Lani Horn, 40, who writes about breast cancer at ChemoBabe.com. "But this felt like a personal insult."

Melissa042807

on Jul 19, 2011 at 1:16 PM

There are just too many silly products like this on the market. I'm all for cancer awareness, but we don't need one more cliche product to do it.

Facebook comment from Stephenie L Clevenger

on Jul 20, 2011 at 4:18 AM

I really think people would find a reason to bitch or get snitty about anything. Yes Chemo patients may not be ablt to wear perfume but those of us who are buying these products to show our support who dont not have breast cancer but do care have no problems wearing frgrances. They should be glad the foundation is doing anything at all. Appreciate what you have and what is being done for you. The foundation raises millions every year and no one has to do that. They could just turn their backs saying that breast cancer isnt worth fixing and walk away leaving women to die. Quit acting like spoiled children.