Box of 8 Playtex self-adjusting tampons, super extra absorbent

Box of 8 Playtex self-adjusting tampons, super extra absorbent, International Playtex Corp., U.S.A., received from Phillips, Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, Kenya, 1974

Playtex were the first to introduce plastic applicator tampons in 1962. They were sold as a “more comfortable alternative to cardboard applicator tampons”, the smooth surface acting to reduce friction. Self-Adjusting Tampons appeared on the market around 1966. The feature referred to the product’s widthways (as opposed to lengthways) expansion. Instructions likened its “unique blooming action” to a flowering tulip; a feature which Playtex claimed made it 45% more absorbent than the leading tampon.

The 1970s saw tampon manufacturers compete with one another over their products’ absorption capabilities, with ever-more absorbent varieties made from artificial fibres such as rayon and polyester being released onto the market. The race came to a halt in 1980 when higher absorbency tampons were shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacterial infection. Standardised absorbency testing and mandatory warning labels were swiftly introduced.

This example was received by the Tambrands archive from tea traders Phillips, Harrisons and Crosfield Limited, based in Nairobi, Kenya.