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BY ELIZABETH WHITTINGTON | OCTOBER 28, 2011
After posting yesterday that I'm participating in the Komen for the Cure 5K this weekend, I had a few people ask me on Facebook and privately about the perfume (Promise Me) and its cause-related marketing campaigns. There are a lot of blogs, articles and opinions about Komen and its impact on breast cancer awareness, funding and research, and most recently its decision to market the perfume. I'm not going to rehash them, but if you'd like some interesting reads about the subject, I've included a few links below.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure statement on "Promise Me" perfume ingredients – Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Komen's pink ribbons raise green, and questions – USA Today
Welcome, Fans, to the Pinking of America – New York Times
Komen Has Crossed the Line – Lani Horn (breast cancer survivor who blogs as "Chemobabe")
Komen has done great things for breast cancer patients and survivors over the decades in working to eliminate the stigma of cancer, raise money for research and educational programs and increase awareness. (We included the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization in our advocacy feature in Fall - Advocates Make Cancer Their Mission).
Personally, I think a breast cancer-branded perfume is misguided. I wouldn't buy a perfume for breast cancer, nor one for Alzheimer's disease, diabetes or Crohn's disease. Like many other cause-related marketing products, only a small part of the pie goes to the charity from the perfume's $60 price tag. However, the perfume's manufacturer has pledged at least $1 million to the charity.
So, what do you think? Would you buy Promise Me?
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They'll donate $1 million? At what price? In an email sent to me, they stated that according to THIER research there is nothing harmful in the perfume. What about ALL THE OTHER research?
So Oxybenzone, Toluene and Galaxolide haven't caused concern in the research? Are you kidding me? Not to mention Toluene is banned by the International Fragrance Association!
They go on:
"Nevertheless, at Komen’s request and to be sensitive to these concerns, the manufacturer agreed to reformulate the perfume. The last batch of the perfume was manufactured in May of this year; we expect manufacturing and sale of the reformulated product to begin in early 2012."
In the VERY NEXT sentence they wrote:
"We do not intend to ask the manufacturer to recall or remove unsold products."
So let me guess this straight? YOUR research shows there is nothing harmful in your product, yet you've reformulated your NON-harmful product? Ahhh I see. Yes, that makes TOTAL sense.
I do NOT CARE if they donate TEN million dollars. They have completely lost focus of their cause. They have lied to millions of people and misappropriated funds. I am disgusted by this foundation's tactics to deflect attention from their deplorable corrupt business practices all in the name of "research" and helping breast cancer patients. I am sure Susan Goodman Komen would be disgusted too.
- Posted by Heather J Wilson 11/1/11 4:19 PM