On the horror of fabric softeners, and the inability to leave this life behind

That's a really interesting hypothesis. Many people in developed countries indeed use fabric softeners when they do laundry. These products often have strong scents which can indeed mask or overwrite the natural smells of humans.

This may alter the way we perceive not only our own scent, but also how we perceive the smell of others. Our natural scent is often considered a subtle but significant factor in interpersonal attraction, and some research has even linked it to compatibility at the genetic level.

However, fabric softeners and other laundry products with strong artificial scents can effectively erase these natural odors. This might have various social and cultural implications. For instance, in a society where these products are widely used, people may start to associate cleanliness and attractiveness with these artificial scents, rather than with natural human smells.

There's also the environmental aspect to consider. Many artificial fragrances used in these products are derived from petroleum and can be harmful to the environment when they enter waterways. In addition, some people are allergic or sensitive to these artificial fragrances, and can experience symptoms such as skin irritation, headaches, and respiratory problems.

The trend towards using less artificial fragrances in personal care and laundry products, and a greater focus on 'natural' or 'organic' products, may also reflect growing awareness of these issues. But as with many things, it's a complex topic and the 'best' choice can depend on many factors including personal preference, health considerations, and environmental impact.

Animals, when searching for a mate, detect individual-specific scents, much like pheromones, to identify their reproductive partner. However, the use of fabric softeners tends to standardize these unique scents, replacing them with an artificially pleasant smell.

Therefore, in societies where substances like fabric softeners are used, it might become more difficult for people to detect their ideal partners. This could be why developed countries are experiencing a general trend of declining birth rates.

Ultimately, could fabric softeners potentially lead to the extinction of humanity?

My wife posed this thought-provoking idea to me as I was delightedly sniffing my pleasantly-scented jacket.

She doesn't use fabric softener. She also has never used perfume or anything of the sort. She used to work as a nurse, and she held the belief that any kind of scent could be a distraction in her work.

That said, there are numerous artificially stimulating devices in our world that 'bug' people in a template-like manner, such as fabric softeners. People tend to feel pleasure or excitement from these templated stimuli.

Perhaps it's similar to preferring to gulp down Strong Zero for its functional alcoholic content rather than savoring an incredibly labor-intensive pure Junmai Daiginjo sake.

Or, maybe it's like how AI-generated music can outsell music that has been entrusted with expressions of love or pain.

As a result of economic optimization, fabric softeners, which symbolize abundance, are distributed, and human activities are templated, both materially and mentally— in other words, they become poorer.

It might be akin to how in developed countries, those who are economically disadvantaged tend to be more prone to obesity.

In this light, the society we've chosen could be seen as being in a state of rampant apoptosis, where "growth" becomes synonymous with "destruction."

We are "creating" things while tracing the path of those who have plunged headlong into destruction and templation. But, are we truly "creating"?

Perhaps what we are creating is fabric softener. And do we really want to create fabric softener? Is this what we desire? We're always talking about wanting to "create", but what exactly do we want to create?

I thought about these things while wearing a good-smelling jacket and sitting by a bonfire. On the other hand, I've recently discovered that when we encounter a smell that isn't fabric softener in a world filled with it, we majorly glitch, and I think, "This world is a world of suffering." It's uncontrollable.