Shopping for everyday essentials in Italy?

I'd just check a bag on the flight over and bring what I needed, instead of hunting around for a supermercato and/or farmacia and then inspecting products to find options that were fragrance free (senza profumo?) Pack powdered laundry detergent. Do you really need hand soap AND shower gel, or can one do double duty? Soap is soap - why couldn't shampoo be used as well for washing hand laundry and as a dish detergent?

By the time you come home, you'll have freed up space in the bag for souvenirs.

I'd just check a bag on the flight over and bring what I needed,
instead of hunting around

That's what I'd do too. In fact, that IS what we do as it's easier (or we think so, anyway) than messing around with 3-1-1 bags for our powders, liquids and gels. I don't have an issue with laundry soap purchased through the machines at coin laundries but I always pack a baggie of Oxyclean for stains/ sink soaking and whatnot so you could do the same with your preferred laundry soap. That said, I don't recall any of the soap bought at laundromats in Europe having a particularly strong scent.

Using just hand soap in the shower instead of packing gel and soap would cut down on the bulk.

We split stuff up between our bags too, and they're not huge by any means.

That's what we will do, thanks!

I also have sensitivity (laundry detergent is my absolute worse trigger). I agree with the others on checking, but I wanted to share these laundry packets (on Amazon) that have worked great: Puretergent - Gentle Laundry Liquid, X-tra Sensitive Formula, Scent Free Aloe (1oz travel size), Pack of 5

Each pack does a load, it works well (we are hikers and get dirty), and the flat packs take little space in a 3-1-1 bag. I never have 23 days so can make do with carry-on, but fragrance-free laundry detergent is one thing I have had a hard time sourcing in Italy (and who wants to tote around a jug of the stuff).

I pray your seatmates on the plane (and the flight attendants--the worse offenders) will go light on the perfume!

Laundry detergent in pods ? If you check a bag, you can put the pods in a plastic container to keep them from being squished -- and your load lightens as you use them. (I have also carried pods in my 3-1-1 bag.)

For products you need to buy locally, such personal care products could likely be found at many pharmacies, whereas large grocery stores such as Esselunga, Coop or Conad would be the most likely places to find such cleaning products. In Florence, for example, there's a big Esselunga just a short bus ride outside the historic center. They may even have those types of personal care products at lower prices than a pharmacy.

Be sure to pack small supplies of essentials in carryon in case your checked bag gets lost. It doesn't happen often, but when it does you need to be prepared.

I'm kind of paranoid about delayed luggage (it's happened to me too often :-) so I pack everything I need for the first 48 hours in my carry-on. In your place, I'd take small amounts of the essential liquids in my 3-1-1 bags (one per person).

I, too, am sensitive and use fragrance free products. I travel for three months at a time and had trouble finding these products in Italy.

For laundry 8n machines I use Waseze sheets:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U9SFSZK/ref=mp_s_a_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1535053690&sr=8-4&keywords=washeze&dpPl=1&dpID=51ke3dvY6hL&ref=plSrch

For hand washing I take a couple of bars of Fragrance free soap. This is also for the shower.

Then there is travel size Dr Bronners unscented that could be used for everything.

Thanks to all those who have contributed. Especially good to hear from those who
share in this. Laundry care products are the worst...I agree. Over 80 man made toxic
chemicals to make that "wonderful fragrance."

I am purchasing a charcoal mask in hopes that it may help. Truthfully, I have no idea
how I am going to handle this long flight with all that exsits in the cabin. Wish me luck!

Also sensitive. It's just my skin rather than breathing in the scents.

Have never yet found the fragrance-free products I need in Italy. Even baby soaps and products labeled hypo-allergenic have scent in them. I have tried looking in giant hyper-markets, stores in big cities, several pharmacies, and natural foods stores. Googled quite a bit, too, only to find other people have the same issue.

I do not usually check my bag, not even for a three-week trip. I carefully figure out how much powdered laundry detergent I need (Italian washing machines are small and efficient and take only about a tablespoon or two of the powder, which I mix with hot water in a glass to turn it into the required liquid). I also figure out exactly how much scent-free bar soap and bar shampoo I will need. Likewise Aveeno hand lotion although I have seen that for sale in pharmacies. I take a baby sunscreen that's in a stick. I don't use conditioner, and I must be less sensitive than you because I don't worry about dish detergent as long as I wear rubber gloves (available in Italy). So, only the Aveeno and various skin medications need to go in the 3-1-1 bag.

Twice on Italy trips, the sheets and towels where we stayed have reeked so badly of perfume that we had to wash them before we could use them. You might want to check with your accommodations.

Something you might want know: Italian washing machines can take hours to do a small load of laundry and some cannot do an extra rinse.

I've never dared to try it, but I've read that many clothes get pretty darn clean in a washing machine without using any detergent at all.

I wonder if Amazon would deliver some of your products in Italy.

Get a window seat on the airplane(s).

Remember that you'll need to take your hand soap with you into all the bathrooms you encounter.

Good luck --- Italy is absolutely worth it!

Quick follow up after our trip to Italy. Our advice, bring your own fragrance free products with you. We are glad that we did. We were not able to locate FF products in the 6 locations that we visited. Much safer to bring what you know works for you.

Dgrieco, great that you came back to tell us your experience!
Glad.you had a nice trip!

Thanks for the follow up, dgrieco. Hope that you had a good trip.

Hi Kim,
A great trip, thanks!

Have to go back. How can you put into words how beautiful Italy is, and how magnificent the food is...we're hooked!

see, they've got you now.

It is all planned to seduce you and make you return.....