At times, we come across fragrance announcements so outlandish they feel like an April Fool’s joke. However, it may surprise many to learn that several companies have crafted unique scents inspired by diverse elements, ranging from fast-food brands to Stilton cheese and even Captain Birds Eye fish fingers. Intrigued yet?
Perfumes and fragrances are deeply personal choices. We all resonate differently with certain notes – a scent that might invoke nostalgia for one might repulse another. This might be rooted in childhood memories, cultural ties, deeply embedded associations, or just simple personal likes and dislikes. There’s also the allure of scents that remind us of our favorite foods or sweet moments. This attraction to edible smells explains why the Gourmand family of fragrances has been popular since the 90s.
But, would die-hard fragrance aficionados ever gravitate towards the aromas of fried chicken or pizza? As improbable as it seems, many brands are harnessing the compelling power of scents to market their products. Even if some of these are just novelty fragrances, they’ve found buyers!
Ever been tempted to buy one for a laugh?
Birds Eye recently tantalized its customers with an alluring proposition: a chance to win a limited edition eau de toilette capturing the essence of Captain Birdseye, brought to life by the Italian actor, Riccardo Acerbi. This move was part of a substantial marketing initiative. Birds Eye acknowledges the soft corner many have for their iconic captain, and they translated this affection into a unique scent, encapsulating the allure of the vast ocean.
Titled ‘Ahoy!’, this fragrance offers vibrant top notes of grapefruit and mandarin, harmoniously blended with earthy patchouli – and reassuringly, devoid of any fishy undertones.
In another fascinating instance from 2012, Pizza Hut, after revolutionizing pizzas with their stuffed crusts, made a playful foray into the world of fragrances. Initially proposed as a jest on social media, they eventually crafted a limited-edition perfume, embodying the aroma of fresh, hand-tossed dough.
KFC, too, jumped on this unique bandwagon, introducing a candle infused with the scent of gravy. And then there was the quirky ‘Eau de Stilton’ and the intriguing Whopper-scented Burger King Perfume.
Yet, it’s not just food-centric brands. In 2021, Richard Branson, alongside introducing a new cruise-liner, unveiled a cheeky fragrance named ‘No.1 Ship’, accompanied by the playful tagline, ‘It smells like ship!’. And if that wasn’t surprising enough, there’s even a fragrance line inspired by… condoms.
While most of these can be classified as novelty items, meant to generate buzz, they present an intriguing engagement strategy. They’re still the brainchild of skilled perfumers, albeit with a quirkier than usual brief. It’ll be captivating to witness if more brands embrace this trend and introduce their signature ‘scent of’.
So, what aroma do you wish to experience next?
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