Next ad medium: scratch ’n’ sniff posters? A company called Flavor Paper recently began marketing scratch ’n’ sniff wallpaper. Someone has to, I guess. Oddly, the most intriguing designs (“Fishnet,” “Party Girl” and “Pleasure Dome”) are just to look at, not sniff. Still, this concept has possibilities for advertising (and not just because the business has really begun to stink lately). We’ve seen flavor strips in magazines and aromatic LCD displays. Why not scratch ’n’ sniff posters on bus shelters and in subways? Flavor Paper’s smelly fare includes tamer scents like bananas, cherries and tutti frutti. My cubicle walls smell like coffee, Snickers bars and peppermint schnapps, though that’s more a testament to my work habits any Flavor Paper order. There’s also a hint of perspiration and defeat ... oh sorry, that’s not the wall, that’s just me. —Posted by David Gianatasio

November 6, 2007 | Permalink

Comments

---

I *really* hope this idea falls flat on its face. It's bad enough trying to navigate around the magazine aisles in a bookstore to avoid the nauseating stench of perfume strips, but to have posters all over with various smells emanating from them, would be so much worse.

There are a good number of people for whom certain kinds of smells are not only unpleasant, but can be dangerous. For me, almost any kind of perfume will give me migraines. If I were dependent on public transportation to go to a job, and they had these scratch and sniff posters on the bus or train, there would be days I could not go to work because I'd be too sick by the time I got there.

This idea needs to hit the circular file asap.

Posted by: kriselda jarnsaxa | Nov 6, 2007 9:00:50 AM

still waiting for lick and taste wallpaper (i.e. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory)

Posted by: James Gerber | Nov 6, 2007 5:22:16 PM

I would love scratch and sniff frapacino wallpaper...that would save me loads of money!

Posted by: David Isserman | Nov 6, 2007 8:01:45 PM

Post a comment

Name:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments:

The opinions expressed in comments are those of the individual poster. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Adweek or Nielsen Business Media. Comments of a promotional nature or comments that are otherwise inappropriate may be removed.