Scratch and Sniff

 How often have you been somewhere, when out of the blue a scent wafts past your nasal passages and you're instantly transported back to another time, another place. I'm not suggesting that the memory will always be pleasant. Perhaps you'll get a whiff of someone's old gym shoes and you'll be reminded of Phys ed class in ninth grade when a bully made you smell his socks under the threat of a thorough pounding. Maybe it's something more pleasing, like a lady passing by on the street and you catch the slightest scent of her perfume and you're transported through time to a summer romance from your youth. In what is the first of it's kind in the world, the USPS has come out with scratch and sniff stamps. As you can see, they look like frozen treats, and actually, you don't even have to scratch them to get a whiff of the delicate sweet scent. Perhaps receiving a bill from the electric company will be a little less unpleasant with a scratch and sniff stamp, unless of course, somewhere along the way some spoiler scratches it before you get a chance to. I think the IRS should buy a trainload of these stamps for any correspondence that they may have with us taxpayers. It would be even better if they stuck a lottery ticket inside each tax bill. There's always a chance you could be a winner, and then it wouldn't hurt so bad to pay your taxes. I rather like the idea of scratch and sniff stamps, so I was a little surprised to read that the American Lung Association had sent a letter to the postal service asking them not to issue the stamps. I guess they're afraid that folks with asthma would have an unpleasant reaction. I used to have an unpleasant reaction any time I had to change one of my kids diapers, which I admit wasn't often, fortunately. Now if for some reason the post office was to come out with a scratch and sniff dirty diaper stamp, I have to admit, it probably wouldn't make it into my stamp collection. I don't think we have to worry about that though. I was looking through the different posts for scratch and sniff and was surprised at how much is out there. Apparently the scratch and sniff technology utilizes encapsulated micro fragrances where tiny droplets of scented oils are surrounded by a coating to create extremely small capsules. When they are broken (scratched) the scent is unleashed. I read where some natural gas companies were producing scratch and sniff cards as a training tool for children, so they can identify a gas leak in their home. Not a bad idea. Of course when I first saw natural gas scratch and sniff, I immediately thought they were talking about farts. They weren't. HOWEVER.... there was a movie that came out some time back called Polyester that was filmed in odorama . I believe the movie goers were given cards that they could scratch and sniff at the appropriate scenes that would really transform them right into the moment. Scents included sneakers, skunk and flatulence. I don't know why anyone would want to go to see a film like that, but no doubt it had it's takers. Upon further review, I saw that there is a book called the Scratch and Sniff Guide to Beer, A Beer Drinker's Companion. I guess throughout the book you can smell the various ingredients that go into good beer making. The author is Justin Kennedy, and I imagine it's available on Amazon, for those of you who are looking for a gift for your beer drinking friends or family. I see that Captain Morgan, the rum making company has a new rum called Watermelon Smash. The outside bottle is shaped like a watermelon and is made to scratch and sniff so you can decide if it's right for you I guess. Sounds interesting. There is also a Cocomero Rose' wine with a scratch and sniff bottle. I guess Cocomero translates to watermelon in Italian. If you happen to be in Oak Park Illinois, there is a delightful store called - you guessed it- Scratch and Sniff. They have quite a delightful selection of gifts for people and pets. If I'm ever in the area, I'll be sure to stop by. It looks really interesting. Finally, last but not least, a fellow by the name of John Sherman is marketing Scratch and Sniff wall paper. It's called Flavor Paper, and comes in three designs- bananas, cherries and citrus. You apparently can order different colors.  While I don't think I'll be hanging any new wallpaper any time soon, I did purchase several of the new stamps. Of course one is in my stamp collection. It will be interesting to see how long the scent lasts. Maybe I'll buy a few extras so that I can have them put in with my ashes when I die. Then instead of thinking of smelly boots and fishy gloves when folks think of me, they will have visions of creamscicles and summer treats. How pleasant indeed.