Scratch and sniff
Encyclopedia
Scratch and sniff technology generally refers to things that have been treated with a microfragrance coating. When scratched, the coating releases an odor
that is normally related to an image being displayed under the coating. The technology has been used on a variety of surfaces from stickers to compact discs.
Samples of scratch and sniff stickers are used for detection of individual anosmia
, although this practice declined after the end of the Cold War.
Utility companies have sometimes enclosed scratch and sniff cards in their bills to educate the public on recognizing the smell of a methane
gas leak. However, this would sometimes lead to a rash of false alarms as the scent emanating from a discarded scratch and sniff is later mistaken for a real gas leak.
. The desired smell is surrounded by micro-capsules that break easily when gently rubbed. The rub to release action breaks the micro-encapsulated bubbles and releases the aroma. Because of the micro-encapsulation, the aroma can be preserved for extremely long periods of time.
While there were hundreds of companies that put out Scratch and Sniff stickers, the most well known are the originators Creative Teaching Press (CTP) (who later re-named them Sniffy's in 1980/1981), Trend Enterprise's Stinky Stickers line (which followed directly after CTP), Hallmark
, Sandylion, Spindex, Gordy, and Mello Smello.
More recently the BBC reinvented Scratch and Sniff cards with a version that accompanied a new television series 'Filthy Cities'. Viewers were invited to use the aroma cards at home to experience the nasty smells of Medieval London and Revolutionary Paris as they were taken on a journey back in time to the 'filthy cities' of yesteryear.
The four aromas included Sewage, 18th Century Tannery, Marie Antoinettes Perfume and Pong de Paris.
The fragrances and scratch and sniff cards were developed by The Aroma Company Europe in Oxfordshire using aroma print technology.
Odor
An odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also commonly called scents, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
that is normally related to an image being displayed under the coating. The technology has been used on a variety of surfaces from stickers to compact discs.
Use
Stickers became common in the late 1970s, and grew into big business for several companies throughout the early and mid-1980s. As the technology evolved to an "acid-free" design the sticker craze seemed to come to a close.Samples of scratch and sniff stickers are used for detection of individual anosmia
Anosmia
Anosmia is a lack of functioning olfaction, or in other words, an inability to perceive odors. Anosmia may be either temporary or permanent. A related term, hyposmia, refers to a decreased ability to smell, while hyperosmia refers to an increased ability to smell. Some people may be anosmic for one...
, although this practice declined after the end of the Cold War.
Utility companies have sometimes enclosed scratch and sniff cards in their bills to educate the public on recognizing the smell of a methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
gas leak. However, this would sometimes lead to a rash of false alarms as the scent emanating from a discarded scratch and sniff is later mistaken for a real gas leak.
Production
Scratch and sniff is created through the process of micro-encapsulationMicro-encapsulation
Micro-encapsulation is a process in which tiny particles or droplets are surrounded by a coating to give small capsules many useful properties. In a relatively simplistic form, a microcapsule is a small sphere with a uniform wall around it...
. The desired smell is surrounded by micro-capsules that break easily when gently rubbed. The rub to release action breaks the micro-encapsulated bubbles and releases the aroma. Because of the micro-encapsulation, the aroma can be preserved for extremely long periods of time.
While there were hundreds of companies that put out Scratch and Sniff stickers, the most well known are the originators Creative Teaching Press (CTP) (who later re-named them Sniffy's in 1980/1981), Trend Enterprise's Stinky Stickers line (which followed directly after CTP), Hallmark
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
, Sandylion, Spindex, Gordy, and Mello Smello.
More recently the BBC reinvented Scratch and Sniff cards with a version that accompanied a new television series 'Filthy Cities'. Viewers were invited to use the aroma cards at home to experience the nasty smells of Medieval London and Revolutionary Paris as they were taken on a journey back in time to the 'filthy cities' of yesteryear.
The four aromas included Sewage, 18th Century Tannery, Marie Antoinettes Perfume and Pong de Paris.
The fragrances and scratch and sniff cards were developed by The Aroma Company Europe in Oxfordshire using aroma print technology.
Scratch and sniff in popular culture
Apart from the stickers, scratch and sniff surfaces are to be found on some objects in popular culture:- Gran Turismo 2Gran Turismo 2is a driving simulator / racing game for the Sony PlayStation. Gran Turismo 2 was developed by Polyphony Digital and published by Sony Computer Entertainment in 1999. The games serves as a sequel to Gran Turismo...
and FIFA 2001 featured a scratch and sniff disc. - The vinyl cover of Dandelion GumDandelion GumDandelion Gum is the third album by Pennsylvania based band Black Moth Super Rainbow, released on CD on May 22, 2007. A 2xLP edition was released on March 15, 2008; the first 1000 copies sold included double gatefold packaging, pink vinyl with gold splashes, and a bubblegum scratch-and-sniff cover,...
, an album by Black Moth Super RainbowBlack Moth Super RainbowBlack Moth Super Rainbow is an American experimental band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their music contains elements of psychedelia, folk, electronica, and pop...
, has a scratch and sniff surface. - The Player's Guide for the 1995 Super NintendoSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
video game EarthBoundEarthBoundEarthBound, also known as EarthBound: The War Against Giygas! and released as in Japan, is a role-playing video game co-developed by Ape and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game console...
included six scratch and sniff cards. One contained a mystery scent; if the player guessed the smell and sent in the card to Nintendo, they would receive a prize. The scent turned out to be pizza. - The 1981 movie PolyesterPolyester (film)Polyester is a 1981 comedy film directed, produced, and written by John Waters, and starring Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey, and Mink Stole...
, directed, produced, and written by John WatersJohn Waters (filmmaker)John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
, was released featuring a gimmickGimmickIn marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature...
called "Odorama", whereby viewers could smell what they saw on screen through scratch and sniff cards. The Odorama gimmick was also used for the 2009 Sydney Underground Film FestivalSydney Underground Film FestivalThe Sydney Underground Film Festival is an annual film festival that takes place in Sydney, Australia, and shows independent, experimental and arthouse films from Australia and abroad...
screening of Water's 1972 cult classicCult followingA cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
Pink FlamingosPink FlamingosPink Flamingos is a 1972 transgressive black comedy film written, produced, composed, shot, edited, and directed by John Waters. When the film was initially released, it caused a huge degree of controversy and thus became one of the most notorious cult films ever made. It made an underground star...
. Several other movies had used this idea, such as Rugrats Go Wild and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, the latter you had to rub instead of scratch. In 2011 Midnight Movies reproduced Polyster 'Odorama' for the Edinburgh Film Festival using replica scratch and sniff cards with the original 10 aromas used in the 1981 movie.
External links
- Scratch and Sniff Library - Personal website containing scanned images of stickers
- '80s Scratch and Sniff Sticker Collection - Personal website containing scanned images of stickers printed in the 1980s
- HowStuffWorks.com