There is now chip perfume in the USA. A great PR stunt. UVA can also advertise with fragrance!
How about a drop of “Frites by Idaho” behind the earlobe? The Idaho State Department of Agriculture has now created a perfume that smells like fresh fries to mark the annual Potato Lover’s Month. And 90 percent of the Idaho population is said to like the smell of fresh French fries.
Putting the aroma of a chip shop into a perfume sounds more absurd than delicious. But respect: it’s a great PR idea. Because the chip perfume promptly made it into the international press. The whole world is now googling Idaho potatoes.
UVA: fragrant advertising
As an advertising agency, we know that the right scent in the right place can achieve a lot. A fact-heavy annual report with a glossy print edition that smells gently of spring or piña colada is a pleasure to read. And our ILB brochure on nutritional science had a healthy and energizing scent of apple and country freshness.
Chip flavor? What were they thinking?
I’m sure “Frites by Idaho” also works on the subconscious, especially appetizing, plus it costs less than two dollars, about as much as a serving of Idaho fries. So in the end, you get more out of it if you buy real fries. And the potato marketers may have thought so too. In this respect – you did everything right, colleagues!
Five fun facts about smelling
- Humans have between 10 and 30 million olfactory cells, a dog around 250 million.
- What we smell are tiny molecules that enter our nose.
- Smells can trigger emotions and associations, even if they are perceived unconsciously.
- The Olf was invented in Denmark in 1988 and is the unit of measurement for the strength of an odor source.
- In 2013, Belgium issued stamps with a chocolate scent and cocoa on the adhesive surface.
Want to know more about the power of fragrance? Our book and movie tip: “Perfume”.
