browsing today in the herbs and spices aisle of my local supermarket, it dawned on me how much shopping would be enhanced if you could open the product and whiff the contents. it would aid you in the choices you make.

unfortunately in this modern day world, all these products have to be sealed to avoid any tampering with the contents but these lids would overcome this problem.

recall the wondrous life-enhancing moment when you open that brand new jar of coffee or the perfume of fresh custard powder, enough to make your mouth water.
-- po, Jul 27 2002

Mmm... Croissant (Anti fish sauce.)
-- thumbwax, Jul 27 2002


Mm... Canned BLT (Bass, Ling and Tuna in a croissant.)

Will there be girls behind counters daubing and spraying the samples on you?
-- FarmerJohn, Jul 27 2002


Mm...Seafood Surprise cat food.
-- bluerowan, Jul 29 2002


Funny, I just bought a pack of water bottle lids that are pre-scented/flavored with lime extract...

Hmm... tester bottles for food? Just set out some bottles with smell capsules that re-create the smell of the food inside...
-- polartomato, Jul 29 2002


some coffee packs have those valves that let you smell the aroma.
-- sild, Jul 29 2002


Oops - you mean they're not to be used as a spare t/i/y/re?
-- thumbwax, Jul 29 2002


Mmmm... Bostick.
-- calum, Jul 29 2002


Mmmmm.... Bisto..
-- yamahito, Jul 29 2002


You know how microwave popcorn always smells so much better than it tastes, that it is actually a disappointment when you finally taste it?

I fear that the wonderful marketing types who emblazon packages with NEW! and COLORFUL! words and pictures will have a field day making damned sure the smells they use have the microwave popcorn effect.

Croissant anyway.
-- quarterbaker, Jul 29 2002


I just got back from the store where I had trouble choosing an air freshener for my cubicle because most of the containers were sealed shut to prevent evaporation. How frustrating!

I did notice that there were some brands that solved this problem by affixing "Scratch-n-Sniff" stickers to the outsides of the packaging. It's not the same as smelling actual product, but at least these companies are aware of the problem.

By the way, I ended up buying one with the sticker on it.
-- XSarenkaX, Jul 29 2002


// I fear that the wonderful marketing types who emblazon packages with NEW! and COLORFUL! words and pictures will have a field day making damned sure the smells they use have the microwave popcorn effect. // Who's to say that company's wouldn't use different products or enhance the products in the lids of the products to make it appeal more and you get the MacDonald's effect of buying a "Big Mac" from the picture of a tall, attractive burger and getting a squashed greasy bit of bread layerd with old lettuce and grade C meat.

Mabey somthing to let the consumer smell the product but then... the problem of tampering with the product.
-- PunkiPrince, Jul 28 2003


Spice store in my town has little sample jars so you can poke your grubby fingers/nose in there and see what it is like, then buy it hygienically bagged.
-- bungston, Jul 28 2003


//squashed greasy bit of bread layerd with old lettuce and grade C meat//
That makes me hungry just thinking about it, [Punki].
-- Amos Kito, Jul 28 2003


While driving through Kansas, I stopped for gas and a coffee and was amazed by the variety and range of potato chip flavors. Struggling to choose between mesquite bleu cheese corn chips, chili peanut ripples and vinegar yoghurt kettle slices, I left empty-stomached.

Now if only each bag had a scratch-and-sniff patch and/or maybe a sanitary rip-off-and-lick flap, maybe I could have made a prudent purchase from the plethora of junk food.
-- FarmerJohn, Mar 29 2005



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