Snail mail gets a dab of perfume

Fighting a losing battle against emails, the Indian postal service plans to introduce fragrant stamps by mid-December, reports Jay Raina.

You have looked at the postage stamp, even licked it. Next time, smell it and it will be redolent with the scent of sandalwood.

HT Image

Fighting a losing battle against emails, text messages and private courier services, India Post — the Indian postal service — plans to introduce fragrant stamps by mid-December. Priced at Rs 15, the rectangular stamp will come wrapped in thin transparent paper.

India will join a handful of countries — like New Zealand, Thailand and Switzerland — that have brought out perfumed stamps. The Swiss have stamps that look and smell like a chocolate bar.

“At the Government of India press in Nashik, we have developed a technique for making aromatic stamps that matches the best in the world,” said an official of India Post.

It smacks of good commercial sense too. The department has incurred a loss of around Rs 100 crore this financial year. The scented stamps may boost business.