14 January 2008

The smell of socialism – Catalan style

Election campaigns can turn up some curiosities but it is unlikely that any party has ever created a scent before. The Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) launched its own perfume today.


The scent mixes Mediterranean herbs and fruits such as Bergamot orange and white tea with base notes from the Orient. The creator, Albert Majós, said that it was neither a "perfume nor air-freshener" but the aromatic representation of socialism's values”. One journalist, however, said the smell was so strong that he was practically overwhelmed and left feeling faint


The vice-president of the PSC, Manuela de Madre, argued that overall "it would be no bad thing if Catalan politics could relax a little using this fragrance" and recommended "the aromatic and relaxing herbs" to the conservative opposition People's Party (PP). De Madre said the PSC would be sending a sample to all the political parties in the Catalan parliament. A spokesman for the PSC said it could also be used in offices to create a pleasant environment of equality and fairness.


The Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, dissolved parliament today, officially announcing a general election, which will take place on March 9. Whether or not the smell of socialism will help the left win a second term remains to be seen.

5 comments:

Liz Hinds said...

Smells can be very evocative but of socialism?

Agnes said...

the perfume of the people. Yep.

The echtest socialist perfume I know was called "Gazel" (sic!) and was widely used here though not for the purpose it was designed. A perfumed cat lady (that particular part under the tail) was very likely to stay a virgin (i.e. the cat gentlemen all ran away). This is how the lovely ebony black cat of my mother;'s friend had no kitten for more than a year, and when the famous Gazel (so popular among cat owners) became unavailable, many innocent cat maiden got pregnant in no time. So, after all, there was a real ideological perfume (when ladies used it, it must have had the same impact, anyway I will never forget the scent of the buses and trams.

jams o donnell said...

It's a curious one eh Liz. For me, as a social democrat, it would be on that gets less rank and more pleasant smelling over time!

Haha Red! I shudder to think what gazel smelled like if it kept the tom cats and other amorous beaus away!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

Well, hippies have their patchouli scent. And politicians have their own perfume that resembles the distinct smell of ass, so why not extend that idea into the Socialist realm too!

Dragonstar said...

Lovely idea. Maybe it would make politics come up smelling like roses.