By Cara Sulieman
NOT for nothing was Edinburgh once dubbed Auld Reekie.
With the ongoing bin strikes seeing stinking rubbish littering the streets, and rush-hour traffic clogging the roads and filling the air with fumes, a chance of a minute’s solace would sure come as a breath of fresh air.
Now commuters can do just that after two busy stops in Edinburgh were both fitted with unique push and sniff advertising boards, allowing them to enjoy a waft of the countryside on their way to work.
The new ads have been installed by Scotch Whisky Experience who are promoting a new sense room attraction at the museum.
Granules
The four Scottish whisky-making areas – Speyside, Lowlands, Highlands and Islay – are represented by a different scent.
Pressing a button releases the aroma from granules held in a pod behind the button.
The Marketing Manager for the Scotch Whisky Experience, Julie Trevisan Hunter, explained that they have tried to pinpoint the smell of each region.
She said: “The Lowlands smell of grain, like fresh biscuits, representing the cereal tones and lighter notes that you get in Lowland malts.
“The Highland region is massive, and it’s hard to generalise, but there are much more floral refreshing notes, so this one is a floral aroma, with heather-y character to it.
“Very distinctive”
“All Speyside whiskies are characterised as being very fruity, from the lighter fruits like pears and bananas, through to the richer versions like sultanas and cherries, so our Speyside is a fruity aroma like pears.
“Islay is a peat smoke – the Islay whiskies are all peated to some extent and very distinctive.”
And the same smells are being used in the new Smell of Scotland exhibition at the Scotch Whiskey Experience.
Julie said: “Part of the tour is our Sense of Scotland room where we explain to people about the different regions around Scotland.
“We get people to smell those four aromas and say which they prefer, and we’ll give you a dram of whisky with a taste that reflects that.”
“Fruity”
But the new posters on Princes Street and Leith Street are getting a mixed reaction from the public.
Tourist Therese White, from County Down in Northern Ireland said: “I thought the Lowlands scent was best, it was fruity.
“I think it’s a good idea. I’m not really a fan of whisky but I might be after smelling these.”
But her views weren’t shared by Leona Sutherland, 26, from Bathgate, West Lothian, who thinks it is a waste of money.
“Pollution”
She said: “The Islay and Speyside ones smell of nothing. The Highland one smells a bit floral and the Lowlands smells of cinnamon.
“I think it’s a waste of money actually, because I don’t know how many people would go on and do it, and next to a busy main road there’s that much pollution you can’t really smell it anyway.”
