McDonald's teases fry‑scented perfume line on Japanese social media

Choosing a favourite fragrance is a highly individual decision, influenced by various factors. Some prefer sweet fragrances or citrus-floral notes, while others lean towards heavy musk, incense, or woody aromas. For many, a scent is a calling card and a means to express oneself, style, and mood. It seems McDonald's, the well-known fast-food chain, plans to tap into this personal aspect by introducing a line of perfumes featuring the scent of their fries. Will this product capture the interest of a broad customer base?

When selecting a fragrance, many people look for qualities such as longevity. There's also a significant interest in finding worthwhile alternatives to original perfumes. Notably, fragrances reminiscent of favourite foods have become popular in recent years. Beyond scents of chocolate, raspberries, or strawberries, there are now perfumes mimicking the smell of freshly baked bread or popcorn.

In a surprising move, the Japanese arm of McDonald's has entered the perfume market with fragrances emulating the scent of fries. This innovative concept can be found in detail on McDonald's Japanese X profile. If the reports are accurate, they plan to release three distinct versions of the fragrance, including scents of classic fries, fries seasoned with black pepper, garlic, and mayonnaise, and fries coupled with seaweed and salt.

Despite the buzzworthy post on the Japanese McDonald's X profile, details about where and when these unique perfumes will be available remain unclear. Yet, the concept of creating fry-scented fragrances has been warmly received by the chain's fans, with the announcement post garnering 136,500 likes on the X platform.

The notion of potato-scented perfumes has sparked considerable debate online, not just on Japanese websites. Some users suspect the idea is a prank. This suspicion seems to hold some truth, especially since the promotional photo's small print – as reported by the Japanese site www.excite.co.jp – clarifies in Japanese that the product isn't actually for sale but is merely a conceptual image. This disclaimer went unnoticed by international audiences due to the limitations of translation programs, which couldn't interpret this crucial detail. However, the concept of fry-scented perfumes isn't as far-fetched as it may seem to those outside Japan. In 2022, an American potato-promoting agency introduced a limited edition scent called "Frites by Idaho," which also embraces the essence of fries.