The scented postage stamps which were introduced in the small kingdom of Bhutan as early as in 1973, took almost three decades for the Indian Postal Department to introduce them in India.
It was on December 13, 2006 that the first fragrance stamp with sandalwood aroma was released by the Indian Postal Department. The Department released 3 million stamps with sandalwood fragrance priced at Rs 15 each which were sold like hot cakes in the market, with all the stamps having sold out with in 15 days of issuing. Along with the sandalwood fragrance which is very akin to the Indians, the colour, texture and design also appealed the mass.
The next year on February 7, 2007, the Department released four varieties of rose scented stamps namely Jawahar, Neelam, Delhi Princess and Bhim with face value of Rs 5 each. And the following year on April 26, 2008 postal stamps with jasmine scent were released.
As the fragrance stamps were issued a few years back, the face value of these stamps has increased now and these stamps are in possession with some of the members of Philatelic Association.
Speaking to City Herald, Dakshina Kannada Philatelic and Numismatics Association Vice-President Baikady Srinivas Rao said that these stamps are of great significance as the fragrance is always received with a happy note.
Especially, the sandalwood fragrance stamps are of more value as sandalwood holds a special place in the people’s psyche.
However, these stamps were not in domestic postal circulation because of its face value of Rs 15 and were used for international posts. Baikady Srinivas Rao who possesses these stamps said that recently they displayed these stamps in an exhibition organised by the Dakshina Kannada Philatelic and Numismatics Association in Mangalore. “Most of the people are not aware of these stamps thus we decided to exhibit fragrance stamps.
People were quite curious about it as the fragrance was present even after four years of release. Though these are expected to give fragrance for about 18 to 24 months of manufacturing, they have been quite strong in withholding the smell as the stamps in my possession give fragrance even after so many years,” he said.
Though rose and sandalwood stamps are not available to the public, they are having a face value more than Rs 500. Stamps with jasmine fragrance are still available in the Philatelic Bureau of the Head Post office, Mangalore, informed Rao.
The Association members also have the collection of stamps from abroad with fragrance of the dirt of a football stadium, first rose stamp from Bhutan, coffee scented stamps etc. Several experiments have been made worldwide which has also resulted in chocolate scented stamp, China’s sweet-and-sour-pork scented stamp and the like.