This Summer, Stop and Smell the ... Stamps?

By Ashley Roberts

The following article was originally published by Printing Impressions. To read more of their content, subscribe to their newsletter, Today on PIWorld.

Remember those endless summer days in childhood, filled with swing sets, pool parties, fireworks and, at some point, inevitably, the sweet, sweet sound of the ice cream truck making its rounds through the neighborhood? Well, this summer, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) seems to be touching on those feelings of nostalgia with a modern take on the classic ice pop with its Frozen Treats Forever stamps. Not only do the stamps feature colorful watercolor depictions of the treats, they are the first stamps from the USPS to touch on a sense that is sure to make mouths water ... scent.

USA TODAY reported there will be one scent for all of the stamps and it will be revealed when the stamps are launched on June 20 in Austin, Texas, according to USPS public relations representative Mark Saunders.

In a press release issued by the USPS, it explains the reasoning behind the stamps:

The stamps feature illustrations of frosty, colorful, icy pops on a stick. Today, Americans love cool, refreshing ice pops on a hot summer day. The tasty, sweet confections come in a variety of shapes and flavors.

Ice pops are made by large manufacturers, home cooks and artisanal shops. In recent years, frozen treats containing fresh fruit such as kiwi, watermelon, blueberries, oranges and strawberries have become more common. In addition, flavors such as chocolate, root beer and cola are also popular. Some frozen treats even have two sticks, making them perfect for sharing.

Although these mark the first scented stamps, this isn't the first time the USPS has released a multi-sensory product. In the summer of 2017, the agency debuted tactile stamps with its Have a Ball! Forever Stamps. The round stamps featured a high-viscosity UV coating to mimic the feel of real sports balls, including the texture of basketballs and dimples on a golf ball. In fact, prior to the sports stamps, USPS released The Total Solar Eclipse Forever stamp to commemorate the event last summer, which featured thermochromic ink to transform the image of the solar eclipse into an image of the moon with the touch of a finger.

It's refreshing to see the USPS experiment with its classic Forever stamp beyond the traditional image and shape deviations.