If you want to surprise your fans, why don’t you give them scented albums! Scratch and sniff albums are a unique and fun way to experience music.
By adding the olfactory dimension, artists can create a more immersive and engaging listening experience.
Here’s a list of 19 scratch-and-sniff albums that have truly made a mark in this unique niche:
[In case you’re wondering, this is something we can totally pull-off. Known for our creative box sets and packaging, we can help you come up with the scented album you want whether it’s vinyl, cassette, CD, or USB.]
Table of Contents
#1. THE ROLLING STONES – STICKY FINGERS (Sticky fingers)
The Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers was a groundbreaking release in many ways. It was their first album on their own record label, Rolling Stones Records, and it featured some of their most iconic songs, like Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, and Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.
But Sticky Fingers is also notable for its cover art, which was designed by Andy Warhol. The cover features a close-up of a man’s crotch, complete with a working zipper.
Some early editions of the album even came with a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like… well, STICKY FINGERS.
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#2. THE BLACK CROWES – LIONS (Wood)
Imagine listening to your favorite album and being able to smell it too.
That’s what happened when the 2001 album Lions by The Black Crowes came out with a scratch-and-sniff panel in the CD digipak that released a scent similar to sandalwood.
When you rubbed the panel, it released a WARM, WOODY AROMA that perfectly complemented the album’s music.
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#3. KATY PERRY – TEENAGE DREAM (cotton candy)
Katy Perry’s cotton candy-scented album cover was a sweet treat for the senses.
Her 2010 album Teenage Dream featured a cover of Perry lying nude on a cloud of cotton candy. The cover was a perfect match for the album’s bubblegum pop aesthetic, and the scent of cotton candy made it even more irresistible.
The COTTON CANDY scent was strongest on the limited edition pressing of the album. This special edition came with a special coating on the cover that released a burst of cotton candy fragrance when you scratched it.
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#4. WEEZER – RADITUDE (bacon)
Weezer and bacon? It’s a match made in heaven!
In 2009, Weezer released their album Raditude, which included a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like BACON.
The sticker was a playful way to show the band’s passion for food, and it was a fun way to promote the album to fans.
The bacon-scented sticker was a hit with fans, and it helped to make Raditude one of Weezer’s most popular albums. It was also a testament to the band’s willingness to have fun and experiment with new ideas.
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#5. HOLE – LIVE THROUGH THIS
Hole’s second studio album, Live Through This, is a grunge classic, and its hidden scratch-and-sniff feature is just one of the things that makes it so special.
When you opened the CD case, you were greeted with a charming reminder of Courtney Love’s ex and the band’s grunge roots: a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like teen spirit.
The scent of the scratch-and-sniff sticker was a reference to the band’s most popular song, Celebrity Skin, which is about the attraction and dangers of being famous.
The song’s lyrics are full of dark imagery, but the scratch-and-sniff sticker added a touch of whimsy to the album.
Check out our custom CD duplication service
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#6. THE WHITE STRIPES – ICKY THUMP (peppermint)
The White Stripes’ 2007 album Icky Thump included a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like peppermint, a nod to the band’s red-and-white color scheme.
But the peppermint scent wasn’t just a fun gimmick – it also had a deeper meaning.
Peppermint is a symbol of freshness, energy, and excitement. It’s also associated with the holiday season, a time for joy and celebration.
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#7. MASTODON – THE HUNTER (forest)
Imagine listening to your favorite progressive metal album while scratching and sniffing a disk that smells like the forest.
It’s like being transported to a mystical wilderness, where the music and the scent of the trees surround you.
That’s exactly what this progressive metal band Mastodon did with their 2011 album The Hunter.
They included a scratch-and-sniff disk in the album packaging that carried the scent of the forest, complementing the album’s wilderness-inspired cover art.
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#8. GWEN STEFANI – LOVE. ANGEL. MUSIC. BABY. (Bubblegum)
Gwen Stefani’s debut solo album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby., was a bubblegum pop masterpiece.
The album was full of catchy melodies, upbeat tempos, and Stefani’s signature sassy vocals.
But the album wasn’t just a feast for the ears – it was also a feast for the nose!
The CD inlay was infused with a bubblegum scent, which perfectly complemented the album’s sweet and fun sound.
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#9. MÖTLEY CRÜE – DR. FEELGOOD (Pizza)
Pizzas were a favorite of the band while recording and they included a scratch-and-sniff sticker in the album packaging of their album Dr. Feelgood that smelled like pizza.
Motley Crue definitely wanted their fans to feel more connected to them through this.
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#10. FRANK ZAPPA- APOSTROPHE (‘) (Rubber Chicken)
Frank Zappa’s 1974 album Apostrophe featured a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like a rubber chicken, fitting for Zappa’s quirky musical style.
The scratch-and-sniff sticker was a unique and playful way to engage fans with the album. It was also a way for Zappa to show his sense of humor and his willingness to experiment with new ideas.
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#11. THE FLAMING LIPS – AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS (Strawberry)
Imagine diving into a groovy album from the psychedelic era that not only tickles your ears but also tantalizes your senses!
This mind-bending masterpiece from The Flaming Lips came complete with a scratch-and-sniff insert that will whisk you away to a strawberry-scented wonderland.
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#12. THE VANDALS – SWEATIN’ TO THE OLDIES (Sweat)
The Vandals gives you the ultimate punk rock experience packaged in a live album that’s as raw and energetic as the band’s live performances!
Inside, you’ll find a scratch-and-sniff sticker that captures the essence of their high-octane shows – the unmistakable scent of sweat!
Peel it, scratch it, and suddenly you’re transported to the front row, feeling the adrenaline, and smelling the authenticity of the punk rock spirit.
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#13. CYPRESS HILL – BLACK SUNDAY (Marijuana)
The hip hop group’s second studio album isn’t just an auditory feast; it’s a full-on sensory adventure.
Open the album, and you’ll discover a scratch-and-sniff panel that captures the vibe of their signature sound and lifestyle: the unmistakable scent of marijuana!
As you scratch, the room fills with the aroma, immersing you in their laid-back beats and chill vibes.
It’s not just an album; it’s a fragrant journey through the heart of hip hop culture!
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#14. FUNKADELIC – UNCLE JAM WANTS YOU (Chocolate)
Step into the funky wonderland of this masterpiece where the beats are as smooth as silk and the vibes are as sweet as chocolate!
This funk-tastic album doesn’t just make your ears dance; it makes your nose tango too!
There’s a scratch-and-sniff sticker inside that’s as decadent as the music – it smells like rich, irresistible chocolate. As you scratch, the room fills with the aroma, transforming your listening experience into a sensual, groovy delight.
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#15. BEASTIE BOYS – PAUL BOUTIQUE (Bananas)
Prepare to groove with the iconic hip-hop trio of 1989!
They didn’t just drop beats; they dropped a banana-scented bombshell on the music scene.
In their album, you’ll find a scratch-and-sniff panel that’s as fresh and fruity as their beats, and it smells like ripe, luscious bananas.
It’s a nod to the album cover artwork and a playful way to engage your senses in their hip-hop revolution.
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#16. SONIC YOUTH – DIRTY (Bubblegum)
Open a Dirty album by Sonic Youth and a scratch-and-sniff panel that smells like the sweetest, most nostalgic bubblegum you can imagine will greet you.
It’s not just a gimmick; it’s a nod to pop culture, a commentary in scent form that captures the essence of the album’s playful and rebellious spirit.
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#17. PRIMUS – PORK SODA (Bacon)
This 1993 album titled Pork Soda by Primus featured a pig on its front cover.
Along with that is a scratch-and-sniff sticker that smelled like bacon, perfectly matching the whole theme of the album.
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#18. THE MELVINS – STONER WITCH (Skunky scent)
Get ready to rock out with the heavy metal legends who cranked things up a notch!
Inside their album, there’s a little surprise waiting for you—a scratch-and-sniff sticker that captures the essence of their stoner rock vibes.
What does it smell like, you ask?
Well, it’s not just any scent; it’s a skunky aroma that’ll make you feel like you’re right in the heart of the counterculture movement.
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#19. THE OFFSPRING – IXNAY ON THE HOMBRE (Burnt rubber)
Inside the CD case of The Offspring’s fourth studio album Ixnay on the Hombre, there’s a hidden surprise waiting just for you—a scratch-and-sniff panel that smells like the unmistakable scent of burnt rubber.
Why burnt rubber, you ask?
Well, it perfectly captures the essence of their fast-paced, rebellious sound, like the screeching tires of a wild, adrenaline-fueled race.
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These 19 albums stand as aromatic pioneers, pushing the boundaries of traditional packaging and adding a deliciously fragrant twist to the musical experience.
Who knows what other scents and surprises artists have up their sleeves?
Perhaps the next album will whisk you away with the aroma of fresh rain, or maybe it’ll immerse you in the warm, comforting scent of freshly baked cookies. The future of music isn’t just heard; it’s smelled, felt, and savored.
So, buckle up, music lovers, because the aromatic symphony is just getting started!
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD, custom vinyl records and merch company in LA.
