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Johnnie Walker-Scented Fabric Now Possible Thanks to New Technology
Christopher Pilny for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
Do you enjoy smelling like scotch, but hate the amount you have to drink to do so? (Probably not.)
Well, thanks to researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, you no longer even need to take a sip; you can smell like you’ve spent the entire night with Johnnie Walker Black just by wearing a scarf.
Textile technology experts at the university teamed up with Scottish legends Harris Tweed Hebrides and Johnnie Walker Black Label to create a special line of scarves that are infused with “microencapsulation technology.” The scent, which they’re calling “Aqua Alba,” replicates the aromas released by the whiskey–what’s referred to by connoisseurs as “the nose.” These notes include, “rich malt, golden vanilla, red fruit and dark chocolate tones,” a spokesperson for Johnnie Walker told BBC.
What’s even better is that the scent can withstand multiple dry-cleanings–something that wasn’t possible in the past, but is now thanks to the process researchers developed in weaving the fragrance into the fibers.
“I have worked with aromas in the past but they were only meant to withstand one dry clean,” said Donald Mackay, head of the finishing department at Harris Tweed. “The process we have devised for Johnnie Walker means that this scent is layered into the fabric throughout the finishing process and is permanently imbued in the tweed.”
The colors of the fabric also have significance, as they represent the colors of the ingredients behind Johnnie Walker Black Label.
All in all, Scottish officials are excited about the technology and what it means for future industry partnerships.
“Smart textiles are a fast-developing sector that offers enormous potential,” said Jim McVee, Business Development Manager at Heriot-Watt’s School of Textiles and Design. ”Our year-long collaboration with Harris Tweed Hebrides (HTH) is a great example of the ways in which we can help Scottish textile companies to develop their business, add value to their textiles and bring exciting new products to market. Fabric technologists at the School of Textiles & Design in Galashiels, developed the prototypes and finishing expertise which will enable HTH to offer products using this technology in future further enhancing the USP of this heritage fabric range.”
The whiskey scarves are currently not available for purchase, but other products using the same technology should be available in Germany, Belgium and Greece (oddly enough) next year.
In the meantime, we’ll eagerly await Patron-scented sombreros, wine-scented berets and Jack Sparrow costumes that smell like Barcardi.
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Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1113295601/johnnie-walker-scented-fabric-now-possible-thanks-to-new-technology-120914/
