It’s like lese majeste, but for commoners.
And yes, it’s bullshit.
This is not a peer-reviewed report, merely a preliminary to further study.
I would like to cite the good work of (available online at https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-02823959/document - please note, this is a PDF link)
[quote]Flavour perception is determinant for the acceptability of food products by consumers. Aroma and taste play an important role in flavour
perception and it is well known that the chemical composition of the matrix and consequently its structure influences release and
perception of flavour.[/quote]
In keeping with strict scientific principles, and having no recent experience in the field of artificial flavourants as applied to the garment known variously as “a french letter”, “cum catcher” and/or “love glove” I have chosen to approach this subject with care.
I chose to conduct this experiment in private, and hence will not be publishing a follow-up until peer review is complete.
The “condom” presents as a yellow plastic packet. It is an approximately 4.5 x 4.5cm square shape, with two sides crenellated and two sides smooth. On the face side is an image of a banana.
I am led to believe that this is an example of the “Cavendish” variety, but the illustration is not sufficiently clear to make a determination. The illustration is rendered in a pale brown colour. The yellow packaging allows the rendition of a banana in brown outline, with yellow detail.
The word “max”, in lowercase white, followed by what I can only identify as a banana-shaped apostrophe, is in turn followed by the words “BANANA SCENTED CONDOM” with the first two words in bold, the third in regular case.
Upon opening the package, which was expedited by the afore-mentioned crenellations, I discerned that the interior was a silver colour.
Inside, there was, indeed a condom. It had the colour of yellow. A cursory sniff allowed me to detect the condom itself was made of latex, however, a significant proportion of the smell could be labelled as that of banana.
This being a scientific report, rather than a thesis, I chose to simply sample the taste myself, rather than entering into a long-running multi-participant double-blind investigation.
Having now abandoned rigorous science for sheer personal entertainment, I can report the following data points:
- that is no banana flavour
- some colour matching on behalf of the designed of this condom would be strongly recommended. (See below)
I do, though, have some recommendations for the supplier, in that,
A) It may be beneficial to choose a specific matching yellow. Pantone Yellow C, the industry standard for bananas, should be attempted. For web use the colour with hex code #FFE135 which gives a suitable warm yellow.
B) While I have discovered during this investigation that there is little credible scientific research into the topic of “banana scent” in government issued condoms, I would urge you to investigate the possibility that more research is necessary. There may even be other flavours to unlock.
The future of scented condoms in prisons has never before been so positive!!
Sorry.