India´s First Olfactory Trade Mark

Sumitomo Rubber Industries has secured India’s first accepted olfactory (smell) trademark for a floral fragrance reminiscent of roses applied to tyres, marking a major milestone for non-traditional trademarks under the Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks ordered on 21 November 2025 that the “floral fragrance/smell reminiscent of roses as applied to tyres” be advertised as an olfactory trademark in Class 12 on a proposed-to-be-used basis, after finding that the scent was distinctive, arbitrary for tyres, and capable of clear, precise and objective graphical representation. This development positions India at the forefront of recognizing scent marks and opens the door for broader sensory branding, including other smell-based and possibly taste or touch marks in the future. Read more here.