Stink Blasters

Stink Blasters was a children's toy line manufactured by Morrison Entertainment Group and distributed in thirty-four countries. The toys were first released in the early 2000s, with Series 2 released in 2005 and unreleased prototype Series 3. The line consisted of 24 collectable action figures per each of the two series, which release unpleasant odors when squeezed.^[1]

Characteristics

The dolls are three-inch figures of "grungy" boy characters with cartoonishly grotesque faces. They feature a hard, small plastic body and a large, hollow rubber head. When the head is lightly squeezed, a small hole, usually located near the mouth, emits a stench. According to the producer, the dolls could be squeezed over 30,000 times before losing their scents.

MEG has never explicitly described what goes into making the scents, citing fear of knock off brands. According to the company, the scent formulas were about 95 percent polypropylene glycol, and 5 percent oils, food flavorings and extracts. The emission of toxic cyclohexanone and toluene from the toys was kept at levels much lower than established permissible exposure limits, so they are safe.^[2] The formulas were made in laboratories in the United States, while the toys were produced in China. MEG is also careful not to include materials that one could be allergic to in the toys.^[3]

When the toys were packaged, each came with a plastic "stink containment unit" with a clip to attach it to things for travel, and to avoid losing it. Stink Blasters also came with trading cards that went farther into their backstories, giving them a biography and details on favorite foods and archenemies.

The toys were released with suggested price $4.99, intended for children to afford them with their own allowance money.^[3]

History

The toys were first released in 31 countries outside of the United States. In United States, they were first introduced to Chicago in 2003 for test marketing and sold out in almost every major store. The toys were so successful, that it led to a nationwide rollout in February 2004.^[3]

These dolls were once a popular toy in the United States. After a few years, however, they slowly disappeared off the market, as the demand for them had slowly declined. They were re-released several years later in the United Kingdom, with some limited success, however, not nearly to the levels once had in America. They achieved some more success in places like Italy and Australia.^[3] Toy collectors try to find the rare toys, which have begun to fetch high prices. They can be found on online auctions, from places such as Europe, as they have nearly fallen into obscurity in the states.^[4]

Toys

Series One

Stench Bros.

Garbage Truck Chuck
Barfin' Ben
Porta Potty Paul
Tony Anchovy

Veggies

Garlic Gus
Broccoli Bill
Cauliflower Carl
Blue Cheese Charlie

Nature Crew

Cow Pie Pete
Skunk Punk
Pig Boy
Matty Manure

B.O. Boys

B.O. Brian
Toe Jam Jimmy
Sweat Sox Sammy
Rotten Egg Reggie

Breathers

Dog Breath Danny
Fish Mouth Fred
Lizard Lips Lenny
Monster Mouth

Gasser Guys

The Master Blaster
Burpin' Buddy
Butt Breath Bob
The Silent Gasser

Series Two

Breathers

Toxic Tyler
Spewy Huey

Stench Bros.

Chill E. Dawg Joey
Never Wash Nick

The Dukes

The Duke of Puke
Pizza Face Pat
Oil Slick Rick
Dude Boy Doug
Clammy Cliff
Dandy Doo Dave

Nature Crew

Rankin' Ryan
Wart Hog Henry

The Zoo Crew

Rat Boy Rob
Vinnie the Vulture
Elephant Drop Eric
Zoo Boy Zach
Camel Mouth Chris
Monkey Cage Mike

Veggies

Jurassic Josh
Rotten Onion Ollie

B.O. Boys

Ear Wax Max
Armpit Andy

Gasser Guys

Fartasaurus Frank
Billy Bob Booger

Series Three

A special Series III of Stink Blasters was produced for test markets, but never officially released. They contain only 12 figures, and it is believed by the few who know about them that the series was never actually finished and was given up on due to declining sales or impracticality of the series. In Series III each figure had its own accessory, which had a scent of its own. This series is widely unknown and not considered a part of the Stink Blasters continuity.

The Band This group revolved entirely around musicians, one of which was a girl, a first for the series. Skunk Punk, the apparent guitarist of the band, was used in Series I.

Smooth Sounding Sammy
DD Drum Boy
Sweet Lips Suzie
Skunk Punk (previously appeared in Series I)
G Tar Garry
Agent Boy Arnie

Smellville's Finest This group focused entirely on the adults of Smellville, also a first for the series.

Principal Prickly
Detective Ratzzo
Poppa Anchovy
Mayor Poochie
Chef Grimee
Coach Grunge

Scent Stars

Scent Stars was a companion line of toys, featuring female dolls with pretty faces and pleasant scents (such as roses, bubble gum, and cinnamon). Vice president of MEG, Daniel Stenton has stated that girls, the target audience of the series, "would not be interested in nasty things", and that "nobody would want to buy a bad smelling female doll, as girls are not known for being grungy". First series consisted of 12 dolls (named Lizzy, Maggie, Olivia, Cindy, Kate, Cookie, Jordy, Trisha, Vanessa, Lily, BeeBee and Jamie),^[5] with smaller version of them released as "wearable Scent Stars".^[6] Designs of next 12 dolls for series 2 were proposed during release of series 1,^[5] and later in some countries a series consisting of 6 of them (Tess, Natalie, Jillian, Courtney, Lucy and Alyssa) was sold.^[7]

External links

Photos of the toys: http://www.virtualtoychest.com/s/stinkblasters/stinkblasters.html

References

^ Pederson, Jay P. (1988). International directory of company histories, Volume 61. St. James Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-55862-506-8.
^ Tirendi, Salvatore; Otmar Geiss; Josefa Barrero-Moreno; Dimitrios Kotzias (January 2009). "Chemical emissions from toys – the case of stink blasters". International Journal of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry. 89 (8–12). Taylor and Francis: 929–938. doi:10.1080/03067310802570959. ISSN 0306-7319. S2CID 95140668.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Eng, Monica (Nov 16, 2003). "The smell of success: Stink Blasters". The Seattle Times.
^ Dawson, Jim (2006). Blame It on the Dog: A Modern History of the Fart. Ten Speed Press. pp. 151–154. ISBN 978-1-58008-751-3.
^ ^a ^b "Scent Stars Presentation Book" (PDF). megtoys.com.
^ "Zabawki EPEE - Wielka Frajda". www.icor.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-27.
^ "Perfumella". www.levneknihkupectvi.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2022-05-27.

[1] Pederson, Jay P. (1988). International directory of company histories, Volume 61. St. James Press. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-55862-506-8.

[2] Tirendi, Salvatore; Otmar Geiss; Josefa Barrero-Moreno; Dimitrios Kotzias (January 2009). "Chemical emissions from toys – the case of stink blasters". International Journal of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry. 89 (8–12). Taylor and Francis: 929–938. doi:10.1080/03067310802570959. ISSN 0306-7319. S2CID 95140668.

[:0-3] Eng, Monica (Nov 16, 2003). "The smell of success: Stink Blasters". The Seattle Times.

[4] Dawson, Jim (2006). Blame It on the Dog: A Modern History of the Fart. Ten Speed Press. pp. 151–154. ISBN 978-1-58008-751-3.

[:1-5] "Scent Stars Presentation Book" (PDF). megtoys.com.

[6] "Zabawki EPEE - Wielka Frajda". www.icor.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-05-27.

[7] "Perfumella". www.levneknihkupectvi.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 2022-05-27.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]