Trademark protection is one of the most interesting and complex areas of intellectual property because it protects the very identity of a brand. India registers first smell trademark can be anything that makes a product or company instantly recognisable, whether it’s a name, logo, colour, sound, or even a unique phrase. And now, joining that list is something completely unexpected: a smell. A Japanese company has secured trademark protection in India for the rose-like fragrance used in its tyres, making it the India registers first smell trademark ever accepted in the country. This marks a major milestone for India’s IP system and has caught global attention. Curious what this really means, why it’s making headlines, and how it could change the future of branding? Keep reading to understand why this news is making headlines and also learn more about the other latest IP news from India and around the world.
How Did a Japanese Company Get Trademark Protection for a Rose-Scented Tyre in India?
Before understanding how India granted trademark rights for a rose-scented tyre, it’s important to know who made this happen. Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., a well-known Japanese company based in Kobe, is the global manufacturer behind brands like Dunlop, Falken and Srixon. When the company first filed to trademark the rose-like smell used in its tyres, the Indian Trademark Registry rejected the trademark registration in India because the scent wasn’t considered distinctive enough and couldn’t be represented graphically—both mandatory requirements under trademark law.
To fix this, Sumitomo teamed up with researchers from IIIT-Allahabad, who created a scientific seven-dimensional model mapping the fragrance across qualities like Flower-like, fresh, earthy, warm, sharp, sugary and cool tones. This innovative visualisation finally met the legal criteria, and after refiling, the mark was accepted for advertisement on November 21, 2025, making it India’s first-ever olfactory trademark. The protection officially recognises the rose fragrance as a brand identity for tyres, bringing India in line with countries that already allow non-traditional marks like scents. Interestingly, Sumitomo had previously secured the same smell trademark in the UK, giving its claim even more credibility. This moment marks a big shift for Indian IP law and opens the door to future sensory branding—where brands might be identified not just by names or logos, but by scents too.
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Why Is India Registers First Smell Trademark Considered a New Milestone in the IP System?
Now it’s easy to see why this is being called a huge milestone for the Indian IP system. Until now, trademarks in India mostly covered the basics—names, logos, colours, shapes, taglines, and even sounds. The law technically says that anything can be a trademark as long as it can be shown clearly on paper and helps people identify a brand. But no one had ever managed to do that with a smell. Scents are tricky—they’re hard to describe, impossible to draw, and difficult to measure consistently. That’s why every previous attempt to get a smell trademark in India had failed. Sumitomo Rubber Industries changed the game by using a scientific seven-dimensional scent model that finally made the fragrance “graphically representable,” meeting the legal requirement for the first time.
This decision doesn’t just approve one trademark—it opens India up to a whole new category of non-traditional marks. Globally, smell trademarks are already rare, so India accepting one is a big deal. In simple terms, this move pushes Indian trademark law into brand-new territory and expands what companies can now protect as part of their brand identity.
Conclusion
India’s acceptance of its first India registers First smell trademark marks a major shift in how the country views brand identity and IP or patent protection. By recognising a scent as a trademark, the Indian IP system has opened the door to more creative, non-traditional forms of branding. This milestone not only aligns India with global IP trends but also encourages companies to innovate in how they distinguish their products. As the boundaries of trademarks continue to expand, this moment sets the foundation for a more flexible and future-ready IP landscape in India.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. Who received India’s first olfactory trademark?
- The Japanese Company “Sumitomo Rubber Industries” gets India’s First olfactory Trademark.
Q. What is the benefit of this trademark for the tyre company?
- It gives the company exclusive rights to use the rose scent on tyres, prevents imitation, and boosts brand uniqueness.
Q. What was the first smell trademark?
- The first smell trademark was registered in the US in 1990 for a “high impact, fresh, floral fragrance reminiscent of Plumeria blossoms.