Flavor: An odd combination of licorice and clove, Choward's Scented Gum doesn't claim to have any flavor at all. There's no mention on the packaging of how it's supposed to taste, other than a boldfaced claim, "A delicious chewing gum." I'm taking issue with Choward's here, because if there's one thing this gum is NOT, it's "delicious."Texture: Starts off super tough, like it's stale. I had to proceed carefully with this one for fear that I might pop my crown or lift a filling. Once it softens, the mass of the wad diminishes to a size so small, one would need at least three, if not four pieces to sustain a decent chew. Size aside, it's sticky and tough, you can't crack it or pop it.
Presentation: What presentation? It's as if Choward's Scented Gum has traveled through time to come to us in its original 1930's packaging. No graphics, no colors, nothing but the aforementioned "delicious" claim and a tagline of "Fragrance that Refreshes after Eating, Smoking or Drinking." Fragrance that refreshes? How, exactly, does fragrance refresh? Flavor, yes... a refreshing sensation, sure... but fragrance?
Overall: Choward's has been making candy and gum since the 1930s. They have stood the test of time, obviously, as they have remained virtually unchanged since their inception. I, personally, don't get it. This gum is disgusting in every way. Borderline unchewable. It's worth it to note here that this gum should not be confused with Choward's Violets - also pictured above. This gum is not Violet flavored, despite the somewhat confusing packaging similarities. Although there are some people (my mom and BFF included) that are fans of the Violets mints, I cannot recommend them, either.
Rating: o (one gumball)
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28 comments:
I love Gum Alert! This review is honest and it should have been more harsh on the nasty taste of this gum that tastes like soap. The mints are more tolerable. But many better gums are gone with ones like this sticking around.
I have to say, this gum is one of my all time favorites. Started chewing it when I smoked, but I came to really love the fragrance and it does taste like "fragrance,"
perfume to be exact.
It is a hard gum and it really required a taste. I did not like it when I first chewed it, but it did cover the smoky smell. I chew it now simply for enjoyment.
I def agree with the comments about the size and hardness of the gum. But some of your other comments are a little unsupported.
Okay so liking or disliking the flavor is a matter of "taste" (pun intended) and so cannot really be argued.
But when you claim that a fragrance cannot be refreshing, well, that just makes it sound like you lost your sense of smell in a freak accident or in battle or something. Fragrances can definitely be refreshing! Have you never heard of aromatherapy?
How dare you! I love this gum. se4riously though, I do agree that it is an acquired taste. Still, I do love me some Choward's. Great blog!
I wish Choward's had more flavors. They have the violet, guava, lemon and peppermint mints, and then the gum. Any idea how to get with the company to make more flavors?
My Mom brought some home from a trip to Hawaii, and no one in the family liked it. First time i tried this very unique tasting gum i was shocked at the perfume taste and would have to admit i did not like it either. On a completely unrelated issue my favorite music albums are ones i did not like the first time I heard them. Well, this gum is the same way, I quickly grew to love it, and it is by a far margin my favorite gum. One of the best things about this gum is that no one seems to ask me for some gum more than once.
Violet gum is the best gum I have ever had. If someone doesn't like it! DON'T BUY IT!!!
I love the violetas gum and candy! That's all I buy! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!! (*.*)
I just stumbled on this site... freaking awesome!!!! Love it! Love gum! And the reviews are so legit!
I found this gum at Nicholas Coffee Company in Downtown Pittsburgh's Historic Market Square.
This gum is a shop favorite, and I decided to try it on impulse because of the timeless/retro packaging. This gum is definitely my favorite flavor of chewing gum I have ever tried in my life. It does a good job of removing unpleasant tastes from your mouth, such as morning breath, cigar smoke, or coffee -- and although I am 32 years old, the flavor is reminiscent of a pre-1950's taste preference. I love this gum so much, I just ordered 2 boxes from their website!
The gum does not taste the same as it did years ago. I wanted my wife to experience the wonderful flavor that I remembered. As soon as we tasted the flavor we both spit it out and I told her that they must have changed the formula. Did they???
This gum comes the closest to the "Scents" gum that I used to chew back in the 60"s. That gum came in a small square box and the box was colored purple and green.
I have loved these mints and gum (even though I don't chew gum a lot now) for several decades. Couldn't find them for a few years here in L.A., but I found some yesterday while out looking for unusual Easter candy. Definitely fragrant. I have said since my first encounter (I kissed a guy who had just finished a mint!) that I wish the made this in a spray! I would wear it and use it as breath spray. To those who don't yet like it, that leaves more for the rest of us. ;-)
So I just tried some of this today because I saw it in an OldeTymey candy store this weekend and who wouldn't be drawn to a pictureless package that simply states "Scented Gum"?
It tastes like Noxema. Maybe that is how it refreshes? Maybe I am clearing my teeth and tongue of grease and dirt build-up?
I'm both fascinated and horrified by this stuff and am going to buy more so I can force it upon everyone I meet, just to watch their expressions.
For one thing, it's not "Chowards", it is C. Howards. I therefore disregard the rest of the review.
This is actually a very unique gum. It's very similar to "Scents" gum that was hugely popular with the hippies back in the 1960's. The reviewer states they don't understand the fragrance aspect of this gum. Well, chew it around other folks in a sterile-type atmosphere and everyone around you will clearly smell the fragrance…a floral smell unlike any other gum out there. Which truly makes this gum stand out! As far as the complaints about this gum losing it's flavor quickly and being too small, if the reviewer knew anything about the history of chewing gum, they would know that all vintage gums lost their flavor quickly, and most, for a long time, were Chicklet-sized (except Wrigley's - which also lost it's flavor quickly). Lastly, one of the great things about this gum is that it does not contain aspartame, which has been proven to be a toxic, cancer-causing chemical (Google it). And almost every single solitary gum that is sold in candy racks, in supermarkets nationwide, is peddling the deadly aspartame. In fact, aspartame is the artificial sweetener in most gum nowadays that prolongs it's sweet flavor. If I had my choice between a gum that loses it's flavor quickly, and a gum that is made with cancer-causing aspartame whose flavor lasts long, I'd definitely choose the former. Aspartame kills, and rots your internal organs…do your research.
@ Anonymous, above: It's not C. Howard's, it's C Howard Co. And their website calls it "CHoward's". http://www.chowardcompany.com/products.htm
"No graphics, no color", HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I use to glue that honking blue-violet foil all over my bedpost, my notebooks, my desk drawers. "No color"?? A blind seeing-eye dog would still lead you to it, it's THAT LOUD...
HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Be careful not to let them aquire the taste...
I'm experiencing Boomer-envy right now...
I'M both face down and huffing it...
Please tell me where in Los Angeles you found it?!!!
Please tell me where in Los Angeles you found it?!!!
I love.and have loved this gum and candy/mints my whole life.... yes the gum is hard ..but the mints .. perfection😍😗
I don't really care for the taste. It reminds me of the flower scent in a funeral home!
How can I order this Gum
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