KFC Made A "Low Odor" Fried Chicken, In Case That Was Something You Wanted

Fried chicken fans in Japan will no longer need to be worried about tempting—or traumatizing—fellow public transit passengers with their delicious smelling take-out food: KFC Japan has created a new “low smell” chicken that has a significantly less noticeable aroma. The less pungent product, called “Fried Chicken Home Type,” was created specifically for commuters who want to publicly transport their KFC to-go. Not sure that less chicken-smelling chicken was necessarily a top priority for most people, but we’ll take whatever science win we can get, I suppose.

The stink-inhibiting secret is in the packaging. Orders of “Fried Chicken Home Type” come packaged in plastic containers and are sold at room temperatures, a deviation from the classic cardboard buckets stained with piping hot chicken grease. For 500 yen ($4.50 U.S.), customers can buy a two-piece of chicken on their way home without stinking up a whole train car. Then, when you are safe within the chicken-welcome confines of you own kitchen, you can liberate the potent KFC smell by microwaving their meal.

But are you sacrificing crispy chicken for a more courteous commute home? Not according to Japan’s Sora News 24, who gave Fried Chicken Home Type a try. They said after nuking the Home Type box in the microwave, they “were greeted with the familiar smell of ordinary KFC fried chicken.” As far as taste goes, they claim the reheated chicken “gives up nothing in the eating experience.”

Kentucky Fried Chicken is a pretty big deal in Japan, specifically for Christmas. As reported by Smithsonian Magazine, a crazy successful 1974 marketing campaign is to thank for Japan’s love of KFC during the holidays. These “Christmas Chicken” buckets can range from $32 to 50, according to Food and Wine, and even come complete with sides, dessert, and wine. Today, the company marks “its highest sales volume each year on Christmas eve.”

Given this spike in orders for chicken to-go—and the year-round effort to inconspicuously transport chicken on the subway—KFC opened a pop-up shop inside Tokyo’s subway system. Until December 31, customers can get Fried Chicken Home Type exclusively in this subway station KFC.

While the subtly-scented chicken is only available in that one Tokyo location, there are plenty of other ways you can get your Kentucky Fried Chicken fix. Other than, you know, just eating fried chicken.

A few months ago, KFC introduced fried chicken-scented bath bombs. While some may be looking for ways to smell less chicken-y, others are apparently actively seeking ways to fully embrace our chicken-smelling selves. The drumstick-shaped bath bombs, also available in Japan, are perfect for anyone looking to soak in the 11 secret herbs and spices KFC touts in their recipe.

For those looking to deeply immerse themselves in a chicken-scented lifestyle, perhaps you can find a way to get your finger-licking fingers on KFC’s edible nail polish that, as you may have guessed, tastes like fried chicken. Available in two shades/flavors, Original and Hot & Spicy, the nail polish exclusively sold in Hong Kong and came with very appropriate tagline, “Finger lickin’ good!”

Should you seek out a supreme level of KFC-devotion, you can also decorate your whole life with KFC branded merch. Are there trendy enamel pins? Yep. How about a $76 sweatshirt that says “fried chicken usa” on it? Why not. A pillow with Colonel Sanders’ face on it? I can’t believe you would even question whether or not that exists. There are even holiday-exclusives likes KFC wrapping paper in case you want to push your fried chicken agenda to those on your holiday shopping list this year.

As for saving face while commuting home with your smelly chicken, you could always just opt for getting KFC delivered straight you instead.