It's a smell you're more likely to find wafting around the canteen of the popular homeware giant than your living room.
But, in a bid to help customers recreate the ambience of its food-hall favourite, Ikea has created a candle fragranced like its famed Swedish meatballs.
The retailer has launched the Huvudroll candle, scented in homage to its bestselling dish, to mark the 10th anniversary of its Ikea Family, a free loyalty scheme in its US stores that offers customers rewards.
The candle will be included in Ikea's limited-edition Store in a Box gift pack, available to Family Program members, which means fans outside the US will sadly not be able to get their hands on the meatball-scented memorabilia.
"For many people, one of the first things that comes to mind when they think of Ikea is their delicious and affordable Swedish meatballs,” Sho Matsuzaki, creative director at Ogilvy, told the New York Post.
“So for the Ikea Family 10-year anniversary, we thought it would be fitting to create something unexpected that our Family members and meatball super-fans would love. And yes, it does very much smell like Ikea meatballs.”
The Store in a Box package also contains a number of other yet-to-be-revealed items that replicate the sensory experience of visiting Ikea.
US customers must enter a prize draw to win the gift box, with 986 Store in a Box packages up for grabs, according to the retailer's website. Another 1,925 runners-up will receive the Huvudroll candle, with entries open from Friday until Sunday, August 22.
Ikea has not yet revealed if the limited-edition candles would be rolled out in other stores across the world.
The brand's meatballs, first launched in 1985, are traditionally served with mashed potato, lingonberry jam and cream sauce at its in-store cafes.
Ikea launched a vegan alternative to the dish – "plant balls" made using yellow pea protein, oats, apples, onions and potatoes – at stores across the UAE last year. The retailer also revealed the recipe behind its meatballs in April 2020, so fans staying home amid the pandemic could duplicate the dish in their own kitchen.
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Fiorentina v Torino (8pm)
Hellas Verona v Roma (10.45pm)
Sunday
Parma v Napoli (2.30pm)
Genoa v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (8pm)
Juventus v Sampdoria (10.45pm)
Monday
AC Milan v Bologna (10.45om)
Playing September 30
Benevento v Inter Milan (8pm)
Udinese v Spezia (8pm)
Lazio v Atalanta (10.45pm)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
MATCH INFO
World Cup qualifier
Thailand 2 (Dangda 26', Panya 51')
UAE 1 (Mabkhout 45 2')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
