Prada just debuted kolhapuris on the runway and people can’t decide if it’s appreciation or appropriation
First they came for dupattas, and now it's kohlapuris.
Anyone who grew up in Pakistan knows what a mosquito coil is. They’re the thin, snakey coils our moms would burn as a nightly ritual to keep bugs away — and with the smell they had, probably ward off a few spirits too.
But how much can a pack of six coils realistically set you back? If you answered “around Rs15,000”, you’d be absolutely right. French fragrance house Diptyque Paris has introduced its limited edition Citronelle Incense scented spirals and they are exactly what you’re imagining.
The brown spirals with the signature snake head in the centre come in packs of three interlocked pairs — you’ll have to be extra careful separating these ones — and have a golden coil holder included in the box. Each coils weighs 12 grams.
The brand describes burning one as, “Light wisps of lemongrass escape into the air. From dusk forward, the spiral releases relaxing notes recalling the peaceful air of a water garden. Its fresh, herbaceous scent creates an outdoor oasis. Placed on its small oval stand or paired with the enamelled ceramic incense holder, their fragrant spirals create a serene cocoon.”
We don’t know what half of that means to be honest, but customers are warned not to inhale the smoke directly, leading us to believe it has the same cough-inducing smell we all know and love.
Also, for those who don’t think that was enough expenditure on pest control, Diptyque has an incense holder available in enameled porcelain — priced at $183 (around Rs51,000).
For reference, we checked what coils cost when they aren’t carrying luxury labels and we found some on FoodPanda for around Rs90 for a pack of 10.
Naturally, people on the internet found the whole idea preposterous.
One person even said they were jealous of the mosquito that gets to go down from the uber-luxurious coil.
This isn’t the first time foreign brands have taken something from South Asia, copied it and sold it for outrageous sums. How can anyone forget Prada’s Kolhapuris, Christian Louboutin’s Peshawari Chappals and $90 lungis from Zara?
When will this madness stop?