1. With shining armor: The phrase is believed to have originated with medieval tournaments, when knights would use a sword or javelin to scratch a boundary line in the dirt.
2. With caution: Part of how the human body responds to a bug or mosquito bite is to release chemicals that stimulate nerves to cause an itching sensation. Scratching feels good because it acts as a “counter-irritant” that overpowers the urge to itch, says Dr. Charles Zugerman, associate professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University. But relief is temporary because the foreign material left by the bug is still in the skin. Still, even though your body says, “Just scratch some more!” doctors and moms say no–it can lead to infection or other skin problems.
3. With Odorama: 3M invented “scratch and sniff,” or micro-encapsulation technology, which works by trapping scents, whether perfume or pizza, in thousands of tiny bubbles that, when scratched, rupture and release the scent. In John Waters’ 1981 film “Polyester,” audiences used scratch and sniff cards to enhance the experience, a gimmick he dubbed “Odorama.”
