World AIDS Day: Why condoms are the new flavour

Having safe sex has been preached by many right from condom companies, doctors to yes, even parents. Now, you find that condoms have caught the imagination of people and everyone's trying to get innovative.

In fact, earlier this year lifestyle brand Lelo launched their new age condom and hired former Two And A Half Men star  Charlie Sheen as their brand ambassador. Sheen was diagnosed with AIDS in 2015 and speaking about condoms, he said, "I think people associate the word 'condom' with less pleasure. With less connection. What may feel like five seconds of an inconvenience or a halted or (thwarted) moment can absolutely prevent a lifetime of potential grief and suffering. It's a dialogue that people don't want to have. It's uncomfortable, it's awkward."

So what's with condoms now?

The condom emoji

Ahead of World AIDS Day, a condom or safe sex emoji has been launched unofficially by a condom manufacturer. Durex has used an open umbrella with raindrops to mean protected sex. The eggplant emoji is widely used to depict a penis and putting a condom on the eggplant represents safe sex. 

Christmas-flavoured condoms

It has been a while since flavoured condoms were launched but have you heard of the Christmas-flavoured condom? Well, this seems to be a bit hit with Christmas round the corner. A range of condoms that have a festive flavour, including one that tastes like Christmas pudding (cinnamon), has caught the imagination of people. Love Island stars Olivia Buckland and Alex Bowen are in fact promoting these Pasante festive condoms! And social media seems to love it.

Sailor Moon condoms

The popular manga and anime series Sailor Moon has given rise to the Sailor Moon condoms in Japan. These condoms, which have the Usagi Tsukino on its heart-shaped package, will be distributes in Japan on World AIDS Day to promote safe sex. But many people on social media did find it a tad funny that a popular character went from fighting evil to preventing syphilis. 

The condom mosaic

21 students of the Indian Institute of Management Indore, India, created a condom mosaic on November 21 to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. Though they used 4964 packets of condoms they didn't manage the feat. The record is held by another IIM. The Guinness Book of World Records states, "The largest condom mosaic measures 18.51 m² (199.24ft²) and was created by UPSACS, INDEX IIM lucknow and HLFPPT (all India), in Lucknow, India, on 16 November 2014."