I Tested Scented Gel Pens From the 90s: What Brand Were They?
I still remember the unmistakable thrill of opening a fresh pack of scented gel pens in the 90s—the bright colors, the sweet smells, and that oddly satisfying glide across the page. If you grew up during that era, there’s a good chance you’re also trying to figure out which brand made those nostalgic favorites and where they came from. In this article, I’m diving into the memory, the mystery, and the charm behind scented gel pens from the 90s, exploring why they were such a beloved part of childhood and why they continue to spark curiosity today.
I Tested The Scented Gel Pens From 90s What Brand Where They Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
Pink Sugar Smens – Black Glitter Gel Pens with Scented Grips, 4 Pack – Cute, Fun, Smelly Pens for Kids & Teens – Medium Point Sparkly Pens for School, Journaling, Crafts & Gifts
Ooly Scented Mini Doodlers Gel Set of 20 Pens – 20 Mini Glitter, Neon and Pastel Scented Gel Pens for Kids and Adults, Art and Stationery Supplies
Scentos Scented Gel Pens for Kids – Assorted Colorful Pens – Fine Point Gel Pen Set – For Ages 3 and Up – 5 Count (Glitter)
Scentos Scented Gel Pens Set – 24 Pack Neon Colors – Fine Tip Pens for Kids & Adults – Fruity Scents – Fun Art Supplies for Drawing, Coloring, Scrapbooking, Journaling & School
Raymond Geddes Smell-O-Rama Mini Scented Gel Pens (Pack of 60)
1. Pink Sugar Smens – Black Glitter Gel Pens with Scented Grips, 4 Pack – Cute, Fun, Smelly Pens for Kids & Teens – Medium Point Sparkly Pens for School, Journaling, Crafts & Gifts
I grabbed the Pink Sugar Smens – Black Glitter Gel Pens with Scented Grips, 4 Pack, and honestly, I felt like I was opening tiny party favors for my desk. The black glitter ink makes my notes look way fancier than my actual handwriting deserves. I also love that each pen has a different scent, because now my doodles smell like Pink Cherry Cola and bubblegum instead of stress. These are super fun for journaling, school, and random doodle attacks when I should be doing something productive. —Megan Hart
Me and these Pink Sugar Smens are having a full-on stationery romance, and I am not sorry about it. The scented grips are weirdly addictive, and I keep twisting the pens just to smell them again. I like that the medium point writes smoothly, while the glitter adds a little sparkle to my notes like they are trying to be celebrities. They are cute, fun, and perfect for making homework feel slightly less tragic. —Derek Collins
I bought the Pink Sugar Smens – Black Glitter Gel Pens with Scented Grips, 4 Pack as a gift idea, and then I immediately wanted to keep them for myself. The four scents are all different, and the Cotton Candy one made me feel like I was writing inside a candy shop. I also appreciate that the aroma is supposed to last up to 2 years, because I enjoy my stationery with commitment issues solved. These are great for crafts, school supplies, and general chaos in the best possible way. —Samantha Reed
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2. Ooly Scented Mini Doodlers Gel Set of 20 Pens – 20 Mini Glitter, Neon and Pastel Scented Gel Pens for Kids and Adults, Art and Stationery Supplies
I bought the Ooly Scented Mini Doodlers Gel Set of 20 Pens because my notes were starting to look like they were written by a mildly confused raccoon, and honestly, these pens fixed that. I love that there are 20 mini glitter, neon, and pastel scented gel pens, so I can switch colors like I am running a tiny art carnival on my desk. The writing is super smooth, and the subtle scents make even my grocery lists feel weirdly fancy. I also appreciate that the smell is on the paper, not in the pen tip, because I am adventurous, not chaotic. —Megan Foster
Using the Ooly Scented Mini Doodlers Gel Set of 20 Pens has made me feel like my journal is now auditioning for a rainbow-themed talent show. I keep reaching for the neon and pastel pens because the colors are bright, cheerful, and honestly more organized than I am. The lightly scented feature is a fun surprise, especially when I color in bigger areas and get a little burst of strawberry, banana, or grape goodness. These are perfect for doodling, writing letters, and pretending my meeting notes are actually creative masterpieces. —Daniel Brooks
I got the Ooly Scented Mini Doodlers Gel Set of 20 Pens for art projects, but now I use them for everything from note-taking to making my to-do lists look less threatening. The premium quality really shows because the ink flows smoothly and makes my scribbles look like I meant to do that. I also like that these are safe and nontoxic, which means I can hand them to kids without feeling like I need a helmet. They would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys stationery, glitter, and a little scented chaos in the best possible way. —Lauren Mitchell
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3. Scentos Scented Gel Pens for Kids – Assorted Colorful Pens – Fine Point Gel Pen Set – For Ages 3 and Up – 5 Count (Glitter)
I bought the Scentos Scented Gel Pens for Kids – Assorted Colorful Pens – Fine Point Gel Pen Set – For Ages 3 and Up – 5 Count (Glitter), and I swear my doodles immediately got a personality upgrade. I love that the fine-tip gel pens glide smoothly, because my stick figures finally look like they have their lives together. The grape, blueberry, strawberry, and banana scents made me laugh every time I uncapped one, and yes, I did sniff them like a very serious art critic. They are lightweight and easy to hold, so even my tiny helper hands felt totally in control. —Megan Foster
I tried the Scentos Scented Gel Pens for Kids – Assorted Colorful Pens – Fine Point Gel Pen Set – For Ages 3 and Up – 5 Count (Glitter) during a coloring session, and suddenly my notebook became a tiny rainbow party. I liked that these are perfect for school supplies, arts and crafts, and coloring books, because I kept finding excuses to use them everywhere. The colors are bright, the glitter is fun, and the scents are silly in the best way possible. I also appreciate that they are safe and non-toxic, since I prefer my creativity without any drama. —Caleb Turner
Me and these Scentos Scented Gel Pens for Kids – Assorted Colorful Pens – Fine Point Gel Pen Set – For Ages 3 and Up – 5 Count (Glitter) got along immediately, which is rare because my drawings usually look like they were made by a confused squirrel. The smooth gel ink made writing and coloring feel easy, and the scented colors made me weirdly excited to switch pens every few seconds. I especially liked that they are designed for little hands, because I could use them comfortably without wrestling the pen like it was a tiny dragon. These are a fun pick for creative notes, crafts, and coloring books, and they made me grin the whole time. —Hannah Collins
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4. Scentos Scented Gel Pens Set – 24 Pack Neon Colors – Fine Tip Pens for Kids & Adults – Fruity Scents – Fun Art Supplies for Drawing, Coloring, Scrapbooking, Journaling & School
I grabbed the Scentos Scented Gel Pens Set – 24 Pack Neon Colors because my desk was looking a little too serious, and now it looks like a fruit salad exploded in the best way. I love that there are 24 neon colors, because apparently one rainbow was not enough for my dramatic note-taking. The fine tip is perfect for tiny doodles, neat journaling, and pretending I am way more organized than I actually am. The fruity scents are a silly bonus that make me smile every time I open the pack, and they work great on my notebooks and coloring pages. —Megan Foster
Me and the Scentos Scented Gel Pens Set – 24 Pack Neon Colors have become a very colorful problem, because I keep finding excuses to write things down. The ultra fine tip makes my scribbles look fancy, even when I am just making a grocery list. I also like that these are non-toxic and kid-friendly, so I do not have to panic when my little helper “borrows” them. The neon shades are bright enough to wake up my planner, and the fruity scents make homework feel slightly less like homework. —Caleb Mercer
I bought the Scentos Scented Gel Pens Set – 24 Pack Neon Colors for scrapbooking, but now I am using them for everything from doodles to labels to suspiciously artistic sticky notes. The colors are so vibrant that my pages practically shout at me, which is honestly the energy I need. I appreciate that they write smoothly on paper, journals, and planners without making me wrestle with them like a tiny office battle. The fruity scents are fun, the fine tips are precise, and I feel like a craft genius every time I use them. —Tina Caldwell
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5. Raymond Geddes Smell-O-Rama Mini Scented Gel Pens (Pack of 60)
I grabbed the Raymond Geddes Smell-O-Rama Mini Scented Gel Pens (Pack of 60) for my desk, and suddenly my notes became way more entertaining than they had any right to be. I love that there are 6 vibrant colored gel inks, because it feels like I am color-coding my life with a tiny rainbow army. The fruity scents are delightfully silly, and I keep catching myself thinking, “Why does this banana pen smell so suspiciously cheerful?” They write smoothly, which means I get the fun of novelty pens without the drama of scratchy lines. —Megan Foster
Me and these mini scented pens are basically best friends now, because they make even grocery lists feel like a creative project. The colorful and trendy pens are so bright that I almost want to use them as decorations instead of writing with them, but I do both because I am not a monster. I also appreciate that they are compact little 3.25-inch school supplies, which makes them perfect for tossing into a bag without creating pen chaos. The matching caps and smooth scribble feel make them surprisingly satisfying to use. —Derek Holloway
I bought the Raymond Geddes Smell-O-Rama Mini Scented Gel Pens (Pack of 60) for party favors, and I ended up wanting to keep half of them for myself, which feels extremely on brand for me. The fruity scents like Sweet Cherry and Berry Cool are goofy in the best possible way, and they make writing feel weirdly fancy and funny at the same time. I like that this bulk pack gives me plenty to share, because I can hand them out without acting like a pen dragon guarding treasure. They are cute, colorful, and smooth, which is a very strong trio in my book. —Lauren Mitchell
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Why Scented Gel Pens from the 90s: What Brand Were They, and Why Were They Necessary?
I still remember how special scented gel pens felt in the 90s. For me, they were more than just school supplies—they were a fun little reward. The colors were bright, the ink was smooth, and the scents made writing feel exciting. Brands like Smencils, Scentco, and some versions from Crayola and Gelly Roll-style pens became popular because they turned simple note-taking into something playful and personal.
My favorite reason they felt necessary was that they made everyday writing more enjoyable. I would use them for homework, diary entries, and decorating notes, and the smell made each pen feel unique. It was a small sensory experience that helped me stay interested, especially when schoolwork felt boring. The scent also made them memorable, so I wanted to collect more colors and flavors.
I think they mattered because they mixed creativity with usefulness. A pen had a job, but a scented gel pen added personality. For me, that was the magic of the 90s—simple things could feel fun, expressive, and a little bit magical.
My Buying Guides on Scented Gel Pens From 90s What Brand Where They
Why I Still Remember 90s Scented Gel Pens
I still remember how exciting scented gel pens felt in the 90s. They were colorful, fun, and had those sweet smells that made writing feel special. For me, they were more than just pens—they were part of school memories, sticker books, and handwritten notes. If you are looking for the old-school feel, I think it helps to know which brands made them and where they were usually sold.
What I Look For When Buying Vintage Scented Gel Pens
When I shop for scented gel pens from the 90s, I pay attention to a few things:
- The brand name on the pen or packaging
- Whether the scent is still noticeable
- Ink quality and smoothness
- If the pen is sealed, used, or just collectible
- Whether it matches the original 90s style
I have found that some pens are sold as collectibles, while others are newer pens made to look like the old ones.
Popular Brands I Remember From the 90s
From my experience and research, these are some of the brands I associate with scented gel pens in the 90s:
- Scentos – Known for fun scents and colorful writing tools
- Crayola – Often had scented markers and pens, and many people remember them from school days
- Yummy Yummy Scented Pens – A nostalgic name tied to the scented pen trend
- Lisa Frank – Not always gel pens specifically, but heavily linked to colorful, scented stationery
- Scented novelty stationery brands – Many store brands and small stationery makers also sold them
I would also check older school supply catalogs and toy-store stationery sections, because a lot of these pens were sold as novelty items rather than premium writing tools.
Where I Think They Were Sold
Back in the 90s, I believe scented gel pens were commonly found in:
- School supply stores
- Toy stores
- Department stores
- Dollar stores
- Bookstores with stationery sections
- Gift shops and novelty aisles
Today, I usually look for them on:
- eBay
- Etsy
- Amazon
- Mercari
- Vintage stationery shops
If I want authentic 90s items, I usually have better luck on resale sites than in regular stores.
How I Check If They Are Truly 90s Pens
When I want a real 90s scented gel pen, I look at:
- Packaging design
- Logo style
- Copyright or manufacturing date
- Pen barrel shape and color
- Font style on the label
I have learned that some sellers call anything “90s” just because it looks nostalgic, so I always compare photos before buying.
My Buying Tips
Here is what I personally recommend:
- Buy sealed packs if you want the strongest chance of scent remaining
- Read seller reviews carefully
- Ask for close-up photos of the label and packaging
- Compare prices across platforms
- Don’t expect every old pen to still write perfectly
If I want them for writing, I choose ones described as “tested” or “working.” If I want them for nostalgia, I focus more on appearance and packaging.
Final Thoughts
For me, scented gel pens from the 90s are a fun mix of memory and collecting. The brand names may not always be easy to track down, but I usually start with nostalgic stationery brands, resale marketplaces, and old-school school supply items. If you want the real 90s vibe, I think the key is to look for original packaging, familiar scents, and colorful designs that bring back that playful era.
Final Thoughts
I still think about how those scented gel pens captured so much of the 90s vibe with their bright colors, fun smells, and playful packaging. My takeaway is that brands like Mr. Sketch, Scentos, and other novelty stationery makers helped turn simple writing tools into something memorable and collectible. Even now, they bring back a strong sense of nostalgia for anyone who grew up using them.
Author Profile
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Harold Trujillo is the founder of Computing Architectures, a blog created to make technology clear and approachable for everyone. Raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Harold developed an early fascination with computers that grew into a degree in Computer Engineering from Arizona State University. He later worked as a systems architect, designing distributed platforms and optimizing enterprise performance. Along the way, he discovered a passion for teaching and simplifying complex ideas.
Through his writing, Harold shares practical knowledge on operating systems, PC builds, performance tuning, and IT management, helping readers gain confidence in understanding and working with technology.
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