‘Hatu Oriental’ condoms, Italy, 1976

Silver packet in plastic container of "Hatu Oriental" condoms designed to look like 12 cigarettes, Italian 1976

This plastic container is designed to look like a packet of cigarettes, but it actually contains condoms. ‘Hatu Oriental’ condoms were manufactured in Italy during the 1970s. They were one of a huge range of condoms marketed in novel ways.

Using condoms is one way to practice safe sex. They also reduce the risk of catching sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia. The packaging may have attempted to appeal to the younger generation’s idea that smoking was ‘cool’. It perhaps even attempted to disguise the contents during a more conservative era.