If ever there were a doll that could get those taste buds salivating and induce hunger pains aplenty, it was those deliciously delightful Strawberry Shortcake dolls. Sure, like any good doll, they were cute and huggable and ready to be your trusted companion, yadda, yadda, yadda – but these were dolls that must have been dreamed up by Toucan Sam, offering an olfactory onslaught of tantalizing proportions that no mere child could hope to resist.

Like many dolls, Strawberry Shortcake began her illustrious career on greeting cards. The Kenner Toy company would purchase the rights from American Greetings in 1979 and soon, store shelves were filled with a selection of dolls, both cuddly and aromatic. Sitting alongside Strawberry Shortcake were her fragrant friends - Huckleberry Pie, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Tart and Orange Blossom - each exuding a scent to match their flavorful names. Each doll stood at five-and-a half inches and, as any collector can tell you, the originals all had flat palms (this would change with the next incarnation.) Slightly smaller in stature, but not in scent, were the three-inch Apple Dumplin’ and Apricot, each with their very own pet, Teatime Turtle and Hopsalot, respectively. It might sound as if all was well in Strawberryland, but just over the hill, in Porcupine Peak, lived the villainous Purple Pieman and his pet bird, Cackles the Crow – just to add a little conflict and make sure those flavorful dolls had a little dastardly danger in their lives.

When the second incarnation of Strawberry and her friends were introduced in 1980, everyone had a pet this time around. A new villain roamed the outskirts of town, appropriately named Sour Grapes, and there were some new fragrant faces in Strawberryland, notably the international Crepe Suzette from France and Café Ole from Mexico, as well as Angel Cake and her pet, Souffle, and Butter Cookie, along with pet Jelly Bear.

Flash forward to 1983 and the collection had grown to include a line of 19 different dolls, including a new Ragdoll line that featured cloth versions of Strawberry and couple of companions. For younger age groups, the Blowing Kisses Dolls were introduced, each with the ability to blow a fruit-scented kiss, and the Berry Babies who could drink from their berry own bottles. And if that weren’t enough, five Sweet Sleeper dolls (complete with fruit-shaped sleeping bags) and ten Party Pleaser dolls rounded out the collection of aromatic amigos. And, as one would expect, a whole slew of accessories was available, from furniture, to dollhouses, to bedding and just about every other bit of merchandising that those fine folks at Kenner could dream up.

In 1985, one more line of new products were introduced – the Berrykins, led by the perpetually sweet-smelling Berry Princess, who came complete with wand, stand, and even some fruity-smelling vials of perfume for the proud owners. And in 1991, the original fragrant friends were trotted out for one last hurrah. Although they were sans pets, they had some modern hairdos and new clothing.

Today, Strawberry and her clan of candy-scented cohorts reside in the hands of collectors, who are amazed to find that, even after all these years, the dolls still emit hunger-inducing aromas that seem to linger perpetually. Strawberry Shortcake, the doll so delicious, you just want to eat them up.