For years writers like John Le Carre have used the famous French cigarette the
Gauloise in
their stories. But now it seems they may have to find another brand for their characters. The
Times reports that the famed dark and
heavy smoke from the Gauloise may be going the way of, um, well, going away.
Demand for the cigarette, made by the French company Altadis is “falling off a cliff” as Parisian smokers opt for
lighter brands like Marlboro. The name Gauloises comes from the word Gaul, as in “You have the gaul to smoke Gauloises
in my house!? (just kidding…it comes from the place name), and quickly became a trademark of Frenchness, like
snootiness and body odor (just kidding again!!). The cigarette may not disappear entirely, as a company in Spain will
continue to make them, but for now Mr. Le Carre and others might find another smoke for their characters to
puff.