Smoke but no ire in ad world

Stories of admen disappearing to the toilet to “powder their noses” are legendary. But the Diary has heard of a Gallic agency which has brought drug taking out of the closet.

Last week an agency employee went to a meeting with the chairman smoking a funny-smelling cigarette. Noticing the odour was not that of Gauloises, the chairman decided to turn a closed nostril. Why did the smoker think he could get away with it, and how did the chairman recognise the smell, asks the Diary?