Abstract. We discuss the macroscopic behavior of smectic CG liquid crystals. Smectic CG is the most general tilted smectic phase that is fluid in the layers. It is characterized by global C1 symmetry. Consequently, it is ferroelectric, pyroelectric and piezoelectric, opening up a number of possible applications for such a phase. As smectic CG-phase has a macroscopic hand due to its structure, it is a natural candidate to explain the recent experimental observations of left and right-handed helices in a system composed of achiral molecules. We also discuss critically to what extent smectic CG could be important for liquid crystalline phases formed by banana-shaped molecules. Phase transitions involving a smectic CG phase and defects of its in-plane director are briefly discussed. PAC
