Founded in 2019, SCENTMATIC is offering a new way to encounter and enjoy fragrances through KAORIUM, a tool that “digitises the sense of smell”.
When a scent bottle is placed on the digital coaster, descriptive words appear on the touch screen table and the user can select those that represent their impressions of the scent.
Additionally, when the user touches certain words on the screen, scents related to them will be displayed on the screen. The user can then smell and compare these scents to find one that they desire.
By expressing sensory perceptions through language, scents that were once difficult to discern become more clearly perceivable.
According to SCENTMATIC, a study has shown that the experience of deeply savouring a scent while being conscious of words activates both the left and right cerebral hemispheres, bringing awareness to previously undiscovered sensibilities.
“The unprecedented experience of reading scents and smelling words heightens the sensitivity and resolution of our sense of smell, and allows us to more fully immerse in the richness of fragrances,” the firm said.
KAORIUM aims to make it easier for consumers to communicate their preferences, discover scents that they like, and ascertain purchase decisions.
Moreover, it can also contribute to the in-store customer experience and sales conversion.
For people who find it hard to describe the fragrance they are looking for, KAORIUM supports retailers in better understanding their preferences. This could in turn lead to increased footfall and purchase rate.
KAORIUM was announced as a winner of the 2024 Good Design Award in October for its innovation in utilising AI and RFID technology to create a novel experience that combines physical and digital, and that bridges the gap between scent and language.
In particular, the system was lauded for employing a simple user interface with minimal visual elements that allow users to focus on the experience.
A judge of the Award was cited saying, “The characteristics of scents are difficult for novices to put into words, which makes it more challenging to create fragrance products and experiences.
“This system replaces complicated scent-related expressions with words that are easy for anyone to understand, enabling users to visualise the characteristics of a scent and find one that suits them.”
Not limited to cosmetics
SCENTMATIC has been actively participating in pop-up events across Japan, including the latest one held at JR Nagoya Takashimaya Gate Tower Mall from November 6 to 19.
Kenty Fragrance School, a popular fragrance content creator on YouTube, had categorised the perfumes and room fragrances from popular shops in the mall into four: floral, oriental, citrus, and woody.
At the event, KAORIUM was showcased to help visitors choose a scent among this selection.
This system is not limited to adoption in the fragrance industry, as the company sees application potential across various fields, including the education, food and beverage, and art and entertainment sectors.