Hume:
Scent aided living
Create a multisensory device that utilises both the power of smell and vision to create a diffuser which enables the user to separate their moods between activities within the home. This project/ product explored how olfaction can be used to create a more immersive experience.
Project details
Role: Designer
Length: 1 Year
Key skills: Sketching, Engineering, Design thinking, CAD(Fusion 360), Rendering(Maya), User Research
Research
The research was split into two sections, the initial stage was completed at the very beginning to understand more about the subject matter and was mostly formed of a literature review. The second part was user-focused and was focused on understanding how a potential product would benefit the key user group. Here are some key findings from the literature review;
The part of the brain which is most associated with emotions and moods is heavily influenced by scent.
Different scents elicit different emotions ranging from affecting working memory to improving mood.
The temperature of light directly affects people's moods and it’s proven that bright white light increases alertness and low yellow light is calming.
Moods & Lighting
There are four moods that cover a range of home feelings, these were discovered from users preferences. Each mood has an associated scent group and specific lighting, below are some examples of scent notes used but these vary on each specific concoction.
Energise
Scent - Strong citrus, fresh green notes and coffee
Light - Light temperature around 4500k and quite intense, similar to the light already found in wake up lights.
Relax
Scent - Lavender, patchouli and frankincense
Light - Low warm cosy light around 2200k
Focus
Scent - Minty, citrus and light woody notes
Light - Strong white light around 7500k which is proven to improve alertness
Intimacy
Scent - Yang yang, cinnamon and ginseng
Light - Similar to relax in temperature 2200k but pulsates between dim and bright to simulate a candle flickering.
Cartridge design
The cartridge was a pivotal change in the design as it was a huge improvement on the current diffusers available and made the device more user friendly. The cartridges would be categorised into the different mood groups and there would be multiple scents in each group so the user could customise their experience. These cartridges could also be delivered to the user home on a subscription based model.
Final Prototype
The final prototype was a 3D printed model which showed the shape and form of the device but not the material or electrical design. Pictured here you can see a rough depiction of the internal mechanical and electronic design and also the diffusion technology chosen. Nebulizing diffusers don't require any water to function which meant that it was easy to carry around the home between rooms and activities.
The diffuser was designed in such a way that it could seamlessly integrate into the home of the key user and that it could easily be taken from room to room. The light and scent produced from the diffuser would have enough power to change the mood and feeling of a large room. The air diffusion hole is located at the back because users mentioned disliking when scent vapour was blown into their faces.
