# Fragrant Bills of Fare The Odor Menu Replaces Photos of Food with the Smells of the Dishes By Amelia Roblin | Published 2012-08-01 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/odor-menu References: [yankodesign](http://www.yankodesign.com/2012/08/01/order-by-smell/) The Odor Menu is an innovative solution for accommodating the blind at eat-in restaurants, but it is an equally compelling concept for cartes du jour in general. Along with the name of each meal made by the in-house chef is an [accompanying aroma](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-molecules) to help represent it more tangibly. The inventive device of Liu Dongming, Liu Jie and Wen Ho is a palm-sized handheld gadget with a [tactile release button](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olfki-kit) and a pair of perforated odor outlets in the bottom. The front surface is an Electric Active Plastic-screen (EAP) that changes shape to spell out different edible options in braille. Left and right arrows guide the patron swiftly through the Odor Menu, allowing him to take a sniff of his selections before confirming his choice. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.7/10 - Popularity: 18% | Activity: 24% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Odor Menus:** Restaurants are introducing odor menus as an innovative way to accommodate the blind and enhance the dining experience through aroma. - **Electric Active Plastic-screen (EAP):** The invention of EAP technology presents an opportunity to create new devices for the visually impaired and enhance accessibility. - **Tactile Release Buttons:** The use of tactile release buttons in handheld gadgets can provide a more sensory user experience and improve accessibility for visually impaired individuals. ### Where This Applies - **Restaurant Industry:** Restaurants can utilize odor menus to create a more immersive and inclusive dining experience, especially for visually impaired patrons. - **Assistive Technology Industry:** EAP technology can transform the development of assistive devices aimed at improving accessibility for the visually impaired. - **Consumer Electronics Industry:** The use of tactile release buttons in handheld gadgets presents an opportunity to enhance the user experience in consumer electronics and create more accessible technology. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Scented Fast Food Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scented-billboard.md) - [Smell-Oriented Virtual Masks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/city-university-of-hong-kong.md) - [Aromatic Memory Projection Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-camera-memory-station.md) - [Scent-Powered Photo Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scent-stimulation-device.md) - [Visual Menu Translators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/menudish.md) - [Interactive Digital Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tabmeal.md) - [Nighttime Restaurant Perfumes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dans-le-noir-eau-de-parfum-de-nuit.md) - [Menu Translation Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/menu-explain.md) - [Multipurpose Scent-Releasing Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nosewise.md)