# Synthetic Olfactory Devices The 'Bouquet' is a Device That Lets Users Smell Color By Mary Van Puymbroeck | Published 2017-05-16 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/synthetic-olfactory-device References: [niklasroy](http://www.niklasroy.com/articles/198/workshop-at-ecal) & [vimeo](https://vimeo.com/211694535) The 'Bouquet' by ECAL/Workshop is a synthetic olfactory device that in short turns color into smell. The cone-shaped device detects the color it is pointed at using optical sensors and provides the user with a corresponding scent assigned to that color by its creators. Presented as an interactive display, the device works "as an extension of the user’s [olfactory senses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/olfki-kit) in order to deliver a different sort of [augmented reality](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/guardians-of-memories)." This synthetic olfactory device was created by Niklas Roy and students in their third year of Media and Interaction Design at ECAL. Roy challenged the students to create never-before-seen communication devices, and within a week they had made the Bouquet. This device would translate well into the children's toy market as infants are learning to associate color with language and memory. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.9/10 - Popularity: 22% | Activity: 58% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) > [Inventions](https://www.trendhunter.com/inventions) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Color-scent Synthesis:** The 'Bouquet' device demonstrates the trend of synthesizing scents based on colors, providing opportunities for creating unique multi-sensory experiences. - **Augmented Olfactory Reality:** The use of synthetic olfactory devices like the 'Bouquet' opens up possibilities for augmenting reality by enhancing the sense of smell, enabling innovative applications in entertainment, gaming, and immersive experiences. - **Multisensory Interfaces:** The development of olfactory devices that interact with colors reflects a trend in creating multisensory interfaces, presenting opportunities for integrating scent-based interactions in various industries such as marketing, retail, and hospitality. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Children's Toys:** The color-to-scent translation feature of the 'Bouquet' device presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the children's toy industry, offering a unique interactive and educational experience for infants. - **Entertainment:** Incorporating synthetic olfactory devices in the entertainment industry can revolutionize storytelling by providing immersive and multi-sensory experiences that engage the audience's sense of smell, creating new dimensions of engagement. - **Marketing and Retail:** The integration of color-scent synthesis technology in marketing and retail sectors can enable businesses to create captivating multisensory experiences, enhancing product branding, customer engagement, and brand recognition. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multipurpose Scent-Releasing Wearables](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nosewise.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) - [Multi-Sensory Fragrances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bleu-nour.md) - [Olfactory Entertainment Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/moviescent.md) - [AI Scent Discovery Consoles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kaorium.md) - [Color-Coded Fragrances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/helio-color-collection.md) - [Mood-Enhancing Aromatherapy Devices](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/memoraphy.md) - [Digital Content-Connected Aromatics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aroma-shooter.md)