Archive for April, 2007
Scent machines used in war against hospital superbug
Originally designed to mask unpleasant odors on hospital wards, scent machines in a U.K. hospital are also being tested for their ability to prevent infection. The machine disperses a special recipe of particular essential oils that attack MRSA, a hospital-borne superbug that kills up to 5,000 U.K. hospital patients each year and countless others throughout the world. In a 9-month trial of one essential oil-dispersing machine on a ward, infection on the ward was significantly reduced and airborne bacterial counts were reduced by 90%. To read more about the study, see BBC.
1 comment April 23, 2007
Hotels go hypoallergenic
In an effort to serve customers with allergies, several U.S. hotels are trying heavily treated, hypoallergenic rooms called “Pure Rooms.”. The rooms undergo lengthly ozone-shock treatments and the surfaces are misted with antimicrobial agents. Tea tree oil, a well-known antiseptic and disinfectant, is pumped through the heating and cooling systems. Pure Rooms can be found at various Marriot, Wyndham, Hilton Doubletree, and other hotels. Additionally, other types of environmentally-friendly hotel rooms are becoming increasingly popular. The trend is likely to continue: a Connecticut legislator is proposing a bill that would require hotels to offer allergy-friendly rooms. To learn more, see The New York Times.
Add comment April 23, 2007
Aging diseases get the sniff test
Early indicators of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s may have just become easier to detect. Scientists in the University of Cincinatti’s Dept. of Cell Biology have created the “Sniff Magnitude Test,” which is under further development by WR Medical Electronics. The sense of smell is one of the first senses to degrade in diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. The test measures how much effort people have to expend to actually smell an aroma. The test is being widely explored by researchers worldwide. Read more about the Sniff Magnitude Test at News-Medical.net.
Add comment April 15, 2007
Omni Hotels & Starbucks join in scented sticker campaign
Omni Hotels and Starbucks have joined forces in a scented advertising campaign. Berry-scented stickers will grace the covers of guests’ complimentary copies of USA Today newspaper for the next six months. The sticker is two-ply, with the scent hidden on the bottom layer. The top layer is coffee-colored, with the words “Start your day with a freshly brewed cup of Starbucks coffee and…” The top of the sticker can then be peeled back to reveal the scent of berries, a picture of a muffin and the words “…pair it with a fresh muffin. Available at Omni Hotels.”
To read more, see The New York Times.
Add comment April 10, 2007
April Fools
Thanks to ScenTeck Technologies, consumers can now have an aromatic experience via their computer’s audio speakers. The system, involving a System Scent Card and Scratch-N-Sniff Pro software, was released in February. The sensors on the card react to auditory sensors generated from the hard drive, which combine with proprietary Scent Waves. The Scent Waves produce an inaudible tone that asks the brain to interpret the waves as a scent. Popular scents include Mountain Breeze, Passion Fruit and Patchouli. Download the software from www.scenteck.com.
Add comment April 1, 2007
