Archive for July, 2008
VOC-emitting air fresheners exposed by UW study
The dangers of cheap, home air fresheners and scented laundry products are being examined by a recent University of Washington study. Looking specifically at solid disk, liquid spray and plug-in air fresheners, as well as scented laundry products, the study found emission of several toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) classified as toxic or hazardous by US federal law. The offending compounds include ethanol, ethyl acetate, benzaldehyde and acetone.
Discoveries like this one are good news for the higher-tech, commercial ambient scenting industry, which is implementing technologies that allow scenting without VOCs. (See our post of July 16, “Public space scenting: Is it safe? Is it green?“)
Read more in Chemistry World
Add comment July 30, 2008
Scented pencils for kids go green
Check out the latest scent-marketing effort aimed at kids, the Smencil. What’s more, it’s green: recycled newspaper rolled around sticks of graphite, then hardened so they can be sharpened like wood pencils. They’re soaked in “gourmet” scent and topped with erasers. The scent is guaranteed to last two years. Available in standard pencil-gray or brighter colors, and the ten available scents include what you’d expect for kids: sweet and fruity. Smencils are offered with custom labels as promotional products, too.
Source: Ecopreneurist
Add comment July 29, 2008
Olfactometer debuts in SF this week
If you’re in San Francisco this week, stop by the International Symposium on Olfaction and Taste. While you’re there, check out the “olfactometer” to find out whether your sniffer is up to snuff. It takes 12 minutes to smell 40 difference scents, after which you’ll get a printed profile of your sense of smell. Designed by neuroscientist Lloyd Hastings, the olfactometer is making its debut this week. Hastings hopes to sell the machine to medical labs and specialty clinics.
Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle
Add comment July 25, 2008
Scent marketing winners announced
Winners of the 2008 SMItty awards were announced at SCENTworld earlier this month. Presented by the Scent Marketing Institute, the awards honor innovative people and companies in the scent marketing industry.
Honored this year:
Best New Proven Technology: Steven M. Landau of ScentSational Technologies, for development of unique aroma-enhanced packaging.
Best New Concept: Juan Miguel Antonanzas de Toledo of A de Aroma, for building a European network of “scent system operators” who can share resources that help grow the industry.
Most Unique Implementation: Clément Jeanjean of Presensia, for development of a scent-emitting digital flat screen for use in retail settings.
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Add comment July 23, 2008
Prolitec Air/Q partners with Serta Mattress to scent stores
Prolitec has been chosen as the exclusive provider of store scenting for Serta’s American mattress stores. Serta just unveiled a brand new store design concept, intending to appeal to all five senses to create a unique and memorable emotional response for customers. Prolitec’s in-room appliance, the Air/Q 510, will be their preferred appliance, and they’ll be using a fresh, airy, mild fragrance. The other senses will be incorporated as well, with new earth tones and warm lighting for sight, bottled water and snacks for taste, tranquil music for sound, and customers will be encouraged to “touch” the mattresses by lying on them and trying them out. Donna Zett, Chief Innovation Officer for Serta, is aiming to provide more than just a product, but a total lifestyle experience so customers want to come back to the store and tell others about their positive experiences.
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Add comment July 20, 2008
Dutch yearn for tobacco aroma after smoking ban
In response to a nationwide smoking ban in the Netherlands, Dutch cafes are seeking ways to cover up the nasty odors of stale beer and sweaty patrons. The ban, which went into effect on July 1, prohibits smoking in indoor public spaces. A Dutch ambient scenting company is rising to the occasion, and filling the spaces with the artificial aromas of cigarettes and cigars. According to the company, these are the smells people want, only now they’re new and improved, because they pose no health risks and don’t linger in hair and clothing.
Read more about it in the UK Telegraph.
Add comment July 18, 2008
Public space scenting: Is it safe? Is it green?
Ambient scenting companies tackled questions about ecological and human safety at SCENTworld, the scent marketing expo and conference held recently in New York. According to Richard Weening, CEO of environmental-services and scent-marketing company Prolitec, “Scent safety for humans and the environment is relatively easy to insure, because it depends entirely on the ingredients and the quantity used to create the scent effect. Great fragrance can be produced from ingredients that are safe for humans, in the quantity needed for successful ambient scenting, and have no negative environmental consequences.”
Several conference participants pointed out that traditional methods of scenting, such as candles, oil burners, plug-ins, and other methods that rely on evaporation cannot be finely controlled. Weening agreed, saying “It’s worse than you imagine. Scented candles burn fragrance oil to create scent, aerosols use propellants and alcohol, which are harmful VOCs, unsafe for both humans and the environment.”
The answer for safe scenting in public spaces, according to Weening, is “scent delivery systems that can control quantity and have the technology to produce a good scent effect with ultra low quantities of human safe ingredients. The technology for controlled delivery is available and is being used now.”
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Add comment July 16, 2008
