CES 2025 ALMOST INVISIBLE SMELL TECH HIGHLIGHTS
The significantly reduced presence of fragrance hardware innovations at CES 2025 highlights a deeper transformation in digital scent technology. The most significant developments are no longer taking place on the convention floor — they are happening in research labs, corporate R&D departments, and startups.
Still, several innovations at CES offered a glimpse into how sensory technology is evolving across various domains:
L’ORÉAL | My Aura
A truly universal, sensor-activated perfume dispenser, My Aura makes fragrance application effortless for everyone, regardless of physical ability. Unlike brand-specific devices, it works with any perfume, marking a significant step toward inclusive fragrance technology.
<no image>
KOREA GOVERNMENT | Digital Cent
A government-backed initiative, Digital Cent introduced a smartphone-controlled granule capsule system for custom fragrance creation. While similar technologies have been explored by other companies, Digital Cent is another step in the ongoing effort to refine and improve custom perfumery. This reflects the growing interest in making personalized fragrances more accessible.
KIRIN HOLDINGS | Kirin Electric Salt Spoon
In collaboration with Meiji University’s Miyashita Laboratory, Kirin developed the Electric Salt Spoon to amplify the salty and umami taste of low-sodium foods. Using electrical stimulation, it increases perceived saltiness by approximately 1.5 times across five intensity levels. This shows how non-invasive technologies can integrate into daily life. Could similar tech enhance or alter scent experiences?
KURIMOTO LTD | SoftMRF
Japanese scientists developed a haptic feedback system using magnetorheological fluid, a material that changes texture when exposed to magnetic fields. This technology allows precise control of surface textures, opening possibilities for multi-sensory applications, including pairing fragrance with touch for immersive sensory experiences.
SKYTED | Skyted 320
AA headset designed to create personal sound bubbles, the Skyted 320 demonstrates how sensory control is becoming increasingly individualized. This boundary-setting technology could also transform how we use scent in different contexts — allowing individuals to tailor personal scent experiences for themselves or curate fragrances intended for others in shared spaces. Such innovations hint at a future where scent can be dynamically adapted to fit various scenarios, from personal relaxation to enhancing communal environments.
The scarcity of physical fragrance devices at CES 2025 reflects a broader shift in the industry. The real innovation lies in computational power and AI — areas not the most suited for flashy trade floor booths, but will transform how we create and experience scent. Nvidia’s Blackwell chip architecture and Project DIGITS platform highlight this shift. Project DIGITS, a $3,000 desktop computer launching in May, enables developers and enthusiasts to run AI models with up to 200 billion parameters from their desks, eliminating the need for expensive cloud infrastructure. For fragrance, this means perfumers could rapidly create novel molecules that meet multiple criteria almost instantaneously, with faster processing, better scent predictions, and the ability to simulate thousands of combinations in seconds while understanding how they interact with different environments or body chemistry.
The true breakthrough lies in processing power — the ability to simulate complex molecular interactions, create reformulations, predict scent behavior, and digital twins of fragrances before they are synthesized. Instead of eye-catching hardware products, the most exciting advancements are happening in labs, R&D centers, and startups, fundamentally reshaping how we design, personalize, and experience scent.
At Future of Smell, we use AI to transform how fragrances are created, discovered, and experienced. Let’s shape the future of scent together — reach out at olivia@futureofsmell.com.
