The Newest in Digital Media: Scents Sent From Your Smartphone

As a digital media agency, you could say it’s our duty to stay on top of the newest trends happening all over the digital world. So what if we told you that by the end of the year, it’s possible for businesses and consumers to send a scent from a smartphone?

A new mobile app dubbed Scentee is doing just that and causing new whiffs in Japan, according to the Wall Street Journal. The application (which requires a hardware device that plugs into your smartphone) allows smartphone users to send delicious scents like they would a photo or a video – directly from their phones.

How it Works:

The application requires a small hardware device that pops into your mobile phone’s headphone jack. Choose a scent through the app and watch your phone emit mouth-watering smells such as apple, lavender, barbecued meat, coffee, or cinnamon roll with only a touch of your screen.

Scentee is expected to arrive in the U.S. November 15 for around $35, with replacement cartridges for $10. New scents will include meat (specifically short ribs and beef tongue). Ads promoting the new application in Japan are placing it as the ultimate flavor-saver, helping poor college students save money and helping weight-conscious dieters save calories. The idea is that if you smell the food, it’ll be just as fulfilling as really eating it, even if what you’re eating is only a bowl or rice, lettuce, or bread. While it’s common knowledge that scent plays a major role in taste, we think it’s a cruel mind-trick on your stomach.

Our Thoughts

We’re not buying into the odd advertising, however, we think that it’s incredible that this new mobile trend is surfacing. It’s a starting point for bigger and better things. Imagine, in the future, sending a smell of a backyard barbecue, tropical island vacation, or your lively restaurant on a Saturday night to another person from the convenience of your phone? What if you added a video to that at the same time? It would be the best way to give that viewer or consumer the ultimate experience, without requiring them to actually be there.

There are so many weird, bizarre, interesting, and profound online trends out there right now. And it’s our job as a digital marketing agency to discover and learn about the great ones and pass them along to our clients. However, there is a lot of maneuvering involved to unearth which ones provide really valuable takeaways. While we do like the idea of this one, we’ll have to see if it sticks in the next several months. As consumers ourselves, we know that the best digital ideas will move past the clutter and become a part of our lives. In the meantime, we’ll be enjoying the sight, scent, and taste of our company pizza and beer days.

What are you thoughts on this brand new trend? Do you think it’ll stick? Feel free to leave a comment!

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About Small Screen Producer

Small Screen Producer is a full service, marketing firm located in Houston, Texas that specializes in online digital media marketing through a 4-step process. Step 1: WE PLAN a custom web presence strategy for your business through website design and development, mobile development, social media account creation and branding. STEP 2: We then POSITION your brand through Pay-Per-Click advertising and search engine optimize tactics that include on-page and off-page SEO that are Google and Bing approved. STEP 3: We then PROMOTE your brand using an Inbound marketing strategy or a content marketing strategy to help you accomplish your marketing goals. We do this through blogging, video production, infographics, call-to-actions, landing pages, and free educational offers. We help you build trust and rapport with your customer base. STEP 4: We then PROTECT your brand’s web presence with a reputation management program that monitors social media and on line reviews. Get started today with a free online marketing assessment of your company’s web presence. Your company deserves it.