New Device Brings ‘Smell-O-Vision’ Concept to Your Home Theater

The concept behind the '60s movie theater Smell-O-Vision system has been revamped for modern times, in the form of a device that will release scents to match the scenes playing on your home theater system.

MovieScent, which goes on sale in September, will release a range of smells according to the movie or TV show you’re watching, or the video game you’re playing, based on audio cues interpreted by AI.

The $180 unit ($150 until Sept. 30) will come with six initial scents: ocean, fresh cut grass, restaurant, forest and storm, plus a manual clean air option to act as a palette cleanser. Each bottle, at a cost of $90 for six, can be triggered over 4,000 times, with 36 more options set to arrive in the coming months including fire, jungle, zombie, new car and blood.

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“Imagine how diminished life would be without the sense of smell and taste,” the manufacturers said in a statement. “But that is exactly how movies, TV shows and video games have been experienced – until now! [You] can now go beyond sight and sound [to] smell and taste environments and events, in real time. Using the connection between scent and memory, we can [provide] a deeper, immersive experience.”

MovieScent Promises Five Minutes to Smell-O-Vision at Home

They said the system was compatible with “every movie and game ever made as well as a wide range of devices including all TVs, PCs, mobile phones, tablets, gaming systems and VR headsets.” They continued: “MovieScent can be used anywhere someone is watching content.

“The process begins with its state-of-the-art adaptor that captures audio in real-time through HDMI, 3.5mm audio jack or optical audio cable connections. Audio is then processed by proprietary AI technology, which identifies key cues and events within the content. The AI-identified scent is then released from the scent atomizer, creating an instantaneous and synchronized sensory experience.”

MovieScent – which follows a similar GameScent product, and appears comparable to a planned non-AI device for adventure gaming – is said to require a simple five-minute app-based setup process, and the scent bottles are easy to swap.

Watch the MovieScent Commercial