Many of these scents are supplied by Lancashire-based company Dale Air, which for over 25 years has re-created the smells of melted chocolate, roast chicken, coffee, home-baking and sun-cream to the more pungent stenches of dragon's breath, flatulence, an Egyptian Mummy and New York tenement housing. The company is known worldwide for its provision of themed aromas to a wide portfolio of clients from museums and public displays / attractions, to hotels, zoos and retailers.
Dale Air's managing director, Frank Knight said: "Our sense of smell is unbelievably powerful, it triggers emotions and captures our imagination. More and more over the last decade Dale Air has experienced a growing interest from a wide range of clients seeking some bizarre smells! The world of scent is a fascinating business; only yesterday Jaguar urine arrived at our studio - another scent to be replicated!"
Most recently, the world's fourth largest telecommunication's giant, France Telecom R&D contacted family-run Dale Air to develop a prototype model to emit aromas using the company's specially created software. France Telecom R&D's software, called exhalia, is programmed to signal to Dale Air's speaker-sized machine - the Vortex Active - exactly what and when to emit an aroma in synchronization with the multimedia support (picture, speech, movie, TV program, etc). Exhalia and the aroma technology can be used across all digital platforms, for example on a reel of film, CD or movie. The software can also diffuse smells through the internet or TV channels.
Knight continued: "We're so excited to have been approached by France Telecom R&D. We're a small family-run business and therefore a development project of this size is very significant for us. We are so excited to be involved."
The prototype for the Vortex Active will be on view at the Black Museum in Dudley, West Midlands as from the 15th January 2004 provisionally for two months.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
