Week 4 Notes for concept and research about smell

For the concept presentation I chose to focus on a concept involving scent and the sense smell, as well as heat and/or vibration.

Here are some fun facts about smell:

The smell of lavender can help with insomnia and sleep disorders. 

Taste is about 75% smell.  

Your nose can smell directionally, telling you where an odor originates

Your sense of smell is least acute in the morning; our ability to perceive odours increases as the day wears on.

only when an odour irritates or pleases will we stop to take notice

The aroma of Green Apples can help control appetite.  

Recall can be enhanced if learning is done in the presence of an odor and that same odor is present at the time of the recollection. (For this reason some teachers burn chocolate scented candles in their classroom and then again at Mandatory National Tests like the SAT.)  

Whiffing lavender oil during your next dental visit may blur the memory of your pain. Researchers at the University of Florida College of Dentistry exposed 13 men and 13 women to uncomfortable heat and pressure on muscles in the jaw and back and then had them inhale lavender or an odorless control for 10 minutes during different sessions. The lavender oil significantly reduced the memory of pain's intensity and unpleasantness. 

Some interesting web-pages about smell:
http://www.smellandtaste.org/index.cfm?action=research.sexual

Linked to memories

When your olfactory receptors are stimulated, they transmit impulses to your brain. This pathway is directly connected to your limbic system, the part of your brain that deals with emotions. That's why your reactions to smell are rarely neutral - you usually either like or dislike a smell. Smells also leave long-lasting impressions and are strongly linked to your memories. The scent of mown grass, for example, might remind you of a childhood summer holiday, and the smell of chocolate chip cookies may make you think of your grandmother.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/factfiles/smell/smell_animation.shtml

Humans have 7 primary odours that help them determine objects and if your nose is at its best you can tell the difference between a staggering 4,000 – 10,000 smells. As you get older your smell gets worse, so children are more likely to have a better sense of smell compared to their parents or grand-parent and the smell function of men drops dramatically in their mid-50s, almost a decade earlier than women.
http://glowellbeing.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/fun-facts-about-smell-sight-touch-taste-and-hearing/


I researched products that are available on the market that have a scent-release function. The following products are from 'Glade'. The refills last for 30 days and can be purchased separately.

This product has a motion sensor that can detect motion up to 1.5 meters away. It also has a boost button, allowing you to release fragrance when you wish. The detector responds when something casts a shadow over the sensor. It blinks every five seconds. After it releases scent it goes in to lock out mode for 20min. is However it does not function properly if the room is too dark, or if it is placed directly under a light, especially sunlight. Furthermore the sensor in front of the device is blocked by objects.

The image on the right show how the components inside the product are placed. Here we see that traditional AA batteries are being used. The container can also easily be replaced and sits at the center.

dc

This product (Decor scent) plugs in to any outlet. The electricity warms up the scented gel, and functions well in larger rooms.

This product has a plug-in function, and the amount of fragrance release can be adjusted through the wheel. Universal refills can be purchased separately. One alternative is using a refill called 'alternating fragrance release' that switches between two scents every 45 minutes. (scented oil warmer)

The product on the right automatically releases fragrance and lasts for 60 days. It has a 36min setting and an additional boost button. 











Facts about air-fresheners

On Glade's website they have a column with questions regarding air fresheners. I have posted some of these underneath.

Are electric air fresheners hazardous to your health?

No. When used according to label instructions, in real life situations, air fresheners are safe. In addition, there is no evidence supporting a significant risk to human health from the use of air fresheners under normal conditions. 

I have seen media reports regarding an EPA study? What is this?

Some media reports state that an EPA study suggests using electric warmers may be hazardous to one's health. According to the EPA, such a statement is neither accurate nor defensible. 

Should I be concerned about using electric air fresheners?

No. The EPA study does not indicate that using an electric air freshener may be harmful to one's health and for anyone to suggest that it does would be distorting the study and taking it beyond its scientific scope.

How are your products regulated?

Consumer specialty products are regulated by numerous federal agencies. Various federal statutes and regulations apply to the manufacture, distribution, use and disposal of these products. 

I have read postings on the Internet alleging that Glade® electric air fresheners have been involved in fires. Is this true?

SC Johnson is aware that there have been postings on the Internet that have claimed that our products were involved in fires. It is important that you know that all of our electric air fresheners are safe and will not cause fires. We know this because Glade® electric air fresheners have been sold for more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of the products are being used safely.  

Because we are committed to selling safe products, SC Johnson thoroughly investigated these rumors. First, we confirmed that no one had contacted SC Johnson to tell us about these fires or to ask us to investigate them. Additionally, we had a leading fire investigation expert call the fire department representative who is identified in one of the Internet postings. That fireman indicated that he has no evidence that our products had caused any fire.

We suspect this rumor may be associated with a past SC Johnson voluntary recall of one of its air freshener products, a Glade® Extra Outlet Scented Oil product that was sold for a short period before June 1, 2002. After discovering an assembly error in a small number of that product, SC Johnson implemented a voluntary recall and provided extensive information about the product to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). After revising the manufacturing process and thorough testing for proper assembly, the Glade® PlugIns® Scented Oil Extra Outlet product returned to store shelves on June 3, 2002. SC Johnson has no knowledge of any credible reports of fire related to this product. We also know that our products do not cause fires because all of our electric air fresheners have been thoroughly tested by Underwriters Laboratories and other independent laboratories and our products meet or exceed safety requirements. SC Johnson continues to work closely with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate allegations involving these products.
As a more-than-100-year-old family-owned company, SC Johnson is committed to providing top-quality products that can be used safely in homes, and we want to reassure you that Glade® electric air fresheners can be used with complete confidence.