An A.I. Olfaction Project - Boosting Your Memory

Mr. Y

The "Dr. Curious" (Haoqi Boshi) WeChat official account just published an article:

Smelling seven specific scents over the course of six months can boost memory by 226%. My interest was immediately piqued.

The seven scents are: lavender, rosemary, peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, orange, and rose - and the idea is to rotate through them.

Researchers conducted a controlled study involving a group of elderly participants. After six months, those who smelled these scents daily showed a 226% improvement in learning and memory test performance compared to the control group !

That’s absolutely incredible - almost hard to believe! I’ve watched memory competitions on TV where they share tips for enhancing memory; usually, a 20% to 30% improvement is considered quite impressive. But a 226% boost just from smelling scents? That’s an extraordinary, massive leap.

The study explains the mechanism: among all human senses, only the sense of smell is directly connected to the limbic system - the part of the brain responsible for memory.

This reminds me of those moments when a strong, sharp scent hits - it’s a tingling, piercing sensation that seems to shoot straight to the back of the brain. It’s an instantaneous, visceral jolt - the kind that other senses rarely trigger, as they usually require more time to process.

Seen in this light, the claim that scents can significantly enhance memory might well be true.

So, I decided to buy some essential oils known for memory enhancement. Then it occurred to me: unscrewing and smelling different bottles every single day would be a hassle. It would be much better to get an automatic aroma diffuser.

I searched on Alibaba, and - wow - the results filled the entire screen. However, every single product I found could only hold one type of essential oil at a time.

Since the best results come from rotating through a variety of scents, I asked an AI if there were any diffusers capable of releasing different fragrances in a specific sequence or rhythm.

According to the information from the AI, it turns out that entrepreneurs all over the world are already exploring this space. Devices capable of releasing various scents in a specific sequence or rhythm already have technical names: "scent synthesizer" or "digital olfactory display."

The technology for controlling these rhythms is also quite mature. High-end scent synthesizers can natively support the DMX protocol (commonly used for synchronizing stage lighting and sound) and offer robust API engine plugins, making software integration seamless.

Prominent companies currently innovating in this emerging field include Moodo (based in Israel) and Scent Kingdom (based in Hangzhou).

I took a look at both of their websites. Moodo allows for the blending of three different scents, though users are limited to a selection of 32 pre-defined options. As for Scent Kingdom, while their website claims their devices can hold 12 different scents - controllable via an app -their official online store currently only lists standard, single-scent diffusers.

In my experience, achieving this kind of rhythmic, multi-scent control doesn't require any "black magic" or inaccessible, cutting-edge technology.

One could set this up at home by connecting a microcontroller to a liquid vaporizer, which in turn links to several essential oil containers. A mobile app could be used to program the desired rhythm, prompting the controller to release the oils accordingly - a mechanism much like that of a multi-color ink cartridge system in a printer.

While working on this piece, I popped into a nearby shop and picked up three scents said to "enhance memory": a lavender-based balm, along with lemon and rose essential oils.

I placed them on my desk; even though they were still sealed, the scent of the lavender balm managed to drift through the packaging.

Over the next few hours, I would catch the occasional, gentle whiff of the lavender - soothing, calming, and entirely pleasant. I had assumed I wouldn't be able to tolerate being in a scented environment for long, but it turns out it’s not an issue at all.

I also sampled the other two oils and found that I personally prefer the lemon. However, as I expected, without a diffuser, the scents are barely noticeable unless you bring your nose right up to the opening of the bottle. Of course, it’s also possible that my desk is just too large, or that the bottle was a bit too far away.

However, once I peeled off the sticker on the solid perfume, the scent became so intense that it started to distract me. Recalling the concept of "olfactory fatigue" - which I’d ​​come across on an aromatherapy device website - it finally clicked: this is why manufacturers always emphasize their ability to precisely control the diffusion and circulation of scents.

Yet, I see things a bit differently. Manufacturers seem to underestimate the adaptability of our bodies and brains. In reality, people often overlook a force that is far more practical and effective: simplicity.

I even suspect that, with some guidance from AI, I could cobble together a multi-scent regulator myself. I may not know anything about electrical engineering, microelectronics, or coding - but the AI ​​does!

I’ve decided to give it a try!