SCENT, SMELL AND ODOR CREATION FROM AN AROMAGRAPH

Abstract

Disclosed here are methods and apparati for making a desired scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste. Also disclosed herein are methods and apparati for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste that will produce a desired response in a desired group of subjects.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A method for predicting a response of a subject to a composition comprising; generating a first Aromagraph based on the binding of a plurality of olfactory receptor biosensors to the composition, the composition having an odor; comparing the first Aromagraph to a database comprising a plurality of second Aromagraphs, wherein each of the plurality of second Aromagraphs is associated with a predetermined response to the odor from a panel of subjects; and predicting the response of the subject to the composition based on the comparison.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of olfactory receptor biosensors comprises a mammalian olfactory receptor.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the composition comprises a solution or a suspension.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the composition comprises an aerosol or a vapor.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the composition comprises a solid.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the predicted response is the same as the predetermined response.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the predicted response is different from the predetermined response.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined response is happiness, well-being, peacefulness, relaxation, or a combination thereof.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined response is stimulation, invigoration, refreshment, or a combination thereof.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined response is disgust, irritation, unpleasantness, nauseating, or a combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the database further comprises demographic information associated with each of the plurality of second Aromagraphs.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the demographic information comprises age, race, nationality, income, geographic location, sex, or a combination thereof.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the database measures the level of the predetermined response associated with the plurality of second Aromagraphs.

34. A method for selecting compositions that generate a desired response comprising: identifying the desired response in a subject; identifying an odor that produces the desired response; selecting an Aromagraph associated with the desired response from a database of Aromagraphs; and identifying a composition that matches the selected Aromagraph.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each Aromagraph in the database is based on the binding of a plurality of olfactory receptor biosensors to a composition.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the plurality of olfactory receptor biosensors comprises a mammalian olfactory receptor.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the composition comprises a solution or a suspension.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the composition comprises an aerosol or a vapor.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the composition comprises a solid.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the desired response is happiness, well-being, peacefulness, relaxation, or a combination thereof.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the desired response is stimulation, invigoration, refreshment, or a combination thereof.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the database measures the level of the desired response associated with the Aromagraph.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the database further comprises demographic information associated with the Aromagraph.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the demographic information comprises age, race, nationality, income, geographic location, sex, or a combination thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Before the various embodiments are described, it is to be understood that the teachings of this disclosure are not limited to the particular embodiments described, and as such can, of course, vary It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present teachings will be limited only by the appended claims.

[0020] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present teachings, some exemplary methods and materials are now described.

[0021] As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which can be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present teachings Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible.

DEFINITIONS

[0022] As used herein, an “Aromagraph” refers to a digital representation of the response to an odorant by an Olfactory Receptor or a repertoire of Olfactory Receptors.

[0023] As used herein, a “component of an odorant” refers to a molecule or molecules of an odorant which odorant is made up of multiple different molecules (and/or elements). A component is a subpart of the odorant that when combined with other subparts makes the composition which is the odorant.

[0024] As used herein, an “effective amount” refers to an amount of a compound, formulation, material, or composition, as described herein effective to achieve a particular biological result.

[0025] As used herein, the term “heterologous” refers to two or more components that are not normally found in the same relationship to each other in nature. For instance, a nucleic acid can be recombinantly produced, having two or more sequences, e.g., from unrelated genes arranged to make a new functional nucleic acid. Similarly, a “heterologous” composition refers to two or more molecules that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature.

[0026] As used herein, the term “library” means a collection of components and/or odorants. A library can contain odorants and/or components that have similar or related interactions with a repertoire of Olfactory Receptors.

[0027] As used herein, the term “naturally occurring” means that the components are found in a composition that pre-exists in an organism.

[0028] As used herein, an “odorant” refers to any substance or composition that can be detected by at least one Olfactory Receptor.

[0029] As used herein, the terms “Olfactory Receptor” or “OR” are used interchangeably herein to refer to olfactory receptors, trace amine associated receptors, vomeronasal receptors, formyl peptide receptors, membrane guanylyl cyclase, subtype GC-D receptors, and &protein coupled taste receptors. Olfactory Receptors also include hybrid receptors made from olfactory receptors, trace amine associated receptors, vomeronasal receptors, formyl peptide receptors, membrane guanylyl cyclase, subtype GC-D receptors, and G-protein coupled taste receptors Olfactory Receptors include, at least, ectopic Olfactory Receptors and Olfactory Receptors in the nasal cavity.

[0030] As used herein, the term “real time” refers to taking multiple measurements during a reaction or interaction as opposed to making a single measurement at the end of the reaction, or at a specified time point. Real time measurements are often used to quantitate the amount of a component in a sample, or to provide relative quantification of two or more components in a sample. Real time measurements can also be used to determine kinetic parameters of a reaction or interaction. Real time measurements can be used to characterize the interaction of a component and/or an odorant with an Olfactory Receptor.

[0031] As used herein, the term “repertoire” refers to a group of genes encoding a plurality of different Olfactory Receptors or to the polypeptides which are the plurality of different Olfactory Receptors. The repertoire may represent all of the Olfactory Receptors of a species, e.g., human, dog, or cat. Alternatively, the repertoire may represent the Olfactory Receptors that detect a taste, scent, smell, aroma, and/or odor. The repertoire may also represent the Olfactory Receptors that detect a desired, pleasing, arousing, or adverse taste, scent, smell, aroma, and/or odor. The repertoire may represent the Olfactory Receptors of a class, family, type, or other desired group of Olfactory Receptors. The repertoire may also be a group of Olfactory Receptors chosen for a desired purpose.

[0032] As used herein, the term “subject” is defined to mean a biological entity. The biological entity is an organism that has Olfactory Receptors The subject can be a mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, etc. The mammal can be a human. The human may be diagnosed or suspected of being at high risk for a disease.

[0033] As used herein, the term “taste receptors” refers to G-protein coupled taste receptors for detecting sweet, bitter, and umami (glutamate), and ion channels and ionotropic receptors for detecting salty and sour.

[0034] The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” and vice-versa unless the context clearly indicates otherwise Numerical limitations given with respect to concentrations or levels of a substance, such as an antigen, are intended to be approximate. Thus, where a concentration is indicated to be at least (for example) 200 μg, it is intended that the concentration be understood to be at least “approximately about” or “about” 200 μg.

Aromagraphs and Digitized OR Binding Data

[0035] An Aromagraph is digitized data for odorant binding at one or more Olfactory Receptors. Such data can be obtained from Olfactory Receptor biosensors, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No 15/441,062 filed on Feb. 23, 2017, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data can represent odorant binding at one or more Olfactory Receptors and can be expressed as on/off data, binding affinity, maximal signal, time to maximum signal, area under the curve, kinetics for on and off binding, etc. Aromagraph data and/or digitized binding data can be obtained at a set time, or measured in real time or over time. Aromagraph data and/or digitized binding data can reflect responses from the reporter of the biosensor and/or can be comparative data that is quantitated against a reference. The reference can be a G-protein coupled receptor with a known affinity for a known ligand. The reference can also be a reporter that has a known and described expression. This reference reporter can be expressed in the same cell with the biosensor.

[0036] Aromagraphs and/or digitized Olfactory Receptor binding data can be used to identify a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste. An Aromagraph and/or digitized Olfactory Receptor binding data can be used to uniquely identify a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste. An Aromagraph and/or digitized Olfactory Receptor binding data can be used to describe a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste. For odorants that have more than one component, Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data can be used to characterize the Olfactory Receptor interactions of the individual components, and the interaction of the individual components can be modeled using the Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data information of the components to give the composite Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data of a complex odorant.

[0037] Aromagraph data and/or digitized binding data for a plurality of odorants and odorant components can be used to make a database of components and odorants from which desired odorants can be made. The database of odorants and components can also include scoring of the odorants by panels of subjects. Such scoring can measure the subjective response of subjects to odorants and can characterize subject response to odorants based on geographic location, age, sex, income, other socio-economic factors, race, nationality, etc. of the subjects. The subject response could grade the odorants based on categories such as, for example, happiness/well-being (pleasant, pleasant surprise, amusement, attracted, well-being, happiness, nostalgic, salivating), awe/sensuality (admiration, in love, desire, feeling awe, excited, romantic, sensual, sexy), disgust/irritation (disgusted, unpleasant, unpleasant surprise, angry, dissatisfaction, irritated, sickening, dirty), soothing/peacefulness (soothed, light, clean, relaxed, serene, reassured), energizing/refreshing (energetic, refreshed, revitalized, stimulated, invigorating, shivering), delicacy (pleasant, attractive, beneficial, carnal, delicate, discrete, distinguished, soft, elegant, erotic, feminine, harmonious, light clean, refined, reassuring, romantic, seducing, sensual, sophisticated, subtle, voluptuous), heaviness (animal, unpleasant, foul, heavy, nauseous, penetrating, stinky, dirty, persistent), healthiness (dynamic, fresh, spring-like, clean, pure, invigorating, healthy, tonic) and sweet (mouth-watering, childish). Subject response to components and odorants can also include a time component to assess whether the subjects response to the component or odorant changes over time as the subject is exposed to the odorant or component.

[0038] Subject responses can also include demographic information on the subjects such as, for example, sex, sexual orientation, age, income, residence, historical residences (or geographic location), ethnicity, nationality, and other demographic or socioeconomic factors. These demographic and/or socioeconomic factors can correlate with common experiences of the subjects when the subjects were exposed to odorants. Olfaction is tied to associative learning and emotional processing as the olfactory bulbs are part of the limbic system and are directly connected to the amygdala (emotion processing) and the hippocampus (associative learning). Thus, subjects who share common experiences when exposed to scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes are likely to have similar responses. Many scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste responses are formed during childhood so obtaining demographic and socioeconomic data on subject's childhoods can be important to correlating responses for subjects.

Using an Aromagraph to Make a Scent, Smell, Odor, Aroma and/or Taste

[0039] An Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data or group of Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data that have a desired subject response profile (e.g., response for happiness/well-being, awe/sensuality, soothing/peacefulness, energizing/refreshing, delicacy, and/or healthiness) can be used to make a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste that will have a desired response in a desired group of subjects (sharing traits measured in the database, e.g., geographic location, socioeconomic status, sex, age, etc.). Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data can characterize Olfactory Receptor interactions at a plurality of Olfactory Receptors as on/off data, binding affinity, maximal signal, time to maximum signal, area under the curve (AUC), etc. Using components and odorants from the database, one can construct in silico a composition that mimics the desired Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data. The in silico derived compositions can then be tested against a plurality of Olfactory Receptor biosensors to measure the Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data of the new composition. Comparison of the new Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data to the desired Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data can be done to calculate a closeness measure of the two Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data.

[0040] Odorants that produced a desired response (e.g., happiness/well-being, awe/sensuality, soothing/peacefulness, energizing/refreshing, delicacy, healthiness, and/or a combination of the foregoing) from a panel of subjects can be selected for scent reproduction Alternatively, a database of odorant Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data with subject responses can be used to select a combination of components and/or odorants which can produce a desired response in a set of subjects. The database and library of odorants can include agonists, antagonists and allosteric regulators of Olfactory Receptors. In an aspect, a combination of components and/or odorants can be made where different groups of subjects have a common response to different components and/or odorants of the composition (based upon the experiences of the subjects in the different groups). Such a composition, of components and/or odorants can produce a desired response in larger group or population of subjects by mixing the components and/or odorants that produce the common response in different subjects. Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data for the odorant to be reproduced can be used to make a designed composition using components that are combined to make a composite Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data that is similar to or the same as the Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data of the odorant to be reproduced. For example, Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data that score Olfactory Receptor interactions as on/off signals can be used to find combinations of components and odorants from a database which provide the same on/off signal pattern as the Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data from the odorant to be reproduced. These combinations can combined odorants to produce the same on/off pattern as the desired odorant and can include antagonists and/or allosteric regulators that modify the Aromagraph of the composite to be the same as or close to the desired Aromagraph. More detailed Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data for the odorant to be reproduced can measure Olfactory Receptor interactions by binding characteristics such as, for example, affinity, maximum signal, time to maximum signal, or AUC. These more detailed Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data can be used to screen candidates from the pool of on/off Aromagraph compositions for compositions that produce predicted Aromagraphs and/or digitized binding data that match the more detailed Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data for the odorant to be reproduced.

[0041] Software algorithms applied to the library of Aromagraphs may be used to create a ranked list of candidate Aromagraphs or combinations of Aromagraphs which will most closely match the desired target scent.

An Apparatus far Making a Scent, Smell, Odor, Aroma and/or Taste

[0042] The apparatus can include a computer readable storage medium, a data processing unit, a component handling system, a mixing system, a volatilization system, and a delivery apparatus. Alternatively, the storage medium for at least some information can be cloud based and the apparatus accesses this cloud based information using a communication system (e.g., a modem, Bluetooth, or wifi communications device). The computer readable storage medium can include the database of Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data for the library of components and/or odorants, and optionally the database can include subject responses to the components and/or odorants happiness/well-being, awe/sensuality, soothing/peacefulness, energizing/refreshing, delicacy, healthiness, and/or a combination of the foregoing) including demographic information associated with the responses. The computer readable storage medium includes, for example, any commercially available memory devices for storing information such as flash drives (Sandisk), hard disk drives (Seagate), magnetic storage devices (HP or Sony), and optical disks (Sony or LG). The data processing unit is configured to calculate the Aromagraph or digitized binding data for a composition made from components and/or odorants from the library, and the data processing unit is configured to compare the calculated Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data to the desired Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data. The data processing unit can include, for example, any commercially available central processing unit (such as CPUs sold by Intel or AMD) programmed with software for analyzing the Aromagraph and/or digitized binding data from the database.

[0043] The component handling system accesses the components and/or odorants in the library and provides desired amounts of the components and/or odorants to the mixing system. The component handling system can be robotic, a fluidics system, or a combination of these two. The mixing system combines the components into solutions and/or suspensions which are provided to the volatilization system. The volatilization system produces vapors or aerosols of the composition which are provided to the delivery apparatus.

[0044] The component handling system can include storage for the various components from which scents, smells, odors, aromas, and/or tastes can be made. Components can be stored in the apparatus as solutions, suspensions, solids, or gases The solutions and/or suspensions can be made with a solvent (e.g., water) and suitable GRAS (generally regarded as safe) materials (e.g., ethyl alcohol, acetate, phosphate buffers, PEG) and/or other suitable excipients (see, e.g., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Pub Co., N.J. 1991), Remington's The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 22.sup.nd Edition (Pharmaceutical Press 2013), which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes). The component handling system also has materials handling components for mixing components to be made into a vapor or aerosol. Once mixed, the mixture can be turned into a vapor or an aerosol. The apparatus can include fluidic channels, valves and other components for handling the solutions and suspensions of the components.

[0045] The volatilization system can produce vapors and/or aerosols of the various components in a composition that mimics the odorant to be reproduced. A vapor of some components can be made by heating the component to the temperature at which the component becomes a gas (e.g., sublimation or boiling temperature). The component handling system can store vapor components as solids (components that sublime) and/or liquids and/or gases. When a composition calls for one of these components, the component is retrieved by the component handling system that provides the component to the mixing system. The mixing system combines the components with other components and this mixture is provided to the volatilization system. In this example, the volatilization system can utilize a heating receptacle where the component are heated to become a vapor. The vapor is provided to the delivery apparatus that delivers the vapor to the subject. The amount of vapor released can be controlled by the amount of liquid/solid component placed into the heating receptacle and the amount of gas released from the delivery apparatus, Vapor production can also be controlled over time so that specific amounts of odorants are volatilized at specific times and the end user is exposed to varying amounts of odorant over time. In some aspects, components which are vapors or that can be vaporized are processed separate from the components for aerosols, and the system combines the vapor(s) and the aerosols prior to delivery to the user.

[0046] Components can be released as an aerosol using, for example, an aerosol dispensing system, nebulizers, ink-jet printer technology, etc. Aerosol dispensing systems can use a propellant that usually has a boiling point near room temperature so that in the pressurized vessel the propellant exists as both a gas and a liquid. The payload to be delivered in the aerosol can be miscible with liquid propellant, or it can be suspended in the propellant. When the propellant is released from the pressurized vessel the propellant forms a mist containing the payload (component). Nebulizers use compressed air or ultrasonic power to break-up a solution or suspension of a solvent and the payload into small droplets that form a mist that can be inhaled. Jet nebulizers use compressed air or oxygen as a propellant that flows at a high velocity through a liquid solution or suspension to make an aerosol that can be inhaled. Ink-jet printer heads heat solutions with a resistor to form a bubble that is used to make and propel an aerosol. Ink-jet technology can be used to make vapors from components that can be heated to a gas, and to make aerosols of those components that cannot be heated to a vapor but can be made into an aerosol.

[0047] The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can also include a delivery apparatus (or mechanism). The delivery apparatus (or mechanism) can be, for example, a tube, mask, cannula, nozzle, diffuser, atomizer, evaporator, fan, or other device that presents the aerosol and/or vapor to the user or the environment of the user.

[0048] The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste receives a recipe for a desired mixture and then makes the mixture from the stored components. This mixture (or mixtures) are then made into aerosols and/or vapors. The aerosol and/or vapors of the designed scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can then be delivered to a user.

Virtual Reality Platforms

[0049] Scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes made from components of the library, and which components are mixed to recreate the desired aromagraph, can be released as a vapor and/or aerosol from the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor or aroma in conjunction with a virtual reality platform. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor or aroma can be connected to a delivery apparatus that delivers the vapor and/or aerosol to the user of the virtual reality system.

[0050] Commercially sold virtual reality systems can be used with the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste. Such VR systems include, for example, the Facebook Oculus Rift platform, Oculus Gear VR platform, the Google Daydream platform including the VIVE standalone headset with Daydream, the Lenovo standalone headset with Daydream, and the Daydream view for Smart Phones, the HTC VIVE platform, Sony Playstation® VR platform, and Osterhout Design Group smartglasses models, R8 and R9 (extended reality glasses). The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor or aroma can be configured to he a component of any of these platforms so that desired scents, smells, odors or aromas can be delivered in conjunction with the programs (games, etc.) that are running on the respective VR platforms.

[0051] The delivery apparatus can be configured to be detachable from the head mounted VR display. The delivery apparatus can be detachably mounted to the head mounted display using any suitable means for attaching the delivery apparatus including, for example, an adhesive, a screw, Velcro (hook and loop fasteners), a strap which optionally can be closed using Velcro, or a mating attachment that snaps or joins together with a complementary attachment on the head mounted display. Alternatively, the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas, and/or tastes can produce scents, smells, odors and/or aromas that are introduced into a room or gaming environment so that a group of users (users and viewers) can experience the scent, smell, odor, and/or aroma during the viewing of the content. The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas, and/or tastes can communicate wirelessly or through a wire with the VR gaming system.

Uses of Aromagraph Scents, Smells, Odors, Aromas and/or Tastes

[0052] VR systems can be combined with the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes to include desired scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes as part of the content presented on the VR system. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste receives instructions from the VR program that instructs the apparatus to make a particular scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste. The apparatus combines the components from its library to make the desired scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste and this composition is volatilized by the apparatus as vapors and/or aerosols which are presented to the user by a delivery mechanism of the apparatus. Using the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste, the VR program (e.g., a game) can include scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes as part of the presentation of content to the user.

[0053] In a similar way, the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be combined with other gaming systems so that scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be included as part of the game play on these other gaming systems. These other gaming platforms can be configured to communicate with the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes and as game programs run on the gaming system those programs can send instructions to the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes. These instructions can cause the apparatus to make a desired scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste by combining the needed components from the component library, followed by volatilization of the composition into vapors and/or aerosols. These vapors and aerosols are delivered to the game user by the delivery mechanism of the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes.

[0054] In general, the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be combined with other entertainment platforms (television, music systems, etc.) to enhance the user experience with these platforms. For example, music or television programs can include scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes as part of their output. A television program or music soundtrack can include instructions for the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes that instructs the apparatus to make a desired scent, smell, odor, aroma and/or taste at a desired time so that the auditory and/or visual stimuli of the entertainment are enhanced by desired scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes.

[0055] The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can also be used to make an Aromascape for use, for example, in stores (e.g., marketing), home or work environments, vehicles, learning/teaching venues (e.g., schools, training facilities, etc.), and recreation venues (e.g., gyms, theatres, arcades, amusement parks, casinos). Aromascapes can be designed to cause desired responses (e.g., emotional and/or cognitive) from subjects (e.g., people or livestock) in a particular environment. For example, an Aromascape in a store display can be designed to attract consumers and enhance the desired response (e.g., happiness/well-being, awe/sensuality, soothing/peacefulness, energizing/refreshing, delicacy, healthiness, and/or a combination of the foregoing) to the goods being displayed. An Aromascape in a supermarket or restaurant can be designed to attract consumers and enhance desired responses to particular goods offered for sale, or enhance the perception of service received by a customer. An Aromascape for use at home could be designed to relax, excite, or enhance other desired responses in the home. An Aromascape in a gym could be designed to enhance physical exertion by the gym members. An Aromascape for an amusement park could be designed to enhance the sensory perception of a ride or interactive show or multi-media performance. An Aromascape ire a vehicle can be designed to enhance driver alertness and to combat drowsiness. An Aromascape in school and/or training facility can increase concentration and uptake of information by students or other persons. Aromascapes can also be designed to change over time, for example, on an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly or seasonal basis. The change ire Aromascape over time can reflect changes in a subject's response to the Aromascape at different times of day, days of the week, days in a month, or days in different seasons.

[0056] A work Aromascape can be designed to enhance work satisfaction and productivity. For example, positive mood is linked to an increase in productivity, performance and the tendency to help others. People exposed to the smells of baking cookies, roasting coffee, and other pleasing smells can be more inclined to help others. People who work in the presence of a pleasant smelling air freshener also report higher self-efficacy, set higher goals and were more likely to employ efficient work strategies than participants who worked in a no-odor condition. Pleasant ambient odors have also been found to enhance vigilance during a tedious task and improve performance with word completion tests. Conversely, the presence of a malodor reduced participant's subjective judgments and lowered their tolerance for frustration. Aromascapes in the work place can be micro-Aromascapes (e.g., individual work stations or offices) or an Aromascape for a room or a floor with multiple work spaces. The micro-Aromascape or Aromascape for multiple workspaces can be made by the apparatus using compositions that produce a desired response in a group of subjects with varying demographic backgrounds (e.g., a composition with multiple odorants that produce the same or similar response in subjects of different backgrounds). Alternatively, micro-Aromascapes can be custom made for individual workstations or offices using the demographic information of the occupant of the workspace or office.

[0057] Aromascapes made by the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be used in real estate to market homes. For example, the apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can produce a desired Aromascape in a home during an open house. The desired Aromascape can be one that relaxes people and makes them feel comfortable in a space, or the Aromascape can be designed to excite people about the home, or etc. The Aromascape used can be designed to produce the desired response in subjects having a desired demographic background. Alternatively, the Aromascape can be designed to produce the same or similar response in subjects of different backgrounds using a composition that contains multiple odorants where different odorants produce the desired response in different groups of subjects (sharing different demographic characteristics).

[0058] The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can also be used for handling livestock, or other nonhuman animals. A desired Aromascape may depend on the activity which the livestock are undertaking. For example, Aromascapes may make the livestock docile and relaxed, or hungry, etc. In an aspect, the livestock can be prepared to have the desired response to the odorant by exposing the young livestock to the odorant when the livestock are experiencing an environment that produces the desired response. For example, when the young livestock are being fed they could be exposed to an odorant so that the livestock associate eating with the odorant.

[0059] The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be used alone or in combination with a VR or other system to suppress appetite. The apparatus and VR system can expose the user to a setting with scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas that suppress the appetite of the subject. When a subject is hungry they can use the VR system with the apparatus to curb and suppress their appetite. A VR display combined with appropriate scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be designed that counteracts hunger in a subject. When a subject experiences the VR display with its scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes, the subject will lose their appetite.

[0060] The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can also he used to design custom smells or scents for branding consumer products. A scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can be designed by using the method for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste to interact with a desired set of Olfactory Receptors to produce a desired subject response (e.g., happiness/well-being, awe/sensuality, soothing/peacefulness, energizing/refreshing, delicacy, healthiness, and/or a combination of the foregoing). This designed scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can be used to brand a consumer (or other) product The designed scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can also enhance the user experience with the consumer (or other) product by causing the olfactory response that reinforces the desired user experience with the product. The designed scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can be designed to produce the desired response in subjects having a desired demographic background. Alternatively, the designed scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can be designed to produce the same or similar response in subjects of different backgrounds using a composition that contains multiple odorants where different odorants produce the desired response in different groups of subjects (sharing different demographic characteristics).

[0061] The apparatus for making scents, smells, odors, aromas and/or tastes can be used to mask the presence of people (e.g., soldiers), animals (e.g., pets), odors, etc. The masking of people can prevent animals (e.g., search dogs, predators, etc.) or people from sensing the presence of another person.

[0062] The inventions disclosed herein will be better understood from the experimental details which follow. However, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the specific methods and results discussed are merely illustrative of the inventions as described more fully in the claims which follow thereafter. Unless otherwise indicated, the disclosure is not limited to specific procedures, materials, or the like, as such may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Making a Scent, Smell, Odor or Aroma

[0063] A product's brand can be closely tied to its trademark scent. When a component of that product must be replaced (e.g., found to be harmful, no longer available, too expensive), the manufacturer can use the Aromagraph database and a Closeness Match Algorithm to find candidate odorants which have the closest olfactory profile to the element that is being replaced. These candidates can be used to reformulate the product and retain the well-known brand scent.

[0064] The closeness match algorithm compares the desired Aromagraph to Aromagraphs for potential substitute components (including, optionally, antagonists and/or allosteric regulators) and finds the component with the closest Aromagraph to the component being replaced. The closeness match algorithm compares the signal associated with Olfactory Receptors as an absolute value and/or relative values (compared to a standard and/or compared to other Olfactory Receptor signals in the Aromagraph) for the desired Aromagraph and the Aromagraph of a component and/or odorant.

[0065] A desired Aromagraph can be compared to components and/or odorants in a library to find the components and/or odorants that will most closely mimic the signals in the desired Aromagraph.

Example 2: Gaming System with Apparatus for Making a Scent, Smell, Odor or Aroma

[0066] A gaming system embodiment can use a headset as those described in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D749,5835 (VR headset) or D771,6255 (VR headset with earphones). The VR headset can be configured with a cannula tubing that connects to the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste is also in communication with the gaming platform which can be the headset itself, or can be computer and/or gaming console.

[0067] Be computer running the content program communicates with the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste and instructs it to make scents, smells, odors and/or aromas while the content is being experienced by the user so that scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas are presented to the user to enhance the experience with the content (e.g., game play) The content program can include an option for altering the scent, smell, odor, and/or aroma presented by the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste according to the demographics of the user. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can receive instructions from the computer or game console to present a scent, smell, odor, or aroma to the user that will provoke a particular response. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste will interpret such instructions, optionally using the demographic information input into the apparatus by the user, and present a scent, smell, odor, and/or aroma most likely to provide the response requested by the content program. When the apparatus uses the demographic information a composition can be presented to the user which will cause a desired response. When the apparatus operates without the demographic information, a more complex mixture of components and/or odorants is made that can cause the desired response across a population of users with different demographic characteristics (e.g., a common response to different components and/or odorants which different components and/or odorants are made into one mixture).

Example 3: Appetite Suppression Using the Apparatus for Making a Scent, Smell, Odor or Aroma

[0068] The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can he programmed to make a series of scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas that suppress appetite. The scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas presented in an environment can change with the time of day to create an environment in which the user's appetite is suppressed. For example, the environment can be a room in a house or other building (e.g., a library) and the scent, smell, odor, and/or scent introduced by the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste inhibits appetite so that users of the room do not feel hungry and eat less food in the room. In addition, a subject that is dieting can go into the room and experience less hunger and desire to eat while in this room.

[0069] Alternatively, the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can he programmed to introduce scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas into the room that reduce stress and anxiety to suppress eating related to emotional and stress states. For example, lemon, cucumber, and/or peppermint can improve mood and emotional state and can reduce stress and emotion related eating. The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can he programmed to make these scents or smells at certain times of the day that the user correlates with their most common times for stress and emotion related eating. When the apparatus operates without the demographic information, a more complex mixture of components and/or odorants can be made that causes appetite suppression across a population of users with different demographic characteristics (e.g., different subjects experience appetite suppression to different components and/or odorants which different components and/or odorants are made into one mixture).

[0070] The apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste can also be programmed by the user with the user's demographic information and the apparatus can make scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas that are associated with a reduced appetite response for persons of those demographics. For example, the apparatus for making a scent, smell, odor, aroma, and/or taste could make scents, smells, odors, and/or aromas that increase alertness and reduce anxiety and stress.

[0071] All publications and patents cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication or patent were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and are incorporated herein by reference to disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection with which the publications are cited.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.