ScentScape


2026 Project

Product Design, Interaction Design

Team: Eva Ahmetaj, Yutong Song

My Role: Visual/Narrative Design, Illustration


ScentScapes is an interactive scent-based map that connects smell with geography. Inspired by the official state flowers of the United States, each scent translates the essence of a regional flower into a unique fragrance, presented through a modular map system. When a user places a Token on the corresponding state on the Base, the map releases that region’s signature scent, allowing people to relive travel memories through smell or feel connected to distant places.












The product is released in regional Scent Sets, allowing people to purchase sets associated with different areas and gradually collect Tokens from various states. As their travels and collections grow, users can place these Tokens onto the base map, assembling a personal scent map of their journeys.

Each Token also functions as a portable scent object that carries the memory of a place. Whether triggering a scent on the map or carried on the go, it acts like a miniature “place,” preserving the connection between people and locations.













Process




Defining the Target User
For travelers, memento collectors, and people who hold emotional memories tied to a place.





User Journey



Travel & Discovery
The user travels to a U.S. state.
On-Site Purchase
In a local store, users purchase a state-specific module and token. Each store only sells the module and token for its state.
Collect & Build
The user brings the scent set home and connects it with modules from other states to build a personalized travel map.
Scent Activation
Each module releases its scent only when activated by its matching token, linking the place to the memory.

Scent Diffuser & Portable Token
Modules work as a scent diffuser at home, while the token serves as a scented keychain.


How



NFC tags & reader
Arduino microcontroller
Piezo atomizer
3D map interface





  1. An NFC reader detects the NFC chip and sends the ID to the Arduino.

  2. The Arduino triggers an atomizer to the corresponding scent to the ID.















































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