Is it possible to transmit and receive smell?

I have done a lot of work on chemical detection - mostly hazardous or dangerous chemicals, but the technologies are similar for any substance. Airborne (smells) particle and gas identification is quite a bit easier than some of the problems I was investigating, like remotely detecting hidden explosives. Still not easy of course, but technology exists to do it. One of the most promising technologies for general purpose low-cost mobile applications is MEMS IMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems, ion mobility spectrometer).

Once the smell is identified it is easy to transmit the data.

Then there is re-creating the smell at the receiver. You could conceive of a machine that used a coupe of different methods:

1. a library of canned smells in vials that get released as needed (this is limited by the number of vials you could store in your machine, but the more expensive the machine the more vials would be embedded) This would eventually end up as cartridges containing thousands of smells.
2. a mini chemistry lab that synthesizes smells by chemical processing of base chemicals. This method can produce  a wide variety of smells from a small number of constituents. It seems most flavours can now be artificially synthesized. The process just needs to be miniaturized. Again the consumable chemicals could be made available in cartridge form. This also brings up the possibility of making your own smells and perfumes - you just need the app.
3. the two methods could be combined - store smells that are hard to synthesize and create the ones that are easy using chemistry

Doug

I have done a lot of work on chemical detection - mostly hazardous or dangerous chemicals, but the technologies are similar for any substance. Airborne (smells) particle and gas identification is quite a bit easier than some of the problems I was investigating, like remotely detecting hidden explosives. Still not easy of course, but technology exists to do it. One of the most promising technologies for general purpose low-cost mobile applications is MEMS IMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems, ion mobility spectrometer).

Once the smell is identified it is easy to transmit the data.

Then there is re-creating the smell at the receiver. You could conceive of a machine that used a coupe of different methods:

1. a library of canned smells in vials that get released as needed (this is limited by the number of vials you could store in your machine, but the more expensive the machine the more vials would be embedded) This would eventually end up as cartridges containing thousands of smells.
2. a mini chemistry lab that synthesizes smells by chemical processing of base chemicals. This method can produce  a wide variety of smells from a small number of constituents. It seems most flavours can now be artificially synthesized. The process just needs to be miniaturized. Again the consumable chemicals could be made available in cartridge form. This also brings up the possibility of making your own smells and perfumes - you just need the app.
3. the two methods could be combined - store smells that are hard to synthesize and create the ones that are easy using chemistry

Doug

Can you mention some base chemicals...

Douglas Wong wrote:

 

1. a mini chemistry lab that synthesizes smells by chemical processing of base chemicals.

Thank you for your help Doug

Esters with low molecular weight often have fragrant odours and are commonly used as fragrances, perfumes, essential oils, food flavourings, cosmetics, etc.

Usually, esters are derived from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol such as glycerol.

The first ester I ever made in a chemistry lab smelled exactly like maraschino cherries.

Here is small table of possible combinations I found on the net:

Doug

Thank you so much Doug for your help