Designing the Future of Scent: A Conversation with Emanuela Maggioni of Hynt
In a recent episode of the Internet of Senses Institute Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Emanuela Maggioni, CEO and CTO of Hynt, a pioneering company redefining the role of scent in technology, design, and daily life.
Emanuela’s fascination with smell began in her childhood in Italy, where scents carried emotional and cultural meaning. That early connection inspired her to study psychology and neuroscience, exploring how our sense of smell shapes emotion, memory, and adaptation. At just 19, she built her first olfactometer—from spare medical parts—allowing her to measure how scent influences physiological responses like heart rate and skin conductance.
Her journey from neuroscience to engineering embodies the interdisciplinary nature of smell research. Emanuela spoke about the early skepticism she faced and how the post-COVID world has reignited awareness of just how vital our sense of smell is.
Today, through Hynt (formerly OW Smellmade Digital), she leads a team developing science-led scent technology—including precision delivery devices, scent databases, and software tools that allow creators to design smell experiences across industries. Hynt’s applications are vast: from museum installations and VR storytelling to medical rehabilitation, consumer product R&D, and sleep enhancement.
At its core, Emanuela’s work is about empowering others to use scent as a design language—a medium that bridges emotion, technology, and human connection.
🎧 Listen to our full conversation below to explore how smell innovation is shaping the future of sensory design.
