There is a great deal of cultural taboo about body odors, but that doesn't mean it's not worth exploring. Tests have shown that women can identify the most genetically suitable partner for reproduction purely on the basis of smelling a T-shirt he has worn.
SMELL is a probe collaboration with the Design Interaction department of the Royal College of Art in London and is currently carried out by James Auger, tutor at the RCA.
In SMELL, a prototype apparatus was created which basically captures odors from the body and not only communicates them to the wearer but also to other people. Dogs are reputedly able to sniff out cancer, so our work may initiate dialogue that leads to medical practitioners being able to carry out smell-based diagnoses.
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