For our sensory design project, we began by thinking about smells the body already emits. In our research, we learned how womens’ bodies emit pheromones - a chemical that elicits attraction - once a month during the ovulation period. Basal temperature changes throughout the menstruation cycle; tracking this small but detectable change allows us to better plan for (or avoid) pregnancy. With these fluctuations in mind, we designed Phermonal, a two part product that measures temperature and amplifies pheramone emission.

Users place a small adhesive directly on the body that monitors body temperature (and therefore ovulation) and sends the information to a small device that emits a perfume. The device is subtly place inside a candleholder. The set also comes with a more portable version.

The adhesive has a temperature sensor that connects to two motors inside the candleholder device that release the smell(s). When the body reaches a certain temperature, a romantic smell will fill the air.

Smell can be subtle, fade gradually or suddenly, and highly individual. The Phermonal is not prescriptive; instead, it is designed to take cues from the users’ own body fluctuations and communicate them in a new way.