OVR Technology has launched its Kickstarter campaign for the Omara Scent Display, a compact device designed to bring programmable scent to games, virtual reality and immersive applications. A key part of the underlying technology comes from memetis GmbH, a microvalve specialist based in Karlsruhe, Germany.
Digital experiences have become increasingly immersive through high-resolution visuals, spatial audio, haptics and VR. One sense, however, has remained largely absent from interactive media: smell. Omara addresses this missing layer by enabling scents to be triggered in real time and synchronized with digital events.
At PAX East 2026, OVR Technology revealed ten new games and mods for the Omara Scent Display. According to OVR, more than 20 new titles are currently in active development. Demonstrations included a Minecraft mod, indie titles and narrative game concepts in which scent is used not only as an atmospheric effect, but also as a gameplay mechanic and storytelling tool.
The device features 16 individually controllable scent channels in a replaceable cassette. According to OVR, each cassette provides more than 3,000 scent bursts per channel and supports over 60 hours of scent-enabled gaming. With a response time of under 500 milliseconds, scents can be triggered in sync with player actions and changing scenes.
The key innovation is not only fast scent delivery, but precise micro-dosing. Omara releases very small amounts of scent close to the user’s nose. This creates a clearly perceptible scent impression that typically fades within 2–3 seconds after each cue, instead of lingering in the room for minutes. This makes fast transitions between environments, actions and emotional moments possible — a critical requirement for interactive media.
For developers, OVR provides Unity and Unreal Engine plug-ins. The scent integration process is designed to be similar to programming sound events, allowing developers to connect scent cues directly to player interactions. According to OVR, several partners created playable demos within days.
The potential applications go far beyond gaming. Programmable scent could become an important part of immersive health-tech experiences, including meditation, relaxation, psychological therapy, pain management, medical training and rehabilitation. Since scent is closely connected to emotion, memory and physiological response, controlled olfactory stimulation could add a powerful new dimension to digital therapeutic environments.
The valve block used inside the Omara is supplied by memetis. The company develops and manufactures highly miniaturized microvalves based on shape memory alloy technology. This enables a compact form factor, low power consumption, nearly silent operation and fast, precise dosing without traditional solenoid coils.
“It is truly exciting to see what our customers can create using our SMA microvalve technology,” says Marcel Gültig of memetis. “For the first time, scent becomes programmable in a way that is fast, precise and controllable. This opens up fascinating possibilities not only for gaming and VR, but also for immersive applications in health tech.”
The Kickstarter campaign for Omara is now live.
Links:
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/omara/the-omara-scent-display-for-gaming
Press Kit: https://www.ovrtechnology.com/press-kit
Minecraft Mod: https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/aroma-affect/files/7926631
Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRJp1HbVZSA
Digital experiences have become increasingly immersive through high-resolution visuals, spatial audio, haptics and VR. One sense, however, has remained largely absent from interactive media: smell. Omara addresses this missing layer by enabling scents to be triggered in real time and synchronized with digital events.
At PAX East 2026, OVR Technology revealed ten new games and mods for the Omara Scent Display. According to OVR, more than 20 new titles are currently in active development. Demonstrations included a Minecraft mod, indie titles and narrative game concepts in which scent is used not only as an atmospheric effect, but also as a gameplay mechanic and storytelling tool.
The device features 16 individually controllable scent channels in a replaceable cassette. According to OVR, each cassette provides more than 3,000 scent bursts per channel and supports over 60 hours of scent-enabled gaming. With a response time of under 500 milliseconds, scents can be triggered in sync with player actions and changing scenes.
The key innovation is not only fast scent delivery, but precise micro-dosing. Omara releases very small amounts of scent close to the user’s nose. This creates a clearly perceptible scent impression that typically fades within 2–3 seconds after each cue, instead of lingering in the room for minutes. This makes fast transitions between environments, actions and emotional moments possible — a critical requirement for interactive media.
For developers, OVR provides Unity and Unreal Engine plug-ins. The scent integration process is designed to be similar to programming sound events, allowing developers to connect scent cues directly to player interactions. According to OVR, several partners created playable demos within days.
The potential applications go far beyond gaming. Programmable scent could become an important part of immersive health-tech experiences, including meditation, relaxation, psychological therapy, pain management, medical training and rehabilitation. Since scent is closely connected to emotion, memory and physiological response, controlled olfactory stimulation could add a powerful new dimension to digital therapeutic environments.
The valve block used inside the Omara is supplied by memetis. The company develops and manufactures highly miniaturized microvalves based on shape memory alloy technology. This enables a compact form factor, low power consumption, nearly silent operation and fast, precise dosing without traditional solenoid coils.
“It is truly exciting to see what our customers can create using our SMA microvalve technology,” says Marcel Gültig of memetis. “For the first time, scent becomes programmable in a way that is fast, precise and controllable. This opens up fascinating possibilities not only for gaming and VR, but also for immersive applications in health tech.”
The Kickstarter campaign for Omara is now live.
Links:
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/omara/the-omara-scent-display-for-gaming
Press Kit: https://www.ovrtechnology.com/press-kit
Minecraft Mod: https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/aroma-affect/files/7926631
Demo Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRJp1HbVZSA
