Somehow, this is no joke: a company called Elevated Perceptions has created a TV accessory that uses AI to identify what's happening in your favorite show or movie and emits a scent that matches it The device is called MovieScent and will be available in September for $179

According to a press release about the product sent to Tom's Guide, MovieScent comes bundled with six scents: Ocean, Fresh Cut Glass, Restaurant, Forest, Storm, and Fresh Laundry By releasing relevant scents, MovieScent enhances the movie-viewing experience in a way that even the best TVs cannot do alone

Fresh Laundry, the last scent in the box, can be sprayed after the movie ends to “neutralize the previously released scent” and return the room to its normal scent Well, as normal as a room can be after filling it with Eau de Restaurant; Elevated Perceptions claims that each scent can be secreted 4,000 times before it needs to be refilled In the weeks following the launch, the company plans to release new scents such as Fire, Jungle, Zombie, New Car, and Blood

To connect to a TV, simply connect the MovieScent via HDMI, 35mm audio jack, or optical audio cable It will then use AI to “identify important cues and events in the content” and release the appropriate scent

Frankly, if this had been announced on April Fool's Day, MovieScent could have been dismissed as a wacky prank by a company with an easy journalistic goal But it is not, and MovieScent has an Amazon page where this item can be added to the Wanted List

At a price of $179, you are essentially buying a smart Glade plug-in Even if 4D cinema has somehow managed to survive most of the last century, this could be a tough sell to home theater fans

Surprisingly, this is not Elevated Perceptions' first sensory-related accessory: In early 2024, the company introduced GameScent, Racing, and similar devices for gamers with common but sensory stimulating scents

Because these devices work with relatively common connectivity standards, according to the company, they can also be used on PCs, cell phones, tablets, gaming systems, and virtual reality (VR) headsets, should one wish to smell the content from these devices The company says that the system can be used on

But for those who want to immerse themselves in the world of their favorite movies without having to go to the nearest screening of “The Rocky Horror Show,” MovieScent is a nifty solution to a strange and niche problem