Scientists have presented a prototype device that gives hope to people who have lost their sense of smell. The device does not literally restore odors, but allows users to “sense” them again through an alternative pathway: scents are detected by an artificial “electronic nose,” converted into a digital code, and delivered through targeted stimulation of a nerve that runs through the nasal septum. The brain then “learns” to associate this stimulation with specific smells.

This approach is known as sensory substitution: it uses the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for tactile sensations rather than smell itself. This means that even if the olfactory system is damaged, the device can transmit information through a different route.

Sixty-five people took part in the trials — both those with a normal sense of smell and those who had lost it. All participants were able to “sense” odors and even distinguish between two different ones, with patients who lacked smell performing almost as well as those with intact olfaction.

The authors of the study, published in *Science Advances*, emphasize that this is the first implementation of such olfactory substitution in the world and an important step toward making the device portable so that people can use it in everyday life.