Nivea develops body odour-detecting smartphone app

Germany-based Beiersdorf’s wholly owned skincare products arm Nivea has developed a body odour-detecting smartphone application.

The new NOSE app has been designed to help men determine when their body odour is at the extreme level.

The NOSE app that comes with a custom phone cover has sensors outfitted on it. These pre-adjusted sensors evaluate the body odour when placed near to the user’s armpit.

The sensors rate the body odour by comparing it with already tested 4,000 men’s odour and then notify under three categories, – ‘It’s OK’, ‘It’s Time’, or ‘It’s Urgent’.

Techtimes.com quoted Nivea as stating: "Our nose is so used to our own body odour that we can’t smell our own sweat."

Men have been found to sweat more than women while having 40% less brain area for perceiving such odours.

The company recently demonstrated the beta-version of the application in Belgium and plans to continue testing it throughout the year.

Nivea chief creative officer Geoffrey Hantson said was quoted by website as saying that the company is yet to decide on selling the product separately or as part of a body care package.

The new application is expected to be rolled-out in a couple of years.