Hynt researcher awarded UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to pioneer more impactful digital scent interactions

We are delighted to announce that our colleague and teammate Dr. Christopher Dawes has been awarded a prestigious UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) to deliver a flagship research programme: ScentPlay.

As an experimental psychologist engaged in multisensory research at UCL and Hynt, Chris specialises in digital scent technology. His project explores how integrating scent and playful interactions within digital experiences can enhance sleep health, digital wellbeing, and immersive entertainment.

Chris is setting new standards for the commercial and societal value of scent-based immersive experiences – and we are proud to be supporting him on that mission.

As well as being a well-deserved validation of Chris’ work, this fellowship also marks a major milestone for Hynt. Together with Chris, our work will continue to lead the way in shaping the future of scent, unlocking the science of smell for sleep, work and play.

Running from 2025 to 2029, ScentPlay will explore how scent can transform digital wellbeing — from improving sleep to creating more immersive media experiences and supporting recovery from smell loss through Digital Smell Training.

ScentPlay envisions transforming digital experiences by embedding Playful Scent Interactions (PSIs) into our daily digital engagements, enhancing wellbeing and deepening our connection with digital services. Inspired by the past use of playful elements in technology – from Microsoft Word’s Clippy to playful leaderboards in Apps such as Duolingo – ScentPlay aims to expand this concept to new applications and integrate the often-neglected and powerful sense of smell.

These playful features significantly enhance user engagement and loyalty, ScentPlay seeks to harness this potential with scent to foster continuous and meaningful interaction. Our daily environments and technology interactions have grown less multisensory and more utilitarian, often separating work from sensory play. However, research underscores the profound benefits of lifelong play, which can foster creativity, delay mental decline, and enhance wellbeing. By incorporating scents known to influence mood, cognition, and behaviour – like lavender’s calming effects or peppermint’s alertness-boosting properties – ScentPlay will make everyday digital interactions more engaging and beneficial.

ScentPlay will pioneer the use of scents in various digital contexts:

• Sleep health: By integrating calming scents into sleep apps, ScentPlay will transform bedtime routines into a holistic wellness practice, promoting better sleep and overall health. By leveraging our expertise and technology, Hynt is providing Chris with resources and support for ongoing research and practical applications in this area.
• Immersive entertainment: ScentPlay will enhance virtual realities by incorporating scents, making experiences like VR gaming profoundly immersive and realistic.
• Digital smell training: Gamifying smell training with ScentPlay will turn tedious rehabilitation into an engaging activity, aiding recovery with interactive scent-based exercises.

Innovation thrives when diverse voices lead the way. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) programme supports talented individuals across the UK to shape the future of research and innovation. Designed to be flexible, inclusive, and impactful, the programme empowers future leaders to tackle global challenges, drive economic growth and deliver meaningful change.

Since its inception in 2018, the programme has supported over 600 exceptional researchers and innovators. Fellows receive tailored funding and support to grow their ideas, build their ventures, and drive change across the UK and beyond.

The fellows receive at least four years of funding of between £100,000 and £3 million, to pursue an ambitious programme of innovation, with the option to renew for a further three years, at an agreed capped funding amount. Whilst also accessing tailored opportunities and resources to develop their career as a future leader in their field.

Delivered by Innovate UK and funded by UKRI, the business strand of the FLF continues to attract ambitious talent. In the latest round, 102 applicants from business and non-academic sectors applied. Of those, 98 progressed to receive assessor review, 30 were interviewed, and 13 were awarded fellowships.

We couldn’t be more proud of Chris for being part of this exceptional cohort, and are equally proud that our work supports the UK’s global leadership in multisensory innovation.

Here’s to the future of scent.

At Hynt, we are shaping the future of sleep. With evidence-based, precision-targeted and bespoke scent solutions, we are revolutionising the way we rest – for sleep that is easier, deeper and more restorative. And this is only the beginning. We are a scent tech company on a journey to harness the power of scent for every part of life. Hynt. Smells like the future.

For more information on Hynt’s work and Chris’ research, contact us at info@hynt.net