Scent check: Japan’s new smell checking device

admin 2018年9月19日

Photo from ©
Tanita

Pre-Reading Questions:

Please describe your favorite scent.
Do you like wearing perfume? Why or why not?

Vocabulary:

device /dih-VAHYS/

[noun] a piece of equipment that is used for a particular purpose
A pen tablet is an electronic device that can be used for drawing digital art.

reveal /ri-VEEL/

[verb] to make known or show something usually secret or hidden
She opened the box carefully to reveal the mystery item.

odor /OH-der/

[noun] a particular smell
The odor of dried roses was so strong we had to cover our noses.

assess /uh-SES/

[verb] to make a judgement about the quality, size, or value of something
The first batch of applicants was assessed until 5 p.m. yesterday.

smell /smel/

[noun] the quality something has that you notice by using your nose
I like the smell of newly washed clothes.

predict /pri-DIKT/

[verb] to say what you think will happen in the future
Leo predicts that tonight’s show will be a huge success.

Summer has begun in Japan and with it, a new device was released just in time for the season. Tanita, a wellness-device maker, has revealed their newest product. It’s called the ES-100, a self-smell checking device that measures odors from a scale of zero to ten.

There are three steps when using the self-smell checking device: turn it on, pull the sensor out, and direct it to where you want to check. The device can check both bad smells and nice scents. Tanita said that the ES-100 mainly assesses the strength of smells.

Tanita recommends the ES-100 not only to office workers but to anyone who wants to know their smell. The company predicts that the buyers of the smell checker will mostly be salarymen in the 40s and 50s age groups. The ES-100 will go on sale at the start of July 2018.

Comprehension Questions:

When will Tanita start selling the ES-100?
Who are the expected buyers of the ES-100?
What does the self-smell checking device measure?
How do you use the ES-100?
What company made the self-smell checking device?

Discussion Questions:

What are your thoughts on Tanita’s ES-100?
Are you willing to try the self-smell checking device? Why or why not?
Do you often worry about how you smell? Why or why not?
In your opinion, which is better: mild or strong scents? Please explain your answer.
If you’re given a chance to make a perfume, what scent would you choose? Please explain your answer.