Nissan has dedicated car sniffers
Meet those responsible for ensuring Nissan’s new vehicles smell good before they roll off the production lineIt’s believed to be a human’s most powerful sense and now, Nissan is harnessing the sense of smell to ensure its customers have the best experience possible. Yep, Nissan now employs “smellmasters”, tasked with sniffing almost every nook and cranny of a new car to evaluate various smells before they hit the market.
That includes simulating different climates, including “moderate to high ambient temperatures” which can intensify smells.
Ryunosuke Ino, who goes by the official title of Vehicle Interior Air Quality Technical Expert and is responsible for setting the brand’s global smell standards, says it takes a certain lifestyle to be able to do the job properly. That includes avoiding powerful foods such as garlic, smoking and using detergent when washing his work clothes, the day before a big smell test.
Smellmasters and their nostrils also have to endure a rigorous certification process put in place by the Japanese car-maker, to ensure their sense of smell is up to the task, Ino-san explained in a Youtube video.
He says each region has slightly different standards based on customer feedback, with the region’s smellmaster ultimately making the final decision for their market. Covering each area of the car, testing begins in the driver’s seat, where the smellmaster sniffs the sun visors, inside the glovebox and any other areas that open and close.
The test also includes checking the air-conditioning systems for any funky odours.
The rear seats are given the same treatment, which Ino-san says is particularly important as there are often different materials used between the front and rear seats. If something smells off, the first step is to locate the origin of the pong, followed by a material analysis, which could then lead to the material being replaced.
And, if you’ve ever been to a perfume shop where the assistant insisted on sniffing coffee beans between colognes to “reset” the nose for a new smell, Ino-san has a better way.
Instead, he sniffs the inside of his elbow, which provides a familiar smell to prepare him for each new car and its potential odours.
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