Electronic smells creator closes shop

DigiScents, a start-up that developed a personal scent synthesizer, says it has shut down and laid off its 70 employees as a result of the current market conditions. DigiScents spokesman David Libby said the company's employees were informed Wednesday of the layoffs and received compensation. He added that the company will still license its technology.

Founded in February 1999, the Oakland, Calif.-based company developed a technology designed to transmit scents over a computer. The iSmell Personal Scent Synthesizer consists of a speaker-size computer device that attaches to the serial or USB port of a computer and plugs into a standard electrical outlet. With a click of a mouse, the device can be triggered to release naturally based vapors. Libby said the company had raised $20 million from a group of investors, including Pacific Century CyberWorks, Givaudan and Quest International.