Headquartered in Grenoble, a city in southeastern France, the six-year-old start-up Aryballe has a singular, if not entirely un-straightforward, goal: to capture, analyze, and digitally document smells. This work is accomplished via its portable, hand-held “universal odor sensor” (picture a smartphone fused with a remote control, with a short, hummingbird beak–like tip). The device uses digital olfaction to imitate the human sense of smell: Hold it in front of a scent-emitting object to let its odor molecules bind, in a matter of seconds, to the gadget’s internal biosensors, which behave like our olfactory bulbs. The sensors then produce a “odor signature” that is analyzed by Aryballe’s software using a database of previously collected aromas.

The applications of a digital nose are far-reaching, particularly when it comes to scent detection and quality control in the fragrance, automotive, home appliances, and food-and-beverage industries. For the latter, the technology could help food brands ensure that their products’ raw materials have a consistent scent. In consumer appliances, this means that an oven could “smell” when your dinner is burning—and promptly turn itself off—or that a refrigerator could signal when the fruit in its drawers has reached peak ripeness. Love that new-car smell? Car rental and ride-share companies could integrate the sensors into their fleets to guarantee that the scent is always there (and safeguard against negative customer experiences). The device isn’t available for purchase just yet—but this past summer, Aryballe announced that it had raised €7 million (about $8.3 million) to aid in product development, accelerate research, and build out manufacturing options. That’s certainly nothing to sniff at.