Coty debuts contactless fragrance tester for optimal hygiene and waste reduction

13 Jul 2021 --- Beauty giant Coty is introducing a digitally-enabled, touchless fragrance testing device, which dispenses a single droplet of liquid directly to an arm or a blotter, offering customers a more hygienic testing experience.

“Coty’s contactless device allows shoppers to place their hand or a blotter directly below a small outlet arm to receive a fine droplet of fragrance,” a Coty spokesperson tells PackagingInsights.

“Equipped with a proximity sensor, this technology detects when to auto-dispense the fragrance droplet onto the surface of choice.”

The device will be available for use at beauty retailers within the next 12 months. 

Real-world testing of the units at brick and mortar retail stores begins this month in key European markets, followed by a planned trial in Asia later this year.

Optimizing testing
The move seeks to optimize fragrance testing by reducing the amount of product waste and increasing the lifespan of tester bottles. 

While spray testers oversaturate the air, overwhelming the senses and surrounding environment, this device delivers a single droplet of liquid. Equipped with a proximity sensor, the device detects when to auto-dispense the fragrance droplet.

“By switching to this technology, a retailer uses a significantly lower amount of fragrance compared to a traditional tester, which translates to less fragrance and bottle waste,” the spokesperson explains.

Moreover, the device’s digital aspects offer retailers the chance to use data to optimize the testers’ in-store position and improve customer experience.

“These units can accommodate any type of fragrance bottle and be customized to a brand identity, resulting in interchangeable parts and less single-use modifications,” the spokesperson adds.

Hygiene comes first
The move comes as consumer hygiene demands peak as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to Innova Market Insights, 62 percent of consumers say the protective function of product packaging is more important to them since the COVID-19 pandemic for hygiene and contamination reasons.

As stores are reopening around the world, hygiene and safety have become an integral part of the experience at brick-and-mortar retailers, echoes Coty. 

“With the return of in-person shopping, the health and safety of our consumers are always at the forefront of our minds,” the Coty spokesperson notes.

“It was imperative for a testing solution to be created to eliminate the high-touch, high-contact experience that defined the old way of testing a fragrance.”

The creation of a new touchless luxury ritual for testing will support those consumers wanting to try perfume before buying and ultimately drive sales, they explain.

Partnering with Êverie
Coty is partnering with Êverie, a French start-up specializing in smart devices, micro-dosing and diffusion technologies, to bring the touchless fragrance tester to life. 

A multidisciplinary group from Coty has worked alongside Êverie over the past year to develop a connected, easy-to-maintain and sustainable device. 

This touchless fragrance tester can work for weeks without a battery recharge and reduces perfume loss compared to traditional testers.The device will be available for use at beauty retailers within the next 12 months.

The solution is compatible with all Coty’s fragrance testers and can be uniquely personalized to each of Coty’s brands.

“Coty’s touch-less fragrance tester can operate from either mains power or, if required, with rechargeable batteries,” the Coty spokesperson details.

“Batteries can last up to four weeks; battery life is determined based on several factors, including the number of daily activations, fragrance bottle changes and Wi-Fi connectivity.”

The company also plans to trial touchless fragrance testers in Coty offices around the world, according to the company’s spokesperson. 

Safer sampling
In similar moves and to increase sampling safety, UK-based Lifestyle Packaging designed a novel one-hand dispensing mechanism for alcohol-based hand sanitizer coined Snappd.

The product is a brandable packaging innovation developed to deliver a single dose solution with minimal contact when dispensing liquid. 

In the same arena, Gualapack recently acquired the majority stake in Easysnap Technology, a single-dose sachet equipped with an easy opening system suitable for liquid or semi-liquid products. 

By Kristiana Lalou