Wake up and smell the coffee, Rediscovered Realms Readers! You can use it to clear your pallet between sniffs of Scented Realms RPG ScentVials as we interview the creator who is “bringing the 4th sense of Fantasy to life” for your TTRPG games and movies, Scott Curry.
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Scented Realms Co-founder, Scott Curry
Nostalgic Scents:
RR: Hi Scott. Thanks for joining us here at Rediscovered Realms! First of all, what inspired you to create scents that evoke cozy or creepy fantasy settings, like a Hobbit's home or a Mother-in-law’s (dragon's) lair?
SR: Hi,and thank you for having me! The inspiration behind creating scents that evoke cozy or creepy fantasy settings comes from a lifelong love of storytelling and immersive experiences.
The ability to tie fantasy scents to memories the way so many of my own memories are tied to going to the farm or horse ranch as a kid made us believe we could combine these ideas together into a fun product.
Game Integration:
Cool! I’m someone who has a strong connection between smells and memory. Or is it spells and memory. Hmmm, can’t remember. Anyway, how do you envision players integrating these scents into their RPG sessions for the first time?
SR: This is, at its core a DMFX tool for bringing a new level of immersion into TTRPG's Movies and Fans of Fantasy.
In creating a library of 52 ScentVials, DM's can build over time a way of creating tension and scent-based memories that can play out over many years of development.
It won't be the first-time players experience the Scent of FEAR but rather the 5th when they know at first whiff that something BIG is about to happen in a game!
RR: Ah, I see. When players are repeatedly exposed to these scents, they will eventually recognize the coming encounter/environment without the DM having to use any words! I’m curious - have you had any memorable reactions from playtests?
SR: Yes! Hah, when we first met Morgan from the “Heroes of Evermore” play group. He got a sniff of our “Cave Troll” scent, made a shocked face and said, “Woah! That's the Right Kinda Wrong!"
RR: Yeah, everyone has that same experience when encountering Cave Trolls in real life. But tell me, Scott, do players develop addiction after just one dose, how paranoid do they become, and how expensive is ScentVial Rehab?
SR: Hah, No! We did create ScentedRealms to be collectible with special limited edition ScentVials and Packaging.
As your libraries grow, we have means of displaying the foil wrapped ScentVials on the wall for something fun as wall decor - and means you get to see all of the fantasy scent notes you have captured!
Scent Library:
RR: Speaking of . . . with over 52 scents available, which one is your personal favorite and why?
SR: Of the ones we have locked in so far I have to say it's the “Red Dragon” ScentVial.
It was that one that I think we first perfected that was a totally mythical creature and when you get your first sniff of this ashy scorched earth and brimstone and twist of sweet-scented magic you will agree this IS what a Red Dragon could smell like in the worlds of TTRPG fantasy!
RR: Huh, interesting - I just don’t know what you mean by “mythical”. Anyway, tell me, are there any unique stories behind these scent creations?
SR: Many ScentVials monsters are a combination of books, stories, movies, and lore - but for ones that have a clear animal connection like a centaur, or minotaur we try to search out how to best capture the scent of a real horse and bull and those are fond memories for sure hah!
RR: I have to say I laughed out loud when I saw that your “Werewolf” scent is a combo of “wet dog” + “leather” + “musk”. I hope that no werewolves (or dogs) get offended by your characterization.
SR: Yes again!! It's both fun and funny to create these combinations of scent notes and bring to LIFE a creature of Fantasy!
Technological Magic:
RR: Can you explain how the ScentEngine and ScentMaster App work together to enhance the gaming experience?
SR: The “ScentEngine Mini 8” holds Eight ScentVials and allows the GM to pre-plan different scent events ahead of the game and have a easy one button SR App push to release the ScentVial at the correct intensity and duration.
You can see the library you own and build lists that again make it easy to use the system during gameplay!
It’s a HARD thankless job being a DM so we wanted to add as little work as possible with our system and feel we have achieved that successfully!
Future Scents:
RR: “Thank you to all the DMs out there (throughout all time).” There. Now that job is no longer thankless.
Are there any plans to expand the scent library further? If so, what new fantasy-inspired scents can we look forward to?
For instance, I would like to request Zombie-Litch-Cocoa, perhaps with a lemon-peppermint finish. Ahh, it would evoke such fond memories of spending the holidays with dear old Aunt Freda (names have been changed to protect the privacy of the undead).
SR: Yes! We have high hopes for sci-fi and horror and many other potential named collaborations so please stay tuned!
Creative Process:
RR: Nice! I’m looking forward to those new collaborations. By the way, what was the most challenging scent to develop or biggest obstacle, and how did you overcome those challenges?
SR: Well, it would really be a single scent more than how to determine the "range" of scent notes we would be able to use and not make a product that people wouldn't enjoy.
Scents like sulfur and rotten fish and other super-potent substances are just not good above a 5-7% blend in any ScentVial mixture was the discovery!
RR: That makes scents, uh, sense. Oh, and you mentioned that your products are designed to be collectible/displayable – tell us a little more about that.
SR: Yes, as I mentioned a bit earlier, we wanted to design something special to look at even when it's not being used! So we did our best to put together the labels and boxes and art with very familiar creatures so people would want to collect them all!
Community Feedback:
RR: Great idea! How has the feedback from the fantasy gaming community influenced the development of Scented Realms?Is it difficult to put up with their constant requests for cosplay kink? You know, scenarios like, Spouse 1:“Ooh, baby. What’s that smell?” Spouse 2: “Well, honey, I hope you don’t mind, but I invited a Troglodyte over to join us . . . “
SR: We have been BLESSED! Other than a constant stream of Fart jokes, we have been so excited by the response! Especially in our live interactions with players and DM's in the local San Diego game community we have received so much great feedback and support!
Sustainability:
RR: Also community-related, Scented Realms uses environmentally friendly (no soot or smoke) and safe (non heat-based) materials. How important was this aspect in your design process? I mean, it’s best to reuse and recycle wet dogs whenever possible, right?
SR: I have 30 years of packaging sales and design background, so it was something we thought about from the start! We used the safest packaging and again built the box and ScentVial in a way so that we hope people won’t throw away either because they want to keep them to look at and enjoy!
Memorable Moments:
RR: Right on! Scott, share a fun or surprising moment from behind the scenes during the development of Scented Realms.
SR: We had so many fun and challenging ones that we will have to do a second interview just on those alone haha! But to be sure when you're willing to smell ANYTHING from great smells to VERY bad you end up with some lasting "memories"!
RR: Awesome - you’re on for a 2nd interview! We’ll do video on that one so you can demo the ScentEngine (and I can then re-kindle the Rediscovered Realms YouTube channel I started!)
(Maybe you can then also speak to that incident of the 73 deaths from the methane explosion at the Naga Scat ScentVial Factory in Faerun…)
Fantasy Inspirations:
RR: What books, games, or movies do you draw inspiration from when creating new scents and experiences for Scented Realms? In fact, I didn’t ask, but also tell us what were your biggest fantasy inspirations when you were growing up?
SR: As a player who can remember some of the very first sets of D&D and AD&D, it's those memories of being young and not really knowing how ALL the rules worked but knowing how to tell stories, and laugh, and build characters that still to this day have meaning!
We would feel blessed to add to other people's memories - and using the 4th sense of Fantasy is our way to make that happen!
“You only have 4 senses? I smell dead people.”
Paying it Forward:
RR: What’s one piece of advice you would give to fellow fantasy creators who are considering bringing their products to life?
SR: It takes 10 units of energy to GET moving and only 1 unit to keep moving so GET GOING on building your dream each day and when it gets hard, lean into the people or community who share your love for support!
RR: Great advice, Scott, thank you so much for sharing a part of your journey here with us!
And thank you for adding your Scented Realms to Rediscovered Realms, making it “Rediscovered Scented Realms”. We’ve never smelled better!
I Need Me Some:
RR: Where can a skillful smell-savvy & shrewd Seeker snag Scott’s scents?
“Do you smell that? Damn it, did someone leave the dog outside in the rain again?” – J.Q. Graziano, last words
Are you (or do you want to be) a Fantasy Creator? Authors, Artists, and Crafters have paved the way for us to learn from them and inspire us with their stories. Get inspired with other Rediscovered Realms Fantasy Creator interviews here.
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Is Scented Realms aware of the D20 adventure "What's that Smell?" from Wicked Press? I can't stop thinking that a package deal with the module and appropriate scents would be awesome! Of course your players might need to make a save...
Now if there was only a way to smell what your spraying. lol
Is Scented Realms aware of the D20 adventure "What's that Smell?" from Wicked Press? I can't stop thinking that a package deal with the module and appropriate scents would be awesome! Of course your players might need to make a save...