SCENTS-ORY TOYS
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Scentory Toys is a series of interactive nursery objects that combine sensory stimulation with home aesthetics. Designed for infants and toddlers—but equally for the adults who share their space—each piece offers a multi-sensory experience that engages touch, sound, smell, and sight through natural materials and playful forms. Created in response to the prompt “Our House Smells” in the DIS Studio II Design Challenge, the series reimagines odor control by embedding scented elements into sculptural toys, using calming aromas like lavender or sea breeze to elevate both mood and atmosphere. Instead of garish or noisy toys that get packed away, Scentory pieces are meant to be left out—charming enough to live as nursery decor, with just enough whimsy for curious little hands.
My team drew inspiration from the organic forms and knotting language of Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, translating her material sensitivity into resin chandeliers, wooden baby gates, and bead-filled rattlers. Through rounds of ideation, user testing with both parents and babies, and careful materials research, we explored how scent could be introduced safely and meaningfully into early play. We learned that scent, while powerful, must be used gently—and that toys can hold sensory depth and developmental value without disrupting the serenity of a space. The final collection blends function with feeling: scented, safe, and sensorial sculptures that grow with the child and complement the home.
01 — Problem Framing & User Discovery:
We reframed the prompt “Our House Smells” around infant living environments, designing for both children’s sensory development and parents’ desire for aesthetic, odor-controlling decor.
We began by mind mapping various odor-related issues in the home, then narrowed them down to more specific causes and spaces. From there, we developed focused problem statements based on the most promising ideas.
02 — Research & Interviews
We drew visual inspiration from Hella Jongerius’ organic forms and knot motifs, while parent surveys and scent studies shaped our understanding of safe, calming aroma use in nurseries.
Mood Boards of Hella Jongerius’s work and the various sensory toys and canopy/curtain designs that inspired us.
03 — Ideation & Prototyping
Initial sketches explored hanging toys, scented rattlers, and crib accessories— each designed to be safe, sensory-rich, and visually integrated into the home.
Thumbnail and pin-up sketches focusing on aesthetic and form.
One of our prototypes was developed to test a high depth of function, which includes safety, cleanliness, and playability.
3D development of the rattler with a closing mechanism that requires a twist and lock cap.
04 — Material & Scent Testing
In our second round of prototypes, we experimented with natural materials like oak and resin, and created scented beans using water-based fragrance infusions to avoid overwhelming or irritating aromas.
Low-fidelity prototypes of the rattlers using oak wood and scent-infused beans. These prototypes were used to better understand the form and overall construction of the toys.
05 — User Testing
Feedback from parents and in-class testers highlighted safety and aesthetic concerns, while infant playtesting revealed interaction patterns that shaped a safer and more engaging design.
Our 3rd iteration were influenced by our infant play test. It features a removable frame that could be added to any crib or play area and the wood rails were replaced with tightened paracord
06 — Final Prototypes & Refinement
We refined each piece for durability and sensory value—replacing wooden rods with paracord, using dyed epoxy resin for aesthetic clarity, and creating adaptable, room-friendly forms.
Final prototype process for Scents-ory Rails
07 — Next Steps
Future iterations will explore more affordable materials that look similar to the transparent scented resins, organic shapes, and adjustable frames to improve manufacturing costs while maintaining sensory engagement and safety.
Our final prototypes and 3D renderings for the Scents-ory Toys series include a Scents-ory Guard Rail, Chandelier, and Drapes.
