OLFY in San Francisco: An olfactory immersion for Bastille Day 2025
This year, Bastille Day in San Francisco took a special turn. For the first time, the Consulate General of France and the Official Committee of French-American Organisations joined forces to host a joint celebration at Embarcadero Plaza. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., thousands of visitors came to celebrate France's National Day with live music, food and culture.
And we were there, in the middle of it all, with our OLFY device.
Why were we there?
Imagine: you are organising an event and want to make a lasting impression. You already have the music, the cocktails, the entertainment... but something is missing. That something is precisely what we provide: olfactory immersion.
For Bastille Day, we offered a simple but memorable experience: equipping a VR headset with our OLFY diffuser to allow visitors to discover three Guerlain fragrances in a totally immersive way. Visitors didn't just see the virtual landscapes of the fragrances, they could smell them too.
Guerlain's Olfactory Landscapes experience
We used the ‘Olfactive Landscapes’ experience created by Guerlain. Delphine Jelk, Guerlain's perfumer, recounted the story behind three of her creations from the L'Art & La Matière collection. These conversations were transformed into immersive virtual landscapes using AI. In practical terms, participants put on the headset and found themselves immersed in three worlds:
Néroli Plein Sud: A sun-drenched Mediterranean setting with dancing white flowers. The freshness of neroli arrives at just the right moment as you stroll through this virtual garden.
Rose Barbare: An intense red world where roses unfold majestically. As the roses appear on screen, our device diffuses the fragrance. Visitors can actually smell this bold and sensual rose.
Peach Mirage: A dreamlike landscape with soft shapes floating in the sky. As the environment reveals itself, the fruity, sun-kissed scent of peach is released, creating a sense of travel.
How does it work technically?
Our technology automatically synchronises the diffusion of scents with what is happening in the VR headset. When the visitor arrives in a new scene, the corresponding scent is diffused. No need to press a button, no need for human intervention: everything is automated.
It is this perfect synchronisation that makes all the difference. People don't just see images, they have a complete experience where the scent enhances what they see.
Feedback from the public
Visitors were really enthusiastic. Many were discovering for the first time that smells could be added to virtual reality. Some came back several times during the day to repeat the experience. Others took the time to talk to us about their emotions and what the scents evoked for them.
An exceptional setting
We participated alongside figures involved in Franco-American relations: Florian Cardinaux (Consul General of France in San Francisco), Thomas Celerier (President of the French-American Chamber of Commerce of California) and Chloé Soroquère (President of the Bastille Day Festival committee). On site, Christian Martin, our San Francisco-based Business Developer, orchestrated the entire operation.
Their support gave our demonstration even greater visibility and allowed us to engage with professionals interested in this technology.
What about your events?
This is exactly what we can do for you. Whether you are organising:
- A trade show where you want to stand out
- A product launch that no one will forget
- An immersive cultural experience in a museum
- An extraordinary corporate event
Our OLFY device adapts to your needs. We can create bespoke fragrances for your project, develop a personalised VR experience, or use existing content as we did with Guerlain. Installation is simple, the device is mobile (it all fits in a suitcase!), and we train you on how to use it if you want to manage the experience yourself.
Why does it work?
Because 75% of our daily emotions are influenced by smell. By adding this dimension to your events, you create stronger, more lasting memories. People remember what they smelled.
Are you organising an event and want to offer something unique? Contact us to discuss how olfactory immersion can transform your project.