The Smell of Success

The Smell of Success is an Internet connected object that emits a puff of perfume every time you get a retweet.

Hacking an off the shelf automatic air freshener, we attached it to an Arduino and programmed it to be controlled through Processing. The software then listens to retweets of our @MintFoundry account. When it finds one, it sends a signal to the air freshener to puff.

Designed by Foundry at Mint Digital with assistance from Shaun Mcwhinnie

Here's a demo + explanation of it in action:



You will need:

COMPONENTS:
1x Digital Air Freshener (Make sure it has a tester button on the front - we have used a cheap one by Glade)
1x Arduino (with connection cable)
2x resistors (not sure what value)
some wires
a PCB

SOFTWARE:
Processing software (download from here: http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Software)
Arduino Software (download from here: http://processing.org/download/)

TOOLS:
A soldering iron + solder
wire cutters
wire strippers (unless you know how to strip wire with cutters)
thin pliers


For more information go visit: foundry.mintdigital.com/smell-of-success

Step 1 Hacking the Air Freshener

1. First things first, you will need to take apart the air freshener.

2. Remove batteries and unscrew the back, don't lose the screws, you will need them again.

3. Remove the motor and gear unit, taking note of how the gears are put back together.
The circuit board is then a bit tricky to remove as there are a couple of bits holding it in place. Keep at it, but be careful not to snap it!
Have a look at where the tester button is soldered onto the back of the board and de-solder it.
Solder two wires in it's place.

4. Put everything back together and slip the wires in through some hole or feature on the front.
Put the batteries back in and test that when the wires are connected at the exposed end it activates the dispenser.