Perception, SelfNCT07383337
Comparing the Olfactory Perception of a Fragrance-Loaded SpECs Over Time
A study testing Fragrance in people with Perception, Self, run by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain at 1 site in Bahrain.
Trial summary
The human olfactory system plays a crucial role in sensory perception, influencing emotional states, memory, and interpersonal interactions(1). Fragrance durability and intensity are critical factors in the evaluation of perfumes and other scented products. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Perception, Self
- What is being tested?
- Fragrance
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 1 siteBahrain
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2026to 10 Feb 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Females aged between 18 and 45 years.
- No history of olfactory impairment, allergies to pollen or fragrances, or skin conditions.
Who cannot join
- Current use of medications that affect olfactory function (e.g., antihistamines).
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Any active upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks of the clinical trial
- Any known skin allergy.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Bahrain1 site
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain
Al Muharraq, Busaiteen, 0000
About this study
Official title: A Randomized, Double-blind Crossover Pilot Trial to Compare the Olfactory Perception of a Fragrance-Loaded SpECs Over Time
The human olfactory system plays a crucial role in sensory perception, influencing emotional states, memory, and interpersonal interactions(1). Fragrance durability and intensity are critical factors in the evaluation of perfumes and other scented products. The ability of fragrance formulations to maintain consistent scent intensity over time is a major contributor to a product's overall efficacy and consumer satisfaction,
Primary Aim To compare the perceived strength of a topical fragrance delivered via SpECs across a period of 8 hours using subjective ratings by participants and an independent examiner.
Read more
Objectives
- To investigate whether the encapsulated fragrance intensity, as perceived by participants, decreases less over time compared with fragrance alone, after application to the skin.
- To investigate whether the encapsulated fragrance intensity, as perceived by an independent examiner, decreases less over time compared with fragrance alone, after application to the skin.
Read the detailed description
The human olfactory system plays a crucial role in sensory perception, influencing emotional states, memory, and interpersonal interactions(1). Fragrance durability and intensity are critical factors in the evaluation of perfumes and other scented products. The ability of fragrance formulations to maintain consistent scent intensity over time is a major contributor to a product's overall efficacy and consumer satisfaction.
SporoSpECsin exine capsules (SpECs), are extracted from either pollen or plant spores in the form of empty porous microcapsules penetrated by nano-diameter sized channels. These channels enable a variety of active ingredients to be loaded into the SpECs chambers; hence, giving universality to the system to encapsulate such as a variety of antibody fragments, oils and proteins and peptides. The preparation that is to be used in this study has been provided to us as a gift by Sporomex Ltd, UK that is presently being used as a cosmetic preparation commercially, and has been investigated as a taste masking agent(2) and for oral pharmaceutical delivery(3).
It is unknown if fragrance loading of these SpECs will enhance the longevity of the fragrance on the skin. This study aims to evaluate the olfactory perception of a SpECs-based fragrance delivery system over an 8-hour period. The study will compare subjective ratings of the fragrance's intensity by participants and an independent examiner. This randomized, double-blind crossover trial will provide insights into the effectiveness of SpECs as a fragrance delivery medium, while also considering the influence of skin chemistry and time on olfactory perception. By eliminating patient variability, crossover studies can be more efficient than equivalently sized parallel group trials, where each participant receives only one treatment. Hence, treatment effects can be measured with greater accuracy using the same number of participants.
Type of Study Pilot randomized, double-blind crossover trial Participants
- Sample size: 10 female participants.
- Inclusion criteria:
- Females aged between 18 and 45 years.
- No history of olfactory impairment, allergies to pollen or fragrances, or skin conditions.
- Exclusion criteria:
- Current use of medications that affect olfactory function (e.g., antihistamines).
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Any active upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks of the clinical trial
- Any known skin allergy. Intervention
- Fragrance delivery system: SpECs loaded with fragrance (50mg/ml perfume) versus fragrance without SpECs
- Application: A smear layer of the fragrance-loaded SpECs will be applied to the wrist of each participant.
Randomization and Blinding
- Participants will be randomized into two groups:
- Group A: Fragrance loaded with a concentration of SpECs grains.
- Group B: Fragrance loaded without SpECs grains.
- Double-blinding: Neither the participants nor the independent examiner will know which preparation of the fragrance will be applied to the skin.
- Conditions
- Perception, Self
- Being tested
- Fragrance
- Keywords
- fragrance, SpECs, Olfactory
- Medical subject headings
- Anosmia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
FragranceOther
this intervention involves the controlled use of specific fragrance with and withouth SpECs grains
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: Fragrance loaded with a concentration of SpECs grains. | Experimental | Fragrance delivery system: SpECs loaded with fragrance (50mg/ml perfume) Receives: Other: Fragrance |
| Group B: Fragrance loaded without SpECs grains | Active comparator | fragrance without SpECs Receives: Other: Fragrance |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Sustained olfactory perception over time.
The study will determine whether fragrance-loaded SpECs provides a sustained olfactory perception over time.
Measured: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
Secondary outcomes (2)
Impact of SpECs concentration on fragrance
Insights into the impact of SpECs concentration on fragrance strength and duration will be obtained.
Measured: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
alignment between participant's and independent examiner's ratings
The alignment between participant's subjective ratings and the independent examiner's ratings will help validate the reliability of self-assessments in olfactory studies.
Measured: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Feb 2026
- Study start1 Feb 2026
- Primary completion10 Feb 2026
- Study completion10 Feb 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Perception, SelfStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mariam Murad, Principal investigator, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07383337
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 271/20-May-2025
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Herz RS. The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health. Brain Sci. 2016 Jul 19;6(3):22. doi: 10.3390/brainsci6030022.
PubMed 27447673Diego-Taboada A , Maillet L , Banoub JH , Lorch M , Rigby AS , Boa AN , Atkin SL , Mackenzie G . Protein free microcapsules obtained from plant spores as a model for drug delivery: ibuprofen encapsulation, release and taste masking. J Mater Chem B. 2013 Feb 7;1(5):707-713. doi: 10.1039/c2tb00228k. Epub 2012 Nov 27.
PubMed 32260776Wakil A, Mackenzie G, Diego-Taboada A, Bell JG, Atkin SL. Enhanced bioavailability of eicosapentaenoic acid from fish oil after encapsulation within plant spore exines as microcapsules. Lipids. 2010 Jul;45(7):645-9. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3427-y. Epub 2010 May 22.
PubMed 20495964
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized, Double-blind Crossover Pilot Trial to Compare the Olfactory Perception of a Fragrance-Loaded SpECs Over Time
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07383337
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 271/20-May-2025
- Conditions
- Perception, Self
- Keywords
- fragrance, SpECs, Olfactory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of BahrainUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 10 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Feb 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 3 Feb 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The human olfactory system plays a crucial role in sensory perception, influencing emotional states, memory, and interpersonal interactions(1). Fragrance durability and intensity are critical factors in the evaluation of perfumes and other scented products. The ability of fragrance formulations to maintain consistent scent intensity over time is a major contributor to a product's overall efficacy and consumer satisfaction,
Primary Aim To compare the perceived strength of a topical fragrance delivered via SpECs across a period of 8 hours using subjective ratings by participants and an independent examiner.
Objectives
- To investigate whether the encapsulated fragrance intensity, as perceived by participants, decreases less over time compared with fragrance alone, after application to the skin.
- To investigate whether the encapsulated fragrance intensity, as perceived by an independent examiner, decreases less over time compared with fragrance alone, after application to the skin.
Detailed description
The human olfactory system plays a crucial role in sensory perception, influencing emotional states, memory, and interpersonal interactions(1). Fragrance durability and intensity are critical factors in the evaluation of perfumes and other scented products. The ability of fragrance formulations to maintain consistent scent intensity over time is a major contributor to a product's overall efficacy and consumer satisfaction.
SporoSpECsin exine capsules (SpECs), are extracted from either pollen or plant spores in the form of empty porous microcapsules penetrated by nano-diameter sized channels. These channels enable a variety of active ingredients to be loaded into the SpECs chambers; hence, giving universality to the system to encapsulate such as a variety of antibody fragments, oils and proteins and peptides. The preparation that is to be used in this study has been provided to us as a gift by Sporomex Ltd, UK that is presently being used as a cosmetic preparation commercially, and has been investigated as a taste masking agent(2) and for oral pharmaceutical delivery(3).
It is unknown if fragrance loading of these SpECs will enhance the longevity of the fragrance on the skin. This study aims to evaluate the olfactory perception of a SpECs-based fragrance delivery system over an 8-hour period. The study will compare subjective ratings of the fragrance's intensity by participants and an independent examiner. This randomized, double-blind crossover trial will provide insights into the effectiveness of SpECs as a fragrance delivery medium, while also considering the influence of skin chemistry and time on olfactory perception. By eliminating patient variability, crossover studies can be more efficient than equivalently sized parallel group trials, where each participant receives only one treatment. Hence, treatment effects can be measured with greater accuracy using the same number of participants.
Type of Study Pilot randomized, double-blind crossover trial Participants
- Sample size: 10 female participants.
- Inclusion criteria:
- Females aged between 18 and 45 years.
- No history of olfactory impairment, allergies to pollen or fragrances, or skin conditions.
- Exclusion criteria:
- Current use of medications that affect olfactory function (e.g., antihistamines).
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Any active upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks of the clinical trial
- Any known skin allergy. Intervention
- Fragrance delivery system: SpECs loaded with fragrance (50mg/ml perfume) versus fragrance without SpECs
- Application: A smear layer of the fragrance-loaded SpECs will be applied to the wrist of each participant.
Randomization and Blinding
- Participants will be randomized into two groups:
- Group A: Fragrance loaded with a concentration of SpECs grains.
- Group B: Fragrance loaded without SpECs grains.
- Double-blinding: Neither the participants nor the independent examiner will know which preparation of the fragrance will be applied to the skin.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, care provider)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: Fragrance loaded with a concentration of SpECs grains. | Experimental | Other: FragranceFragrance delivery system: SpECs loaded with fragrance (50mg/ml perfume) |
| Group B: Fragrance loaded without SpECs grains | Active comparator | Other: Fragrancefragrance without SpECs |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Females aged between 18 and 45 years.
- No history of olfactory impairment, allergies to pollen or fragrances, or skin conditions.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Current use of medications that affect olfactory function (e.g., antihistamines).
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Any active upper respiratory tract infection within 2 weeks of the clinical trial
- Any known skin allergy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrancethis intervention involves the controlled use of specific fragrance with and withouth SpECs grains | Other | Group A: Fragrance loaded with a concentration of SpECs grains., Group B: Fragrance loaded without SpECs grains |
Primary outcome
Sustained olfactory perception over time.
Time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
The study will determine whether fragrance-loaded SpECs provides a sustained olfactory perception over time.
2 secondary outcomes
Impact of SpECs concentration on fragrance
Time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
alignment between participant's and independent examiner's ratings
Time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 27447673Herz RS. The Role of Odor-Evoked Memory in Psychological and Physiological Health. Brain Sci. 2016 Jul 19;6(3):22. doi: 10.3390/brainsci6030022.
- Background: PubMed 32260776Diego-Taboada A , Maillet L , Banoub JH , Lorch M , Rigby AS , Boa AN , Atkin SL , Mackenzie G . Protein free microcapsules obtained from plant spores as a model for drug delivery: ibuprofen encapsulation, release and taste masking. J Mater Chem B. 2013 Feb 7;1(5):707-713. doi: 10.1039/c2tb00228k. Epub 2012 Nov 27.
- Background: PubMed 20495964Wakil A, Mackenzie G, Diego-Taboada A, Bell JG, Atkin SL. Enhanced bioavailability of eicosapentaenoic acid from fish oil after encapsulation within plant spore exines as microcapsules. Lipids. 2010 Jul;45(7):645-9. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3427-y. Epub 2010 May 22.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mariam Murad principal investigator
Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Fragrance in people with Perception, Self, run by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain at 1 site in Bahrain.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Bahrain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Sustained olfactory perception over time. (time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07383337, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Oct 2026.