Smellow: a future-proof smell training app for people who have lost their sense of smell and taste

A scientifically backed app that provides structure, motivation and insight for smell training.

Reuksmaakstoornis is the leading patient association for the more than 250,000 people in the Netherlands with a smell and/or taste disorder. Together, we created ‘Smellow’: an innovative and scientifically based app that provides guidance for smell training. The solution actively supports users in their recovery and collects valuable data for scientific research.

From an outdated app to a future-proof platform

The original app, launched in 2019, no longer met Reuksmaakstoornis’s ambitions in terms of technology or content. There was also a clear UI/UX challenge: how do you encourage users to stick to an intensive training programme on a long-term basis?

Together, we developed ‘Smellow’: a completely revamped, digitally accessible app with a clear training structure, progress tracking and motivational elements that boost retention and consistent use. At the same time, we implemented a modern, GDPR-compliant data architecture that – with users’ consent – makes anonymised data available for scientific research.

With a scalable technical foundation and careful migration of existing users, ‘Smellow’ is ready for further development and long-term impact.

Doing Things Together

The collaboration with Reuksmaakstoornis was all about co-creation. Users, the board, healthcare professionals and researchers were actively involved in the innovation process. By combining technology, scientific insights and user experience, a solution was created that offers both practical and social value. ‘Smellow’ thus forms a digital foundation for better support and future-oriented research.

Would you also like to have a healthcare app developed? Please feel free to contact us – we’d be happy to discuss your ideas with you.