An interventional study of Fragrance in Perception, Self, sponsored by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain. Completed at 1 site in Bahrain. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-28.
Sponsored by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
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
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
Inclusion criteria:
Exclusion criteria:
Randomization and Blinding
Participants will be randomized into two groups:
180 studies on the registry are indexed under Anosmia; 45 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 10 is below the median of 60 across 114 interventional studies indexed under Anosmia.
Browse Anosmia studies →Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain is the lead sponsor of 11 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Fragrance delivery system: SpECs loaded with fragrance (50mg/ml perfume)
Other: Fragrance
fragrance without SpECs
Other: Fragrance
this intervention involves the controlled use of specific fragrance with and withouth SpECs grains
Sustained olfactory perception over time.
The study will determine whether fragrance-loaded SpECs provides a sustained olfactory perception over time.
Time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
Impact of SpECs concentration on fragrance
Insights into the impact of SpECs concentration on fragrance strength and duration will be obtained.
Time frame: 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.
Time frame: 6 hour period- 4 timepoints
Ran from Feb 2026 to primary completion in Feb 2026, 0 months.
Of 50 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Anosmia, half reached primary completion within 28 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 37. This study's 0 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 50 studies reached it within 28 months; a quarter within 14 and three quarters within 37.
Since we started tracking on Sep 25, 2026, the dates moved once, on Oct 28, 2026: primary completion Mar 2026 → Feb 2026 and completion Mar 2026 → Feb 2026.
Earlier changes are on the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Feb 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain