Fire simulator with smoke-scent diffuser
Smell joins sight, hearing and touch in FIRE AR
IRWINO adds the sense of smell through a partnership with OLFY. Eight sensory dimensions brought together in a single fire training experience.
In partnership with 
The more senses an experience engages, the deeper it anchors in memory
The research is unambiguous: multisensory stimulation in immersive environments strengthens both the sense of presence and the quality of memory recall. It has been an established principle in virtual and augmented environment research since the 1990s.
For fire safety training, the stakes go beyond teaching comfort: the emotional load generated by a multisensory experience is one of the strongest predictors of long-term retention, including for technical gestures such as handling an extinguisher.
The same logic drives 8D cinema, where stimuli are multiplied to intensify the viewer’s emotion. In safety training the goal is more demanding still: not to entertain, but to permanently engrave reflexes that can save lives.
FIRE AR now combines 8 sensory dimensions
Every added sense brings the exercise closer to a real situation — without ever actually being one.
Sight
Fire and smoke are projected in augmented reality directly into the learner's real environment.
Hearing
Crackling flames, fire alarm: the soundscape of a real outbreak of fire.
Touch
The weight and texture of real equipment — extinguisher, hose reel — in hand throughout the exercise.
Proprioception
The body registers technical gestures (pulling the pin, spraying) exactly as in a real situation.
Spatial awareness
Orientation and evacuation in a smoke-filled environment, under realistic conditions.
Danger perception
The sense of urgency specific to immersive scenarios under pressure.
Sense of presence
The accumulation of sensory signals creates a strong emotional anchor, the engine of memorisation.
Smell
A real smoke scent, IFRA-certified, released by OLFY as the learner approaches the virtual flames.
Scenarios designed and run by lead fire safety trainers
Behind every simulation are lead fire safety trainers who design and run the teaching scenarios — augmented reality serves their expertise, never the other way around.
- Fire, smoke and hazards are projected directly into the learner's real environment: their workshop, their warehouse, their professional kitchen.
- Every type of extinguisher and every class of fire is available — classes A, B, C, electrical fires and many more.
- Around thirty adaptable objects reproduce occupational risks: industrial fryer, forklift, lorry, hazardous materials…
- The result: training no longer happens on a generic set, but on the learner's actual ground, with the risks they really face.
The OLFY partnership
OLFY is a French startup founded in 2021, specialising in synchronised scent diffusion in immersive environments (VR, AR, XR). Already deployed in luxury, culture, research and experiential marketing, it brings IRWINO its expertise in adding smell to fire training scenarios.
Its device attaches directly to the augmented reality headset and releases a real smoke scent, certified compliant with IFRA standards, as soon as the learner approaches the fire and/or smoke zone.
How it works
- The trainer programmes the scenario in advance.
- The learner enters the fire and/or smoke zone.
- Diffusion starts and continues as long as they remain there.
- As soon as they move away, diffusion stops automatically.
A teaching innovation, not a technological gimmick
8 sensory dimensions
A level of immersion unprecedented on the fire training market, engaged simultaneously rather than in stages.
Solid scientific grounding
Three international studies underpin our approach — multisensory memorisation is not a marketing claim, it is a documented mechanism.
People stay central
The lead trainer designs and supervises every scenario. Technology reinforces their expertise, it never replaces it.
Reassuring compliance
The scent released by OLFY is certified to IFRA standards — safe for repeated professional use.
Tailor-made scenarios
Every type of extinguisher, every class of fire, around thirty objects adaptable to the learner's real setting.
What trainers and safety officers ask us
Is the smoke scent released by OLFY harmful to health?
No. It complies with IFRA (International Fragrance Association) standards, which guarantee the safety of the ingredients used in fragrance compositions — including for repeated professional use.
How long does scent diffusion last during a session?
Diffusion starts when the learner enters the fire and/or smoke zone and continues as long as they remain there, reinforcing the perception of danger. As soon as they move away it stops automatically — a mechanism faithful to a real situation.
Is FIRE AR with OLFY suitable for people sensitive to smells?
As with every IRWINO training session, a trainer accompanies participants throughout the exercise, exactly as in the field. If someone cannot tolerate smoke, they are simply kept away from the relevant zone, including in simulation — exposing them anyway would create a negative association rather than a sound reflex.
Come and smell the difference at Preventica Lyon
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