Consumers who get turned off by the foul smell of fish oil or other healthcare products could be a thing of the past, if a scented canister from Swiss chemical maker Clariant succeeds.

Scent canisters inserted in packaging can help counter odors from some products. Called Aroma-Can, the canister releases a scent when the container is opened, creating what is hoped to be a positive sensory experience, Clariant says. Besides masking bad odors, the company says favorable scents such as vanilla, orange and lemon can also be used to add appeal to typically odorless products, like vitamins.

The technology embeds food-grade flavors directly into a plastic canister. The canisters can then be inserted into containers similarly to desiccant canisters used in pharmaceutical packaging.