biostudies-literatureUnknown17(3)Archer NSCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationCSIRO AIM Future Science PlatformVirtual reality (VR) headsets provide immersive audio-visual experiences for users, but usually neglect to provide olfactory cues that can provide additional information about our environment in the real world. This paper examines whether the introduction of smells into the VR environment enhances users' experience, including their sense of presence through collection of both psychological and physiological measures. Using precise odour administration with an olfactometer, study participants were exposed to smells while they were immersed in the popular PlayStation VR game "Resident Evil 7". A within-subject study design was undertaken where participants (n = 22) walked-through the same VR environment twice, with or without the introduction of associated congruent odour stimuli. Directly aPloS onee0265039https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8967033biostudies-literatureOdour enhances the sense of presence in a virtual reality environment.PMC8967033Hazell NFrank DArcher NSBluff AEddy ANikhil CKJohnston AfalseOdour enhances the sense of presence in a virtual reality environment.Virtual reality (VR) headsets provide immersive audio-visual experiences for users, but usually neglect to provide olfactory cues that can provide additional information about our environment in the real world. This paper examines whether the introduction of smells into the VR environment enhances users' experience, including their sense of presence through collection of both psychological and physiological measures. Using precise odour administration with an olfactometer, study participants were exposed to smells while they were immersed in the popular PlayStation VR game "Resident Evil 7". A within-subject study design was undertaken where participants (n = 22) walked-through the same VR environment twice, with or without the introduction of associated congruent odour stimuli. Directly a2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-05T15:59:12.129Z2025-04-05T15:59:12.129ZS-EPMC89670333535381610.1371/journal.pone.0265039