VG Vaze College in Mulund, Mumbai, has opened the four-month course after research by CPL Aromas found that the visually impaired showed a significantly improved ability to identify certain odour groups than the sighted.

The research was carried out in the hope of advancing employment opportunities for the visually impaired and included a test that examined the ability of the visually impaired and sighted to differentiate between very similar odours and to rank identical odours in strength.

CPL Aromas Group CEO, Chris Pickthall said: “I am very happy that the original idea has resulted in something real and tangible.

“It is important now to find employment for the students within our industry and to keep the course running for more students in the future.”

The company said that it will continue to search for way of using the research to create employment opportunities for the visually impaired.