Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a liquid includes a chamber holding a supply of liquid, an annular conduit substantially filled with liquid from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer near one end of the annular conduit. Upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit. Expansion of a resulting bubble forces liquid out the end of the annular conduit. The dispenser may include battery powered electronic control circuit that includes a supercapacitor. The liquid may be dispensed in periodic bursts. In one application, the dispenser is especially suited to automatically and unobtrusively dispense a fragrance, perfume, or other personal care liquid worn by a person. In some applications, the dispenser may be worn on or under an article of clothing, or attached to an article of jewelry.

Abstract: An air freshening device comprises a housing defining a chamber. The chamber contains air and a supply of fragrance material that scents the air inside the chamber. A mechanical oscillator is in fluid communication with the air in the chamber and is configured to transmit acoustic waves in the chamber. A narrow conduit provides a passage from an interior of the chamber to the atmosphere outside the chamber. The conduit is dimensionally configured such that a synthetic jet from the narrow conduit is generated upon activation of the mechanical oscillator, the synthetic jet ejecting scented air from the chamber interior to the atmosphere outside the chamber. The mechanical oscillator may be driven intermittently, resulting in a consistent intensity and character of the emitted scent over the life of the product.