Two German companies have patented a technology for a smart card-sized chip that delivers scents along with text messages, reports German site The Local.

For eight years, the Institute of Sensory Analysis and Marketing Consultancy in Göttingen and the Oberhausen-based specialist for interactive services Convisual have been working on scents such as rose, vanilla and even "the beach and sunshine."

The companies are working with phone manufacturers and say the technology could be available within a couple of years. But you'll need a scent chip-compliant phone.

And yes, bad smells are possible, though the recipient will have the option to reject the message.