SIGNATURE SCENTS

POST

Site Administrator

DATE

January 23 9:10

What do you think of signature scents – those distinctive smells diffused in lobbies and public areas, which hotels believe make their properties more distinctive and attractive? Do you notice them? If so, do you find them attractive or irritating? Do you wonder what other odours they may be masking? Do you have any favourites/least favourite? And do you believe it’s possible that they influence, subconsciously, your booking decisions when choosing between two hotels in your travel programme, and one hotel name seems strangely more persuasive than another?

Interesting question. I definitely notice signature scents, or any scent for that matter, good or bad. Two in particular that stick in my mind for the right reasons would be the Sofitel at Heathrow T5 and the Hilton Syon Park London Hotel. Their scents subconsciously make one feel welcome and provide that all important positive first impression. I would guess it’s a marketing strategy that most firms are catching on to. Supermarket chains have been doing this for years by pumping the store entrances with the aromas that come from their bakeries, and why not? Studies have proved over and over that exciting the senses of consumers is likely to have a direct correlation with increased sales and profits.

Super Sally January 23 13:18

Signature skunks more like... Anything that is ubiquitous enough to be sprayed/deployed anywhere and everywhere is most likely going to be cheap and rather nasty. Why can’t hotel chains and airlines desist from assaulting our olfactory organs with such chemical by-products and leave it up to us to determine whether we wish to augment or adulterate fresh air?

Anthony Dunn January 23 17:23

Since the smoking bans in buildings came in over the world, venues have had to use a fragrance of some sort to overpower the scent of other people’s armpits. Nicotine was a great scent.

Mr Michael January 23 17:38

I do notice the scents, but it’s never affected where I go or buy items from; guess I am immune to their charms!

stevescoots January 23 21:23

I’m surprised more businesses don’t adopt this olfactory marketing strategy. It is after all our most powerful and emotive sense. But I suppose there’s an inherent risk in this venture: for every positive association there is a chance of a negative association and the consequence of lost patronage. I would struggle to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman if she wore the same perfume of my lost love. Another risk is the balance between subtlety and masking, as some have already pointed out, fag smell is disgusting, yet effectively masked even more abhorrent odours. Also, speaking as an ex-retail manager I was never comfortable with the subliminal strategies used to free people of their hard earned cash. So I probably resent this Derren Brown attack on my brain’s ability to decide my own fate. But then I regret not asking the barman where he purchased the time travelling scent …

canucklad January 25 9:57

I think canucklad hit it on the head. I love the more natural smells often used in spas and some Asian hotels – particularly lemongrass, which is perfect for that sort of setting. I find such scents welcoming and relaxing, but can’t say I have ever mentally made the link between a particular scent and a particular brand.

And, although it generally doesn’t affect me, some people can be very sensitive to smells, and chemicals smells in particular – the memsahib being one such sufferer. When she is sensitised (most commonly when she is vulnerable to a migraine attack, or is tired) then these can trigger very severely and make her really quite unwell. So, although I like such smells personally, I must confess myself slightly surprised that the ‘elf’ n’ safety brigade haven’t banned them yet! And I certainly don’t support them being used in confined spaces where one has no escape – such as an aircraft.

Ian From HKG 9 February 1:27