In retail marketing, scent matters a lot. The smart store owner must know how to choose a retail scent. Small details play a role in delivering the pleasant experience to consumers. These are lights, window displays, decorations, signage, layout, sales staff, and SMELL. According to many scents marketing experts, olfaction is the fundamental sense because the brain responds to a fragrance before other senses. The problem is most retailers do not realize this important issue.

How do you choose the proper scents to use in store?

Useful Tips

Originality counts a lot. Yet, it is also necessary to adopt traditional aromas. Look for fragrances that encourage positive feelings among shoppers. Mix these with original smells so the combined formula can make potential buyers curious about your store and merchandise. One example is to put some oil from black pepper in men’s cologne to provide it with rich and earthy odor. This is an exotic ingredient that may motivate men to purchase the cologne. Take note of vanilla and aromatic sandalwood oil that denote affection and relaxation. Clary sage oil and grapefruit are known for awakening the senses and making people feel vigorous.

Some retailers conduct surveys to determine how to choose a retail scent. In-store surveys are meant to discover fragrances that consumers are fond of. Perfume boutiques and department stores make use of surveys in finding out if scents remind customers of warm memories. This urges the customer to look at the product in a more thorough and analytical manner. The fragrance infuses a subconscious thought on shoppers that they have to buy that particular item. Retailers must consider customer preferences to deliver the smell that highlights their desires.

Enhance Customer Perception 

The appropriate scent heightens perception of merchandise quality. It also persuades shipper to go around the selling area and stay longer. This augments product interaction. Fragrance must not be off-brand. Floral notes as well as vanilla work for boutiques that sell ladies apparel while rustic smells are perfect for men’s clothing.

Avoid shortcuts in looking for scents to use in store. Small shop owners without sufficient resources must not scrimp in such a way they use ordinary air fresheners. There are downsides in spending less for fragrances. The smell fades away fast and shoppers will notice this right away. Cheap diffusers prevent retailers from controlling intensity. The result is many consumers will tend to stay away from your establishment. On the other hand, ambient odors must be released only during specific store hours. The smell must be hardly detectable. There are inexpensive cold air diffusion products that enable retailers to control the strength and duration of scents in the store.

The smell must be simple. It is not advisable to combine plenty of fragrances. This can be nauseating and turn away shoppers. It might turn out as effective for big outlets but not for small shops. Ambient scents are ideal if positioned close to checkout counters. Retailers must bear in mind the following:

  • What is your purpose in dispersing scents?
  • Which odor appeals most to people?
  • What kind of technique and technology must store owners use?

Why Fragrances Work? 

The science of fragrance calls to mind that it could be more effective compared to other human senses. Unfortunately, many retailers do not use smell in their marketing strategies. This is why they must understand the value of scents to use in store.

Here is the process. The person smells something. This is sent to and read by the olfactory bulb in the brain’s limbic system. Said brain structure stimulates emotion and memory. It links smell with good or bad experiences immediately which brings subliminal levels of intense reminiscence. This is one reason why people associate particular odors with certain happenings in life.

Other human senses (sight, touch, taste, and sound) set off memories as well as feelings but not instantly. Smell functions on an intuitive level so it is faster in prompting a spontaneous reaction from consumers. Nowadays, more retailers are using scent marketing in branding and selling their merchandise which is a good sign. These entrepreneurs are learning gradually. For marketing, smells work in two areas which are Cognitive and Emotional.

What is the explanation for this? Cognitive refers to product recognition that triggers memory and desire that may end up in a purchase. Emotional means the fragrance makes shoppers comfortable inside the retail establishment. Sent marketing in any retail business classified according to the following:

  • Thematic or Sectional smells which match with decorations or purpose of the store. Two examples are lavender and vanilla which are appropriate for beauty spas or resorts.
  • Aroma Billboard which produces bold scent statements which make customers very aware of the odor of freshly-brewed coffee or newly-baked bread. This entices customers to come in and buy.
  • Ambient scents are relatively slight and generate an environment that conceals unpleasant smell or fills in a gap.
  • Signature smells are exclusive to shops and brands. Customers often connect this to their favorite trademark and what the fragrance represents. Examples are ivory and spice that may indicate prosperity as well as luxury.

The pointers mentioned above can help marketers or start-up store proprietors in how to choose a retail scent.

As an overall assessment, the main potential of smell marketing for any brand is the long-term association of odors with particular environments and happenings. It is capable of bringing to mind an upbeat sensory experience that is related to the brand. Therefore, the approach gives the retailer’s goods or service in a multitude of consumer options. This is the importance of knowing the primary importance of scents to use in store.