Using scent to spark customer satisfaction comes down to associating the smell with a pleasant experience. When this is achieved, a pleasing smell and a pleasant experience can join hands to create an overall sense of satisfaction within the customer’s mind and heart.
Let’s take a look at 4 ways that certain scents can be associated with positive customer experiences to spark customer satisfaction.
- Clean and Fresh Experience
Customers who are seeking a relaxing, clean, and fresh atmosphere will be left feeling satisfied when the experience is associated with scents like eucalyptus, lavender, or perhaps citrus. These aromas are often associated with cleanliness, hygiene, purity, and even a sense of rejuvenation. Because of this, they are frequently utilised in hotels and spas to give guests a relaxing, peaceful, and hygienic feeling.
The invigorating scent is also very effective in creating a refreshingly inviting atmosphere in retail settings. Citrus scents are commonly associated with good hygiene owing to the natural disinfectant properties of citric acid, while scents such as lavender are often associated with rejuvenation.
- Comforting Smells Linked With Food
Certain aromas that remind people of the comfort of food can be linked to customer satisfaction. They create a sense of security, indulgence, and warm memories associated with childhood. The kinds of smells we are referring to here involve things like coffee, cinnamon, or even chocolate, which enhance the experience of customers in certain environments by triggering positive emotions and memories.
There are many occasions where these kinds of smells can be used, particularly in places like coffee shops and restaurants. However, they are also effective in industries like real estate, where the smell of freshly made cookies could evoke feelings of homeliness and make people feel invited. The smell of freshly baked bread is another winner in various situations.
- Using Floral Scents for Ambiance
Whether you’re running a luxury hotel, a spa, managing a bed and breakfast, or simply want to make your medical practice waiting room smell more inviting, using floral scents such as rose, jasmine, lilac, or lavender can elicit feelings of elegance, beauty, or a general feeling of calm.
These scents often evoke a sense of sophistication while creating a relaxing, enjoyable, peaceful ambience. Floral scents can have a wide range of applications but are almost always associated with feelings of pleasure and good taste. These kinds of scents are also particularly effective in stores that cater more to women and have been shown to increase rates of purchase among ladies.
- Seasonal Scents
Seasonal scents are also excellent for eliciting a sense of nostalgia or excitement. They can also be very relaxing, enhance the customer experience, and boost customer satisfaction rates when used in appropriate circumstances.
For instance, the scent of coconut or tropical fruits during the summer can increase clothing sales in beachwear stores, and the aroma of cinnamon and pine during the winter can make customers feel cosier when shopping for a new couch.
Whether used in retail stores or in the hospitality sector, seasonal scents can be highly effective at enhancing the customer’s experience and eliciting good memories that can drive customer satisfaction.
Want to learn more about how you can use the power of scent to influence customer satisfaction? Contact us at Scent.ology today. We have all the necessary expertise and products to ensure a successful campaign.
