The Sense of Smell

The sense of smell is directly linked to the amygdala, the centre for memory and emotion in the brain, via the olfactory system. The generation of positive memories and emotions evoke changes in behaviour, ultimately leading to longer and more frequent visits to your venue. Neutralisation of any unpleasant odours is therefore an integral component of ensuring a pleasant time spent in your venue or retail outlet.

The sense of smell in a nutshell...

• The sense of smell is directly linked to the centre for memory and emotion in the brain, via the olfactory system.
• Over 70% of our emotions are based on things we smell.
• Smells can be recalled with great accuracy after long periods of time…Remember the smell of PlayDoh?
• The sense of smell can be used to influence mood or concentration…increase alertness or reduce anxiety, relieve stress and enhance the quality of life.
• Pleasant fragrances have been proved to elevate mood and reduce depression.
• Aromas can be used to increase staff productivity.
• The sense of smell is the second most important sense, after sight.
• Our sense of smell is responsible for 80% of what we taste.
• Everyone has their own unique odour identity or smell "fingerprint."
• A woman's sense of smell is keener than a man's.
• Our sense of smell is at work even when we are sleeping.
• Odour can trigger or retrieve a memory instantly.
• We cannot turn off our sense of smell.

Fragrance Branding... A Proven Concept

We often take it for granted, but our sense of smell is helping us live our lives every day. Smell can alert us, entice us, even relax us. Researcher Dr. Alan Hirsch (1991) says "even concentrations so weak that they are below the threshold of consciousness, still affect peoples' moods subconsciously."

The second strongest sense, to vision, the sense of smell proves to have easy and immediate access to our memories and hence emotions. "Seventy-five percent of the emotions we generate on a daily basis are affected by smell," says Martin Lindstrom. "Next to sight, it's the most important sense we have."

"The sense of smell helps us respond to those we meet, can influence our mood, how long we stay in a room, who we talk to and who we want to see again." 

Endless amounts of research by the Sense of Smell Institute continue to prove this relationship between the sense of smell and our ability to retrieve memories and evoke emotions. Refer to our Fragrance Research page for a list of interesting articles based around sensory experiences and consumer behaviour.

Premier Fragrancing gives you the power to set your brand apart with sensory stimulation. We offer quality products through first-class service. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on our ability to respond to current market demands and anticipate trends on the horizon to help our customers maintain the edge on their competitors.

We can create the perfect environment in congruence with your brand or venue image, while completely eliminating any unpleasant odours through Belmay's exclusive ODOURFOYL technology.