Mastering the Essence: Why do hotels smell so good?

Andrea Thompson

ByAndrea Thompson

April 17, 2024

The art of scenting breathes life into hotel environments, creating enveloping havens.  Each fragrance is carefully created to elevate the atmosphere and enrich the guest journey. From lobby to the tranquil retreat of the guest rooms, the deliberate selection of scents for each space is a craft that captivates and creates lasting memories.

Hotels use specific scents to create a pleasant atmosphere, aiming to make guests feel relaxed and at ease. These scents are chosen to improve the overall experience of a stay, helping guests feel comfortable in a new place.

The sense of smell is strongly connected to memory and emotion, playing a significant role in our lives by alerting us to danger, evoking memories, and influencing our feelings. This is why hotels focus on creating a distinctive fragrance that guests will associate with their brand and experience.

A signature scent is a unique fragrance crafted to embody the essence of a particular hotel or brand. It’s a sensory representation that resonates with the hotel’s core values, such as its location, cultural heritage, natural surroundings, focus on wellness, and commitment to excellence.

This bespoke aroma becomes synonymous with the brand, leaving a lasting impression that guests will identify with the hotel. While signature scents differ across hotels, they share a unifying purpose: they are thoughtfully created to enhance the customer’s experience.

The Grand Entrance

The lobby serves as the initial impression, setting the tone for the entire stay

  • Key Notes: Citrus, Fresh, White Lemon, Bergamot,
  • Middle Notes: White Tea, White Flowers
  • Tail Notes: Woody, Musk, Amber and vanilla can evoke warmth and anticipation.

Guest Rooms and Suites

Guest rooms are personal retreats, where relaxation and comfort are paramount.

  • Key Notes: Lemon, Lavender, Ocean
  • Middle Notes: Lily of the Valley, Jasmine
  • Tail Notes: Amber, Musk or chamomile scents that promote tranquillity and facilitate restful sleep.

The Dining Room

Restaurants benefit from scents that enhance the dining experience and elevate the taste perception.

  • Key Notes: Spices, herbs, and woody notes can complement different cuisines.
  • Middle Notes: Pumpkin, Cream, Peach
  • Tail Notes: Vanilla, Musk

Spa Areas, Fitness Centres, and Holistic Wellbeing

Spa and wellness areas are enhanced with relaxing, rejuvenating aromas to complete the sensory journey.

  • Eucalyptus and apple scents invigorate fitness centres and holistic spaces.

Bathrooms and Common Spaces

Consistent scents in bathrooms and common areas maintain the sensory narrative and enhance hygiene.

  • Key Notes: Ocean or fresh lemon, Green Leaf, Ivy, Spice, Citrus
  • Middle Notes: Tea, Gem, Lilac, Cyclamen
  • Tail Notes: Musk, Ambergris

The careful distribution of fragrances throughout select hotel spaces heightens the emotional connection to each setting, creating a distinctive pleasurable encounter that lingers in the memories of guests well beyond their visit.