Scent, Sensibility and Sanitisation

Vishesh Vijayvergiya, a sixth generation Perfumer & Scent Branding Consultant with Sugandhco and Vedic Aroma Lab, Lucknow, India is a Student Member of the British Society of Perfumers. He was awarded the coveted IFEAT Medal for Best International Student (Fragrance Studies) in 2006. In this exclusive article he speaks about Scent experiences in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic

At the risk of stating the obvious, the coronavirus pandemic has affected every industry, across every touch point in all the markets around the world. Newer technologies, including automation, are paving way for the “new normal” to fuel demands for unprecedented innovation in all aspects of our lives! The simplest thing that can be done to add to the comfort of guests is to present them with an ambience that has a pleasant and familiar aroma, reassuring hygiene and safety.

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed the guests’ hygiene and cleanliness expectations to unprecedented levels and hence thoughtfully chosen aromas, selected and implemented by experts, is the need of the hour and hoteliers must look into this aspect diligently. Functional aroma blends contribute, albeit subtly, to a greater sense of hygiene and well-being.

A remarkably interesting trend that we will see is the usage of outdoor scents – fragrances reminiscent of rain forests, mountains, forests, and beaches, and such like, especially for travellers emerging after months of being stuck at home due to multiple lockdowns! These scents can evoke a feeling of freshness and awaken the senses.

As value additions, hoteliers may even stock ‘smell test kits’ as part of the amenities in the rooms. This can be a unique and thoughtful offering as a large proportion of Covid-19 patients have issues with smell and this could come in handy to gauge their sense of smell.  A small aroma gift set can be an element of surprise among utility items. Furthermore, a new level of luxury can be simply incorporated into the routine of the hotel by giving the guests an opportunity to select their own ambience fragrance. This information can be collected at the time of filling of the reservation form or as an option in the questionnaire of the membership form.

Additionally, hotels can use signature blends as mementos gifted to the guests while checking out. It not only reminds them of the hotel, it brings them back there! Scent experiences will evoke emotions we commonly associate with experiences, and reminding the guests of a pleasant experience they had at your establishment makes good business sense!

A signature aroma can be selected in many creative ways, such as by the:

• Season of the sear
• Name of the hotel/restaurant
• Interior decoration/colour theme
• Locality/region
• Festival/events
• Application /purpose
• Strategic marketing

Additionally, there are some specific areas where aromas can play an important role in uplifting the mood in the post-pandemic travel scenario:

Laundry

People interpret fresh-smelling clothes as the sign of a well-done laundry job. Adding laundry fragrance at the time of the final rinse ensures that the washed linen is not only clean, but alsosmells fresh, free from off-notes of detergents. It also reflects that it has been deodorised so as to ensure that no smell of previous use remains; these can include smells related to food and sweat. Suggested aromas: Orange, Lemon, Eucalyptus

Routine Housekeeping

• Pour a few drops in the WC during routine housekeeping. When the guests will use the flush, a burst of fragrance will delight and surprise in equal measure. Suggested aromas: Mandarin, Eucalyptus, Rosemary
• Carpets: Carpets absorb dirt, dust, and moisture and tend to smell foul, spoiling the whole atmosphere. Combat this problem by spraying specially formulated long-lasting carpet fresheners that have diffusive accord of mossy, ambery, and spicy-green notes. These will form a harmonious blend with the smell of carpets and thereby render a clean and fresh smell. Suggested Aromas: Clove, Nutmeg, Iris, Musk, Vanilla
• Fountains: Fountains are such a great source of spreading aroma in the atmosphere yet least explored so far. Add a few drops of a highly diffusive, fruity fragrance blends in the water and create a soothing. and, fragrant ambience. Suggested Aromas: Lavender, Chamomile, Jasmine, Camphor
• Odour Neutraliser: Use odour neutralisers based on natural actives to effectively counter a wide range of unpleasant and offensive odours, including those emanating from cigarette smoke, waste bins, and animals. High-standard odour neutralisers form a complex with constituents of foul odour, thereby pulling them down and combating foul smell. Simultaneously, the additional aroma that is usually added to such combinations support the cleanliness and hygiene factors.
• Gourmet Fragrances: Eateries having tempting ambience can be created with the help of Gourmet Fragrances viz Coffee, Chocolate, Biryani, Masala etc which are available from leading perfumeries.

Signature fragrances

Vedique specialises in sensory communications – adding the scent dimension to reinforce a brand. Your Scent Identity.

These corporate scents will be unique, tailored to your identity, contain high quality ingredients and will be created by in-house experienced Perfumers. Your customers will walk into your lobbies, your rooms, your halls, your reception areas anywhere in the world and feel at ease as they unconsciously recognise your unique scent identity. Vedique is geared to give that extra sensory dimension.