Beware of scented stores! Pleasant aromas make us spend!

Choose a citrus perfume for a business meeting

Certain scents encourage spending money.

Written by: Natasha Vasic

Most people don’t know, but today there is practically no retail chain, shopping mall, or hotel chain that doesn’t use scents to unconsciously encourage their customers to spend more money and return again and again.

One of many studies conducted at the Hara Casino in Las Vegas demonstrated the impact of scent on consumers. In one part of the casino, a pleasant fragrance was released, while in another part, the situation remained unchanged. In the following weeks, the “scented” section of the casino recorded a 45% higher revenue than the other section!

The more relaxed we are, the more generous we become

After that, Hilton developed its special scent for the area with slot machines, which activates the amygdala and hippocampus, making people feel relaxed and carefree, allowing visitors to spend their money without hesitation.

In a series of experiments designed by psychologist Chen-Bo Zhong, it was shown that there is a drastic difference in the behavior of participants in the scented room compared to the room without scent, even though they did not believe that the scent had any effect on their behavior.

The scent of lemon awakens humanity

Based on the questionnaires filled out, it was found that neither room affected their mood. However, 99 students, half of whom were in the scented room, were given various tasks and a flyer requesting voluntary contributions. The group in the lemon-scented room was more willing to volunteer and almost four times more likely to make a donation.

In numerous other experiments, it was shown that people are more inclined to lie and cheat in slightly dimmed rooms or when wearing sunglasses, while they are more generous and behave more warmly towards others after having a cup of hot tea. Additionally, they take situations more seriously when carrying something heavy.

From a young age, we are taught that clothing does not make the man, but every study has shown that our attire and styling influence how others perceive us. Next time you head to an important meeting, don’t hesitate to apply a simple citrus or green tea and lemongrass-based fragrance.