Meetings Blog Feb 20, 2018
Smell is one of the strongest of our five senses. It takes us to cherished moments and far-away places, and can evoke extremely personal feelings and memories. As an event planner, how can you use this in your favor? Give attendees that relaxed feeling – where they won’t note any tension – by using small touches of lavender. To stimulate guests and get them active, lean towards more daring essences such as ginger or cardamom. If you want to convey a classier feeling and the moments of introspection and peacefulness that come with it, vetiver is your ally. The fragrance of freshly-cut grass transmits a clean, fresh feeling that will leave attendees refreshed.
The most important thing is to work with a consultant to evaluate your venue and find the key spots to place fragrant elements. The smell should always be subtle, and always working to make the event slightly more pleasant… It will stick out in guests’ memory. Next time they pass by a flowering lavender bush, they’ll remember that successful meeting they had and associate new memories with your event. The possibilities are endless.
If you are presenting or promoting a product with a special aroma (a perfume, coffee variety, wine tasting,) you know that smell can be of the utmost importance. Scent can be key in convincing attendees to buy a product or service, so you should not overlook its presence at your event. The Harvard Business Review points out that “new academic work reveals striking instances of senses’ affecting attitude, mood, and even memory more profoundly than words ever could”. Just have a look at Disney: in their parks, they use different fragrance devices that softly spread certain scents to generate “more visceral experiences for its visitors when shopping or waiting in line for an attraction”. However, make sure that other elements besides smell don’t overwhelm guests and eclipse the aromas and atmosphere that you’re trying to cultivate. Open the door to new sensations at your events with fragrance… you won’t regret it!
