ION Orchard has used its own signature scent since it opened in 2009, as part of the multisensory experience the mall promised visitors. In 2011 the mall said the signature ION scent blended around 20 ingredients, including bergamot, white tea, mandarin, ginger, peony, mimosa and wild lavender. It is noticeable from the underground link to Orchard MRT station, and it became so recognisable that local fragrance sellers now market “ION-inspired” copies. For Singapore retailers, it is the clearest local proof that a scent can become part of how a place is known.
What ION Orchard did
- Planned scent from the start. Scent was part of the mall’s multisensory concept at opening, not an afterthought.
- Created its own scent. A customised signature scent rather than a generic mall fragrance.
- Scented the thresholds. Entrances and key common areas, including the approach from the MRT, where thousands of people arrive every day.
- Kept it consistent. The same character over many years, so people learned to recognise it.
What retailers and landlords can learn
Thresholds matter most
The moment people arrive is when a scent registers. For a mall, that is the entrances and transport links; for a shop, the doorway. See scenting large spaces.
Fresh, light notes travel well in Singapore
White tea, bergamot and mandarin are fresh and light, a good fit for a humid climate and a broad public. See green tea scent and fragrance families.
Copies are a compliment, and a warning
When a scent is copied and sold, it has become a brand asset. It also shows why a brand scent should be created for you, with ownership agreed, rather than chosen from a catalogue anyone can buy.
Tenants and landlords share the air
Tenants should scent their own stores without clashing with the mall’s common-area scent, and landlords should keep their scent light enough to leave room for tenants.
See our retail scent marketing and corporate real estate scenting services.
Frequently asked questions
Does ION Orchard have a signature scent?
Yes. The mall has used its own signature scent since opening in 2009.
What does ION Orchard smell like?
In 2011 the mall said its scent included bergamot, white tea, mandarin, ginger, peony, mimosa and wild lavender among around 20 ingredients: fresh, light and slightly floral.
Can I buy the ION Orchard scent?
Several local sellers offer products inspired by it. These are interpretations, not the mall’s own fragrance.
Further reading: ION Orchard on Wikipedia.
