The best scented corporate gift is one in your own brand scent. A generic luxury candle is pleasant and forgotten. A car diffuser, candle or reed diffuser that smells exactly like your hotel lobby, showroom or office reception carries your brand into a client’s car, home or desk, and reminds them of you every time they notice it. That is the difference between a gift and a brand touchpoint.
Why a generic candle can’t do the job
- It isn’t yours. A bestselling candle scent is on sale to anyone. It says you bought something nice, not that the gift came from you.
- It doesn’t connect to anything. Scent is closely tied to memory. A gift that smells like your premises links the gift to the experience of visiting you; a generic scent links it to nothing.
- It competes with everyone else’s gift. During Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn and year-end, clients in Singapore receive plenty of candles and hampers. The one that smells like a place they know stands out.
Gift formats that carry a brand scent
Car diffusers
Small, practical and used daily. For businesses whose clients drive, such as property developers, car showrooms and private banks, a car diffuser in the brand scent is one of the most frequently noticed gifts you can give.
Candles
Still the classic, and they photograph well. A candle in your own scent, in considered packaging, turns a familiar gift into a branded one.
Reed diffusers
Flame-free and long-lasting, so suitable for offices and clients who prefer not to burn candles. Ideal for a desk or a home entrance.
Room and linen sprays
A lower-cost format that works well in welcome packs, event goody bags and as a thank-you after a project.
Scented print and cards
Invitations, thank-you cards and brochures carrying a hint of the scent, so the brand is recognisable before the envelope is open. We cover this further in our article on scenting products and packaging.
Getting the scent right in each product
The same fragrance behaves differently in a candle, a spray and a diffuser, and the safety limits differ too. The IFRA Standards set how fragrance materials may be used by product type, so a scent that is fine in an air-conditioning system may need adjusting for a room spray or a candle. This is work for the perfume house that created the scent, not a gift supplier matching it by nose. Done properly, every format smells recognisably like your lobby.
Who uses branded scent gifts
- Hotels, for loyalty guests, corporate accounts and retail sale of the signature scent. See our hotel scent marketing service.
- Developers and showflats, as a keepsake for buyers that recalls the showflat experience. See showflat and sales gallery scenting.
- Retail and beauty brands, as gift-with-purchase or VIP gifts.
- Professional firms, for client year-end gifts and deal closings.
Practical points before you order
- You need a brand scent first. If you don’t have one, start with how to create a signature scent for your brand.
- Allow lead time. Product development, compliance checks and packaging take longer than buying off the shelf. Plan around the festive calendar, not a week before it.
- Expect minimum quantities. Custom products are made in batches.
- Keep packaging on brand. The box is the first thing the recipient sees.
To create candles, diffusers, sprays or gifts in your own scent, see our branded scent products service.
Frequently asked questions
What are luxury scented corporate gifts?
Gifts such as candles, reed diffusers, car diffusers and room sprays, chosen for quality and presentation. The strongest versions use the giver’s own brand scent.
Can a corporate gift use our signature scent?
Yes, if you have one. The fragrance is adapted for each product format so it smells consistent and stays within IFRA guidance.
Which scented gift is used most?
Car diffusers and reed diffusers tend to be used daily; candles are often saved for occasions. Choose by how your clients live and work.
Is a branded scent gift suitable for Chinese New Year and year-end?
Yes, and those are the busiest periods, so order well in advance.
Can hotels sell their signature scent to guests?
Many do. Guests who enjoyed a stay often want to take the scent home, and it extends the brand beyond the property.
Talk to us about extending your brand scent into gifts.
Further reading: Luxury goods on Wikipedia.
