To choose a scent for your business, start with what the brand should feel like, who spends time in the space and what the space is for. Shortlist two or three fragrance families that fit, then trial them in the space itself. “Something nice” is the wrong brief because almost every scent is nice to someone. What matters is whether it fits your brand, your customers and your space, and whether it will still feel right on the hundredth visit.
Why “something nice” fails
- It describes almost every scent on the market, so the choice comes down to one person’s taste.
- It ignores the space: a scent that is lovely at home can be cloying in a humid entrance or distracting in a clinic.
- It ignores the brand: a pleasant scent that says nothing about you will not become recognisable.
How to choose
1. Describe the brand in three to five words
Include what you are not. “Calm, precise, warm, never flashy” narrows the field far more than “premium”.
2. Think about who is there
Customers, patients, guests and staff on long shifts all share the air. Choose something they can live with every day.
3. Match the space
Fresh and green families suit offices and clinics; woody and soft floral families suit hotels and luxury retail; citrus and mint suit gyms. Our guide to fragrance families has a table by space.
4. Shortlist, then trial in the space
Smell two or three options where they will be used, at different times of day, with people who have just walked in.
5. Check the practicalities
Food nearby, sensitive occupants, pets and how widely a library scent is already used.
6. Decide: library or signature
A library scent is quick and affordable; a signature scent is exclusive and becomes a brand asset. See custom scent vs off-the-shelf and our scent branding service.
7. Get the delivery right
The right scent at the wrong level fails. Use a calibrated scent system and keep it low.
A quick checklist
- Does it fit the brand words?
- Does it suit everyone who shares the space?
- Does it work with the products and any food?
- Did it still feel right in the space after a few minutes?
- Is it made by a real perfume house and formulated within IFRA guidance? Ours are created by drom.
For help choosing, see our commercial scenting service.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best scent for a business?
The one that fits your brand, customers and space. Fresh, green and light woody scents are the most widely used.
How do I create the scent of my company?
Commission a signature scent from a brief. See how to create a signature scent.
Should we ask staff to choose?
Involve a small panel who know the brand. Choosing by vote tends to produce a generic result.
Further reading: Sensory branding on Wikipedia.
