Scent Marketing at Home

The post on "chicken money" brought back memories for some of you, and I've enjoyed your posted comments and e-mails. Thanks for sharing! Speaking of which, it was something that my cousin Cathy shared that brought up my own chicken money story. Here's what she sent me: Fast Food Evolution   Although I've been a vegetarian for many years now, Cathy and I also share fond memories from the 60's of occasional long walks to McDonald's  for 15 cent hamburgers; I can still smell those, too. But it was watching that KFC bar that made me smell the chicken and recall my chicken money days, even though I was recalling the scent and the restaurant in question was not a KFC.

 That's how it is with our brains and aromas. Scent is the only sensation that bypasses a gatekeeper and travels directly through our brain to the regions that process emotion and memory. Marketers know this. There's a whole industry devoted to "scent marketing" that intentionally crafts scents to increase sales. That's why Cinnabons place their ovens by the front of the shops, and warm sheets of cinnamon and sugar if they notice that the scent of baking isn't strong enough. I am living proof that some people can't resist the smell of popcorn that wafts throughout huge movie complexes by design. And we probably have all been enticed to purchase more items, to pay more for something, or to linger in a store if certain aromas were strategically driven our way; a scented environment can also help workers perform more accurately.  Scent Branding

 Because of the link between scent, emotion, and memory, the memories triggered by scent are much more evocative. Haven't we all had the experience of feeling teleported in time just by inhaling a long-forgotten scent? It happens for me every summer: I smell jasmine on a warm afternoon and I'm back in my next door neighbor's garden in 1961. The scent of certain baby bath products lets me relive precious moments when my children were little. And when I hold a carton of strawberries warmed by the sun, I'm nine years old again, picking berries to earn spending money.

 It can be a joyful surprise to be hijacked by an unexpected scent. But we can also take advantage of the links with memory and emotion by choosing scents to experience. You probably know which scents might bring back pleasant memories for you. Can you create any of them for yourself? Perhaps the simple act of baking cookies or cooking a dish you remember from childhood will do the trick for you.

Scent can also help with mood and relaxation, a big plus during this difficult time. Here are some familiar scents that might help you right now:
  • A bit of lavender essential oil on your wrist and temples, lavender spray on your pillow, or the scent of a lavender sachet can reduce heart rate, lower anxiety, and increase relaxation. Lavender is a well known sleep aid. 
  • The citrus scent of orange can both boost energy and reduce anxiety. 
  • Lemongrass can help with worry or anxiety. Lemongrass is also known to be energizing and invigorating. 
  • The calming scent of lemon can help to even out a depressed or anxious mood. 
  • Vanilla not only helps lift mood, but can also bring stress relief and relaxation.
  • Rosemary is known as a great morning pick-me-up. It is used to help reduce headaches and muscle aches.
  • Cinnamon is used to fight mental fatigue and increase focus.
  • Try peppermint when you need an energy boost. It also helps to help clear the mind and increase concentration.
  • Rose and chamomile can be helpful in reducing stress and irritability.

 If you have essential oil, you could just put a drop or two on a cotton ball and inhale as needed, or place a few drops of oil into a bowl of hot water to diffuse into the room. You could also just inhale from the bottle as needed. Many of us have access to lavender and/or rosemary in our gardens. Just breaking into a few leaves or needles with your fingernail will release a healing fragrance.

 Finally, if the scent of apple pie is one that brings fond memories for you, try my No Fail Easiest Ever Applesauce recipe for an instant fix. All you need are apples, cinnamon, and a crock pot:
  • Wash, peel, and core a bunch of apples
  • Cut the apples into chunks of any sizes, and dump them into the crock pot to fill it halfway
  • Dump in a bunch of cinnamon, then shake the pot to coat the apples
  • Add more apple chunks and pieces to finish filling the pot, then add more cinnamon and shake again [NOTE: I measure nothing and am generous with the cinnamon. It's never been too much.]
  • Cover the crock pot and cook the apples on any temperature you like, stirring a few times along the way until you get the consistency you want. [NOTE: I use a wooden spoon to break up the apples as I go, and stop cooking when they're soft but not completely disintegrated.]
You not only get several quarts of applesauce (which does taste like apple pie filling when it's warm), but you have that great apple-cinnamon fragrance for hours.

 Until tomorrow, be safe. Be well. And be comforted by familiar scents and the memories and emotions they evoke for you.

 Love,
Nancie/Mom/Mimi/Grandma

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