• Research in France indicates scent may have a powerful role to play in helping people who are suffering from severe trauma.
• Scent is an integral part of a new transdisciplinary master’s program at the Parsons New School for Design in New York.
• Bloom grocery stores recently implemented the first scented billboard in North Carolina, using giant fans to blow a charbroiled scent over a highway.

Check it out over at Bloomberg Businessweek: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_26/b4184085987358.htm

Ambient experiences can play an important role in attracting and retaining repeat customers in numerous settings. Of the five senses, smell is often considered the most powerful trigger of emotions and memories. With Ambius’s state-of-the art Microfresh program, Omni will be able to have each hotel choose a particular scent which is in keeping with the authentic, locally oriented design and decor of the property to further deliver an ambience which captures the true essence of the destination.

“Omni has become recognized in the hospitality industry for using an innovative, sensory approach to ensure we create an engaging, comfortable environment for our guests,” said Stephen Rosenstock, senior vice president for brand standards for Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Ambius is perfectly positioned to provide the products and services we are seeking as we evolve the program by customizing the scents in our properties based on the particular ambience we are looking to achieve for each.”

“Our ambient scenting system results in a holistic, inspiring and memorable atmosphere which complements and reinforces Omni’s mission to exceed the expectations of guests. We’re extremely pleased to partner with like-minded companies who have discovered the role that scent can play in creating a unique experience,” said Jeff Mariola, Ambius divisional managing director.

About Ambius

Ambius offers a full spectrum of services to enhance the interior space for the hospitality, healthcare, retail, and commercial industries. From ambient scenting to interior landscaping, holiday decor, decorative wall art and fresh fruit and flower deliveries to businesses in 18 countries in Europe, North America, South Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Ambius is a division of Rentokil Initial plc /quotes/comstock/23s!e:rto (UK:RTO 114.12, -3.50, -2.96%) . For more information, visit the new Ambius website at www.ambius.com

Media Contact:
Nancy Tamosaitis-Thompson
Vorticom, Inc.
212.532.2208

Retailer uses cutting-edge Air/Q(TM) technology to introduce shoppers to its new signature scent

MILWAUKEE, WI — August 21, 2009 — bebe stores, inc. (Nasdaq: BEBE) has launched its highly anticipated new fragrance in all U.S. bebe stores. Thanks to a partnership with Milwaukee-based Prolitec, the sensuous new “signature” scent now wafts through select areas of bebe’s stores via the Air/Q(TM) Adjustable Room Air Freshener(TM) — a miniaturized and fully programmable version of Prolitec’s ambient-scenting technology, which is already in use at many of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas.

“Rather than scenting the entire store, bebe is using Air/Q to scent specific in-store areas, such as those around the luxurious visual displays that introduce the new fragrance,” explained Roger Bensinger, Prolitec’s Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “This allows bebe to marry its visual marketing efforts with the olfactory experience of the fragrance itself — a very powerful combination.”

“With Prolitec’s innovative scenting machines strategically placed in our stores, clients will experience an immediate emotional connection to the scent,” commented Manny Mashouf, Chairman & CEO, bebe stores, inc. “This is a terrific way to reveal our new undeniably feminine fragrance in a subtle yet sensual mannerand, based on initial results, we are encouraged by the overwhelming response.”The retailer licensed the new fragrance through France’s Inter Parfums, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: IPAR), which collaborates with noted designers such as Francis Kurkdjian to manufacture and distribute prestige perfumes and cosmetics for the likes of Burberry, Paul Smith, S.T. Dupont and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Inter Parfums chose the bebe fragrance for its first-ever foray into automated ambient sampling, said Andy Clarke, President of Inter Parfums USA LLC, Specialty Retail Division. “Ambient scenting is one of the hottest trends in retail, and many companies are keenly interested in new approaches to ambient sampling that are more efficient than, say, paying a person to spray a new perfume on shoppers’ wrists as they walk in the store,” he noted. “At the same time, many retailers do not want any remnant of an in-store fragrance to last on the ready-to-wear clothing they sell. These stores need to be able to control the intensity and range of the automated ambient sampling technology they use to an extraordinary degree. This is precisely what Prolitec’s Air/Q system offers.”

A sleek, five-inch cube handsome enough to be on display but small enough to be hidden away, Air/Q(TM) is the only fully adjustable room air freshener on the market today. Scent intensity levels can be set from ’1′ to ’50,’ to precisely match room sizes and user tastes. The device can also be programmed to start and stop at certain times each day.”

Prolitec’s patented micro-droplet technology delivers a uniform scent impact with an ultra-low quantity of fragrance in the air — less than one molecule in every 1 million. “By combining an ultra-low concentration of fragrance with a ‘smart’ and environmentally sensible delivery system, retailers can communicate to customers with scent as never before,” Bensinger said.

About Prolitec
Prolitec (www.prolitec.com) is a world leader in the development and deployment of innovative air-freshening technologies and solutions for aerobiology, indoor air quality and the use of scent as a medium of communication. Clients include retailers, hotels, casinos and other commercial organizations in the US and around the world.

About bebe
bebe stores, inc. designs, develops and produces a distinctive line of contemporary women’s apparel and accessories, which it markets under the bebe, BEBE SPORT, bbsp and 2b bebe brand names. bebe currently operates 308 stores, of which 211 are bebe stores, 34 are 2b bebe stores, 62 are BEBE SPORT stores and one is a bebe accessories store. These stores are located in the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Canada. In addition, there is an online store at www.bebe.com.

About Inter Parfums
Inter Parfums, Inc. develops, manufactures and distributes prestige perfumes and cosmetics as the exclusive worldwide licensee for Burberry, Paul Smith, S.T. Dupont, Christian Lacroix, Quiksilver/Roxy, and Van Cleef & Arpels. The Company also owns Lanvin Perfumes and Nickel S.A., a men’s skin care company. It also produces personal care products for specialty retailers under exclusive agreements with Gap, Banana Republic, New York & Company, Brooks Brothers and as announced above, bebe stores. In addition, Inter Parfums produces and supplies mass market fragrances and fragrance related products. The Company’s products are sold in over 120 countries worldwide.

Read more at Brand Channel

For 23 years The Economist has published a lengthy collection of predictions for each coming year. This year, The Economist’s The World in 2009 includes the explosion of scent marketing amongst its business-related predictions. Harrod’s is mentioned as the biggest British example of scent in retail, and it’s predicted  that  at least one large supermaket, several malls and one fast food chain will follow Harrods’ lead. The prediction certainly has a solid foundation. Harrods has led the way before: they introduced the world’s first escalator in 1998. And, according to the Economist, smell is the new frontier. For one, they point out that if you “get the smell right, you can bypass rational thought,” prompting customers to want and to buy without needing a reason. Additionally, in these times when online shopping has seized so much revenue from storefronts, retailers need to engage customers in ways they can’t experience via the internet.

Read more in The Economist

Read more at Ask the Whiff Guys

“Church Marketing Sucks,” a web site/blog devoted to helping improve marketing for churches, has a poll going this week about scent branding.

“Does branding your church with a specific scent take branding a step too far?”

Hop on over there to take the poll.

Link: churchmarketingsucks.com

Westin Hotels & Resorts has partnered with United Airlines to provide a package of Westin-branded bedding and amenities to United passengers who fly first and business class. Westin’s signature “White Tea” scent is served to customers in the form of a scented towelette, along with the music selection Westin features in its hotel lobbies, the Westin-branded “Heavenly Bed” products, and a cocktail inspired by the Westin-branded “SuperFoods” program. Basically, minus the mattresses and showers, it’s a hotel in the air.

Read more at MarketWatch.

I don’t normally report about wearable perfumes here in Air Sense News, but occasionally I hear about something that’s just too good not to mention. These items generally fall under the category of “brilliant marketing ploys.” Here’s the latest, which my perfume-wearing friends tell me is old news. Perhaps, like me, it will be new to you.

New York company Demeter Fragrance has a series of wearable scents with names of some truly unusual things. A glance at Demeter’s online Fragrance Library will entertain you for hours. Here’s just a tiny fraction of what’s there:

• Bonfire
• Bubblegum
• Cannabis Flower
• Clean Windows
• Condensed Milk
• Dandelion
• Dirt
• Dregs
• Funeral Home
• Gift Certificates
• Gin & Tonic
• Lobster
• Mildew
• Popcorn
• Pruning Shears
• Sawdust
• Turpentine
• Waffles

Links:

Sunday Herald article

Demeter Fragrance Library

Links:

That Brand Makes $cents: Part I

That Brand Makes $cents: Part II

That Brand Makes $cents: Part III