The Power of Smell Kills a Brand

In a post reviewing a couple hours of MTV programming, Ryan Perry was particularly affected by a commercial for Febreze.

I just saw a commercial for Febreze. This is easily one of the handiest items available to a bachelor, especially one like me who has a dog. But when I walk into a room that smells like Febreze, I can’t help but wonder what’s being covered up. All I can think about is whether or not I’m sitting in a puddle of piss, or if maybe the carpet I’m walking on is tainted by some cannibal’s thrown up grown up. I remember the summers in my friend Jowed’s garage where we’d wake up hungover every morning, “clean” for ten minutes, spray down all the sexed-out couches, and then invite people over for another night of fun. So when I go to the store, I buy imitation Febreze…or something that smells nothing like the original Febreze scent. I don’t want people wondering if they’re sitting in my dog’s crapcakes. It’s called misdirection, and it gets them every time.

Marketers, never underestimate the power olfactory association can have on your brand.

Picture of Steve Hall

Steve Hall

RECENT ARTICLES

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

8 things people who are impossible to manipulate do differently

8 things people who are impossible to manipulate do differently

Hack Spirit

7 signs someone was the responsible child in their family, even decades later

7 signs someone was the responsible child in their family, even decades later

Hack Spirit

People who can’t rest until they’ve landed on an explanation for something uncertain score higher on what researchers call the need for cognitive closure, a documented cognitive style where the discomfort of not knowing gets resolved by settling on almost any answer rather than the right one.

People who can’t rest until they’ve landed on an explanation for something uncertain score higher on what researchers call the need for cognitive closure, a documented cognitive style where the discomfort of not knowing gets resolved by settling on almost any answer rather than the right one.

Global English Editing

9 things couples in strong marriages do on ordinary weekday evenings

9 things couples in strong marriages do on ordinary weekday evenings

Hack Spirit

8 things people do that make others genuinely glad to see them

8 things people do that make others genuinely glad to see them

Hack Spirit

7 things genuinely humble people never do in a conversation

7 things genuinely humble people never do in a conversation

Hack Spirit