Spot on scents can transport your clients to another world…
Did you know that your sense of smell is the strongest of all of your senses? It’s so strong in fact, that people have been shown to recall smells with 65 per cent accuracy a year after encountering them.
Certain scents in particular have the ability to transform our wellbeing, promoting relaxation, lowering of blood pressure and even relieving nervous tension. Not only that, but an exotic or captivating scent can transport us to another world, making us leave our trouble far behind.
It’s even more so for female clients, who have been shown to possess a more heightened sense of smell than men, which interestingly peaks in the first half of the menstrual cycle.
Needless to say, incorporating scents into your salon experience is a must if you want your clients to feel they can truly slip away during their treatment with you. Here are just a few ways to use them in your next salon treatment.
Massage
Use scented oils to increase your client’s sense of relaxation. Vanilla is ideal for promoting calm, while citrus scents are more energising, so ideal for invigorating treatments.
Candles
Lighting scented candles not only releases a beautiful smell through youir salon, it’s also great for creating ambience. Candle light has been shown to lower cortisol levels, and the best scents to enhance that are lavender, geranium and jasmine – all deeply powerful relaxants.
Room sprays
A quick way to freshen up your treatment room and get your clients in the feelgood mood is with a couple of spritzes of an interior spray. Reach for mentally energising peppermint if you’re feeling particularly fatigued or foggy-minded between appointments or opt for a thyme infused spray to relieve nervous tension in your client.
Diffuser reeds
Diffusers release scent much more slowly and subtly than other methods, so are great for keeping in areas like your reception desk, waiting room and salon bathroom. Try warming sandalwood or uplifting rosemary, which has been linked with improved mental performance, so it’ll ensure you’re on your game all day.
Check out the latest salon worthy scents hitting the shelves at the moment, as featured in our upcoming May/June issue. Top to bottom, clockwise: Diptyque Baies Scented Candle (Mecca Cosmetica mecca.com.au), Ecoya Natural Soy Metro Jar Vanilla Bean
Fragranced Candle (Ecoya 1300 730 180), Gum Tree Lane Honey Myrtle Oil (Gum Tree Lane Australia gumtreelaneaustralia.com), Molton Brown Gingerlily Aroma Reeds (Molton Brown 1800 670 540), Diptyque Baies SceInterior Scent (Mecca Cosmetica mecca.com.au).
Have your say: What’s you favourite scent to incorporate into treatments?