The power of scent is no secret. We’ve all experienced it:
- The smell of apple pie takes you back to your Grandma’s house.
- The fragrance of fresh garden roses makes you remember your childhood neighbor’s backyard.
- The pine scent from the woods reminds you of family Christmas tree decorating traditions.
Aromas can have a strong effect on our emotions, and businesses across all markets — including realtors — have learned the secret of using scents to sell.
Are some fragrances more effective than others at motivating potential home buyers? We’ll discuss how scent sells and tell you about eight of the most effective scents to motivate buyers.
Table of Contents
- Does the Scent of Your Home Matter When You’re Trying to Sell?
- How to Better Influence Buying Decisions by Utilizing the Senses
- 8 of the Best Candle Scents for Open Houses
- When Scent Sells, Count on Aromasthesia Candles to Influence Your Potential Buyers
Does the Scent of Your Home Matter When You’re Trying to Sell?
Absolutely, it does!
According to a report by the BMO Financial Group, “Psychology of House Hunting,” 80% of potential buyers know if a home is right for them within seconds of entering the house.
If that’s true, then the aroma that meets buyers at the door has a lot to do with whether they have a pleasant experience and leave with a desire to buy.
But how does this really work? How can scents influence a consumer’s mood in a way that will make them inclined to purchase?
Studies have shown that smell plays an influential part in how we feel because scent is most closely linked to the emotion-processing parts of our brains.
Because of the olfactory/mind connection, scents work in amazing ways to:
- Define our atmosphere
- Lend first impressions
- Provide a welcoming environment
- Link to our emotions; and
- Enhance our buyer loyalty
How to Better Influence Buying Decisions by Utilizing the Senses
If you want to sell your home, you’ve probably already begun some preparations to get your house ready to put on the market. Realtors suggest preparing by:
- Depersonalizing and decluttering
- Making repairs and updates
- Sprucing up the home’s exterior; and
- Staging your home
All of these are important steps to make sure your home looks appealing to buyers, but consider the following tips to ensure your home also smells attractive to those stepping in to take a look around.
Wash Everything
Everyone loves the smell of “clean.”
You’ve experienced it when you arrive home after the cleaning crew has been there. Gone are the remnants of last night’s garlic-heavy dinner which have been replaced with the fresh and fragrant smells of a thoroughly-cleaned home.
Before you think about masking unpleasant odors with candles or essential oil diffusers, get to the bottom of unpleasant odors by going to the source.
Cleaning your home from top to bottom is key. Make sure to include the …
- Walls and baseboards
- Floors
- Counters
- Sinks and disposals
- Washing machine and dishwasher
- Bathtubs and showers
- Closets
- Windows
- A/C returns
- Trash cans
… and the list could go on and on. But we think you get the point, clean every inch of your home.
When cleaning, choose a light-smelling cleaner that takes away the stink from your home but doesn’t leave behind an overly strong chemical smell — which can be just as much of a turn-off to buyers.
Accentuating the environment with items like candles from Aromasthesia should be a way to complement the home instead of hiding its problems.
Pick Scents That Suit Your Home
Be choosy when picking the scent that will accent your home’s selling points.
Think about the location of your home and other characteristics of your abode to find just the right fragrance.
Is your home located on wooded property? A pine or woodsy aroma may be inviting and remind buyers of the mountains.
Are you selling a home surrounded by vast, open land? Try something light and citrusy that invites buyers inside to enjoy looking out onto the expansive exterior.
Selling your beach home? Fill the home with relaxing fragrances to woo buyers to a more tranquil and laid-back experience.
Keep Scents Light
As with many things in life — like stress and condiments — less is definitely more when it comes to adding fragrances to your home for an open house.
No doubt you’ve heard the strategy of brewing coffee or baking cookies before an open house. Though those scents may be appealing to you, they may not be for your visitors.
Eric Spangenberg conducted studies that showed strong or complex smells may distract buyers rather than entice them to buy.
And in a June 2015 study, Spangenberg found that light, pleasant lotion fragrances evoked stronger emotions and were preferred by more of the participants.
Strong scents that are too sweet or flowery may backfire by being overly powerful and even causing headaches or other allergic reactions.
It’s best to keep scents light and simple for the desired effect.
8 of the Best Candle Scents for Open Houses
#1: Citrus
Citrus is a clear winner when it comes to creating an uplifting shot of energy and optimism. Lemon is the first choice among women to lift their mood, and studies done in Japan show that this fragrance also helps to relieve stress.
In addition to lemon, grapefruit, lime, and orange are great mood-boosting scents that last a long time.
An easy way to spread the citrus aroma throughout your home is to place cut lemons and limes — or another citrus fruit of your choice — in a pot of water. Bring the water to a boil and allow it to simmer.
Better yet, burn our Sugammadex Aromasthesia candle in the kitchen during an open house for an energizing burst of citrus fruit and a touch of vanilla.
#2: Cedar and Pine
Cedar and pine scents are certainly popular during the holidays, but they can also be an excellent choice to use at an open house for a property that is nestled in the woods.
These warm scents can create the perfect cozy feeling that may prompt a home buyer to make a bid. And if the home comes with a fireplace, that’s even more reason to bring in these scents to remind them of a warm, crackling fire — one they could experience themselves if they purchase your home.
Pine and cedar aromas are associated with focus and having an open mind and may remind buyers of the peace and serenity experienced when taking a jaunt through the woods.
Research backs up that claim by showing that a walk through a grove of pines can bring feelings of well-being and reduce stress.
For the next open house you have scheduled for a home tucked away in the woods, try lighting up our Rocuronium Aromasthesia candle with its woodsy scent and hint of eucalyptus and citrus.
#3: Fresh Herbs
Herbs like …
- Rosemary
- Mint
- Lemongrass
- Thyme; or
- Basil
… can create a warm and inviting vibe for home buyers because they are familiar and refreshing.
Simply displaying a potted rosemary plant by the front door can provide a whiff of warmth as buyers enter the home.
Our Aromasthesia Vasopressin candle is made with the perfect combination of lemongrass and sage for an energizing and stabilizing effect. Placed in the kitchen, this candle will leave behind a gentle scent that may cause buyers to linger a little longer at your open house.
#4: Jasmine
If you’re selling a vacation cottage at the beach and want to create a relaxed vibe for open house visitors, the scent of jasmine may do the trick.
With its subtle tropical scent, buyers will feel calm while imagining themselves relaxing on the patio as new owners, ready to enjoy a stroll on the beach.
You want to make your potential buyers feel at ease, and studies have hinted that jasmine is one of the most calming scents available.
The Alprazolam Aromasthesia candle provides a relaxed and worry-free environment with its blend of sweet jasmine and lucky bamboo.
#5: Vanilla
When buyers are looking for a home, without a doubt they are looking for something that will give them a sense of comfort, coziness, and familiarity.
The scent of vanilla does all that and more. The scent of vanilla has been shown to have a calming effect and relieve stress and anxiety — all the things you want to leave at the front door.
If you want your home to feel like an oasis for the open house visitors, consider placing the Haloperidol Aromasthesia candle on the mantle. Buyers will experience the cozy feeling of being wrapped in a cashmere blanket as they take in the rich vanilla and amber scents.
#6: Fresh Linen
Who doesn’t love the fresh, clean feeling of jumping into a bed with newly laundered sheets?
That nostalgic feeling can easily be created at an open house, giving buyers a sense of belonging and freshness.
A simple white tablecloth on the dining room table accented with the Aromasthesia Labetalol candle will leave a fresh, clean, and relaxing fragrance any buyer would love.
#7: Freshly Baked Goods
The aroma of freshly baked bread or chocolate chip cookies is likely to take buyers back to Grandma’s house.
Nothing creates a homey feeling better than freshly baked goods, and other simple smells and common baking ingredients like vanilla and cinnamon can also do the trick.
If you don’t have the time or the energy to bake a few batches of fresh bread for your open house, don’t fret.
Even though the Ketamine Aromasthesia candle doesn’t smell exactly like baked bread, its notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, apple, and vanilla will make your buyers think you just took an apple pie out of the oven.
#8: Lavender
Lavender is another excellent choice of scents to create a calming environment and has been scientifically shown to promote relaxation.
Lavender is also a scent that creates a welcoming atmosphere for buyers. Its light and tender fragrance spreads peace, serenity, and calmness throughout a home — feelings that may be in short supply after a day of house hunting.
Our Ondansetron Aromasthesia candle, with its notes of lavender and vanilla, will promote relaxation.
When Scent Sells, Count on Aromasthesia Candles to Influence Your Potential Buyers
Looking for the perfect scent that sells couldn’t be easier with the many Aromasthesia candles to choose from.
Tickle the noses of potential buyers with fragrances like:
- Jasmine
- Gardenia
- Cedarwood
- Amber
- Vanilla
- Lemongrass
- Rose petals
- Lavender
- Cinnamon
- And many more
Tiffany Moon, M.D., is an entrepreneur and anesthesiologist who joined her two loves — anesthesia and aromatherapy — to create a line of candles suited for your needs, whether it’s relaxation, rejuvenation, or anything in between.
Our luxury candles are made with the highest quality essential oils and soy wax. And they are free of dyes, paraffin, phthalates, and parabens.
A portion of the proceeds from our triple-scented candles is proudly donated to The Family Place, which has been helping victims of family violence in Texas since 1978.
Check out the whole collection and shop for the perfect scents for your next open house.