 BLOG.png)
Scent is one of the most powerful yet often overlooked tools in modern marketing. It can make you feel a certain way, remind you of things, and help you feel a strong connection to a brand. But this isn’t a new phenomenon - it dates back to the days of Tapputi, the world’s first recorded perfumer. Today, brands like Air Trends International are tapping into this ancient tradition using custom air fresheners to engage audiences in innovative and memorable ways.
This article explores the evolution of scent in branding, current trends in scent marketing, and how businesses can use fragrance as a strategic asset in 2025 and beyond.
A woman named Tapputi is the first perfumer we know of, and she lived in Mesopotamia about 1200 BCE. She worked in the royal palace and used natural ingredients like myrrh, flowers, and oils to create scents for rituals and healing. Her methods were written down on cuneiform tablets, which is the first time we have a record of someone using distillation.
Fragrance was a symbol of power, wealth, and divinity in ancient civilizations. In Egypt, scented balms were used for embalming and spiritual offerings. In Rome, perfumes were a mark of social standing. By the 17th and 18th centuries, European royalty, particularly in France, had adopted fragrance as part of daily life and court etiquette.
These early uses of scent weren’t just for hygiene or pleasure. They were deliberate choices to create identity, convey status, and control perception - similar to how brands use scent today.
Our sense of smell is linked directly to the limbic system, which is the part of our brain that deals with memory and emotion. Unlike sight or sound, scent bypasses rational processing and goes straight to our emotional core.
This neurological pathway makes fragrance especially potent in branding. A signature scent can trigger instant recognition, influence mood, and even drive purchasing decisions. Studies have shown that consumers are more likely to linger in a scented retail space and associate the environment with positive feelings.
Modern marketers are capitalizing on this by incorporating scent into physical spaces, packaging, and promotional merchandise like branded air fresheners. These tools are not only effective but also scalable and cost-efficient for both large corporations and small businesses.
In the 1900s, the perfume industry saw a major shift. Brands like Chanel elevated fragrance from a personal item to a lifestyle symbol. Perfume ads told stories, sold emotions, and defined personal identity.
Later in the century, retailers began experimenting with scent diffusion in stores to increase foot traffic and enhance customer satisfaction. Hospitality and automotive sectors followed suit, using scent to create consistent, pleasant brand environments.
As the market evolved, custom scents found their way into giveaways and promotional products. Car air fresheners became a new frontier for scent branding - compact, affordable, and perfect for placing a brand inside the daily life of a customer.
Custom air fresheners offer a unique advantage in marketing: mobility. Unlike stationary displays or digital ads, an air freshener moves with the customer. Whether hung in a car, locker, office, or home, it provides consistent brand exposure every time the scent is noticed.
This creates a micro-experience that strengthens brand recall. Air Trends International, for example, allows full customization of scent, shape, color, and branding, offering a fully branded sensory interaction. It's not just a promotional product - it’s a strategy to occupy a physical and emotional space in consumers’ lives.
As sustainability continues to dominate global priorities, consumers are increasingly choosing brands that align with their environmental values. Eco-friendly promotional products are no longer optional - they are expected.
Air Trends International has embraced this shift with biodegradable and recyclable materials in their air freshener production. The fragrances themselves can be free from harmful phthalates or synthetic additives, aligning with health-conscious consumer expectations.
Sustainable scent marketing is also about messaging. Offering eco-friendly air fresheners signals that a brand cares about its impact. This not only builds trust but also helps businesses align with global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
In today’s market, generic doesn’t cut it. Personalized branding has become a leading marketing trend, with companies offering everything from custom packaging to bespoke customer journeys.
Scent is no different. Air Trends enables businesses to choose scents that reflect their brand ethos. For instance, a coffee brand might choose mocha or hazelnut aromas, while an outdoors retailer may prefer cedarwood or pine. These choices are subtle but meaningful ways to reinforce brand personality and set the tone for customer interaction.
Beyond scent, customization extends to design. Air fresheners can carry logos, taglines, website URLs, and even QR codes - creating an integrated branding asset.
Technology is changing every industry, and the world of fragrance is no different. Smart scent diffusers, programmable release systems, and digital fragrance libraries are already on the market.
Air fresheners are also evolving. Brands are beginning to integrate QR codes that direct users to online platforms, exclusive offers, or AR experiences. Although still in its early stages, scent-tech hybrids have vast potential for immersive marketing campaigns. As augmented reality and the Internet of Things (IoT) grow, expect scent branding to take on even more interactive formats.
Air Trends’ customizable templates and scent profiles are already designed with future-proofing in mind, offering a seamless transition into this new era of promotional products.
Using experiences to market a brand is now one of the fastest-growing ways for companies to connect with their customers. Whether at trade shows, pop-up shops, or fundraisers, brands are seeking ways to leave lasting impressions.
Custom air fresheners are great giveaways that people remember because they have a special smell and can be used long after the event is over. Unlike pamphlets or brochures, scent keeps a brand present in the customer’s daily routine.
A fundraiser that uses a custom scent can anchor an emotional memory, encouraging repeat donations or engagement. Similarly, schools and universities use air fresheners as branded merchandise for alumni or donors, adding a layer of nostalgia to their campaigns.
The rise of wellness in branding is no longer exclusive to spas or fitness centers. Corporations, educational institutions, and even tech companies are recognizing the need for balance and mental wellness in their environments.
Scents like lavender, eucalyptus, and sandalwood are being used to create calmer, more focused workspaces. Giving employees or clients a wellness-themed branded air freshener adds value beyond marketing - it becomes a gesture of care.
By including therapeutic scents in their product line, Air Trends helps brands blend wellness initiatives with promotional goals.
As brands grow across borders, understanding cultural preferences becomes essential. Scent is deeply influenced by geography, religion, and tradition. What’s appealing in one region may not resonate in another.
Custom air fresheners tailored to specific markets - like jasmine for South Asia, citrus for Latin America, or mint for Europe - can help brands localize their campaigns without losing global cohesion. This sensitivity increases acceptance and effectiveness in multinational outreach strategies.
Every season has its scent. Spring brings floral freshness, autumn introduces spiced warmth, and winter delivers cozy notes like cinnamon and vanilla.
Aligning branded air fresheners with seasonal campaigns allows companies to refresh their marketing while staying relevant. Customers associate specific scents with moments, holidays, or moods - making them ideal for limited-time promotions, gift packs, or holiday mailers.
Seasonal marketing also encourages repeat engagement, as customers look forward to new variations throughout the year.
Loyalty from customers is not just about giving them discounts or points, it's about building a relationship with them. Gifting a customer a useful, pleasant, and branded item like a custom air freshener can deepen their emotional bond with the business.
Whether handed out after a car service, included in a product box, or given to long-term clients, these gestures reinforce loyalty by adding tangible, sensory value to the experience.
Scent becomes the trigger for positive associations and brand remembrance - making every follow-up, return visit, or reorder more likely.
While the car interior is the most obvious place for a hanging air freshener, these items are being used in increasingly creative ways. Retailers add them to shopping bags, gyms place them in lockers, and hospitality venues offer them in welcome kits.
Their versatility allows for consistent brand exposure in unexpected places. Air Trends’ flexibility in design and scent options makes their products suitable for various industries - from real estate to education to health and wellness.
This broad applicability ensures a high return on investment, especially for small and mid-sized businesses looking to maximize their promotional reach.
Scent has always played a vital role in human culture - first as ritual, then as status, and now as strategy. From Tapputi’s perfumes to 2025’s smart, sustainable, and sensory branding tools, fragrance continues to shape how we connect with the world and with each other.
Air Trends International(ATI) is not only adapting to this history but expanding it. With customizable, eco-friendly, and experiential air fresheners, they are helping brands make scent part of their signature.
In a world full of digital noise, scent is a quiet but powerful way to stand out.
Aug 08, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 11, 2025
Jun 11, 2025
May 29, 2025
May 16, 2025
