Aromas Next Target for Interior Design

June 24, 2015  by in Designer Weekly   

It’s hard for a layperson to describe the smell though. “As if someone who smells very good was just sitting in a leather chair, in a room full of carefully hand-bound books in an elegant, slightly decrepit hotel, situated in the back street of a European city,” suggested one fan.

Masculine, evening, sexy, mature, urban. Those are the kinds of words to use when working with a perfumer to create a custom scent. Never say woodsy, oak, citrus, cigar or any other obvious smell descriptor. “It’s fine to tell these really creative people ‘the story’ and let them do their thing,” said Jorge Trevino, executive vice president of brand operations for Commune Hotels, referring to scent designers and, yes, the persona or sensation you wish to convey.

Hotels have scented their lobbies, elevators and other public spaces for years. Mr. Trevino recalls the past: housekeepers at luxury properties weekly refilling hidden, thimble-sized, clay oil dispensers. Now scenting is high-tech, involving building engineers and motorized compressed cartridges. Lately, hotels, airlines and amusement parks are using less ubiquitous, more bespoke fragrances and savvy guests are picking up the scent. Literally.

Created in about 12 months with olfactory branding firm 12.29, Velvet, the scent of the Thompson Hotels, including Gild Hall and The Smyth, is perfect, according to Mr. Trevino, because the “velvet-ropey” brand turns on when the sun sets.

Read Entire Story Source: New York Observer