Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025

Scent has become a powerful force in shaping how consumers shop, triggering emotional responses and influencing behavior at both conscious and subconscious levels. In 2025, fragrance is no longer limited to personal care—it’s now central to branding, wellness, and even the structure of in-store and digital experiences. From mood-enhancing aromas to AI-driven customization, the role of scent has expanded into nearly every corner of retail.

Consumers are increasingly drawn to fragrances that evoke memories, support well-being, or reflect their identity, especially as shopping becomes more sensory and experiential. At the same time, brands are leveraging scent to increase dwell time, improve recall, and guide purchasing decisions. The following statistics highlight the top scent-based triggers that are reshaping how people connect with products and spaces in 2025.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025  (Editor's Choice)

Here are the top 10 scent-based shopping behavior triggers shaping consumer engagement in 2025, based on the latest industry insights and research:

1. Mood-Enhancing and Therapeutic Scents

Fragrances designed to support mental well-being are gaining popularity. Brands are formulating scents with specific therapeutic or mood-enhancing benefits, aligning with the holistic wellness trend. 

2. Gourmand and Food-Inspired Fragrances

Sweet, dessert-like scents such as vanilla, caramel, and chocolate are trending, especially among Gen Z consumers. These "gourmand" fragrances evoke nostalgia and comfort, often influenced by social media platforms like TikTok. 

3. Signature Ambient Scents in Retail Spaces

Retailers are creating unique ambient fragrances to enhance customer experience and reinforce brand identity. These signature scents can evoke emotions, trigger memories, and encourage shoppers to spend more time in-store. 

4. AI-Driven Personalized Fragrances

Artificial intelligence is being utilized to craft personalized scents based on individual preferences, moods, and body chemistry. This technology allows for hyper-personalized fragrance experiences. 

5. Spiritual and Holistic Fragrances

Fragrances infused with spiritual and holistic elements, such as energy amplification and crystal healing, are becoming more prevalent. These scents cater to consumers seeking emotional connections and alternative wellness experiences. 

6. Crossmodal Sensory Experiences

Retailers are exploring the interplay between different senses, such as combining specific scents with corresponding sounds, to create immersive shopping environments that influence consumer behavior. 

7. Affordable Luxury and Dupes

There's a growing demand for high-quality, affordable alternatives to luxury fragrances. Consumers are seeking products that offer similar aromatic experiences to premium brands without the high price tag.

8. Seasonal and Nature-Inspired Scents

Brands are releasing seasonal perfumes aligned with natural cycles, incorporating elements like flora and local heritage. This approach fosters a deeper emotional and ecological connection with consumers. 

9. Scent Marketing in Restaurants

Restaurants are using scent marketing to enhance the dining experience, with research showing that customers stay longer and report higher satisfaction when exposed to well-planned scent branding strategies. 

10. Visual Cues Evoking Scent Perception

Even in online shopping, visual imagery of scented objects can evoke imagined scents in consumers' minds, influencing their preferences and purchasing decisions. 

These trends highlight the evolving role of scent in shaping consumer behavior and the importance of integrating olfactory elements into marketing strategies.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 and Future Implications

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #1. Mood-Enhancing and Therapeutic Scents

A 2025 report from CosmeticsDesign-Asia highlights a growing consumer interest in therapeutic fragrances that support mental wellness. Scent formulations now integrate calming and mood-lifting notes like lavender, ylang-ylang, and neroli to address stress and anxiety. Retailers and wellness brands are tapping into this demand with scent-infused products, including in-store aromatherapy zones. The integration of scent into self-care routines shows how fragrance is being repositioned as a functional wellness tool. In the future, we’ll likely see more fragrance companies collaborating with mental health experts to develop scientifically-backed formulas.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #2. Gourmand and Food-Inspired Fragrances

According to Vox, dessert-like “gourmand” fragrances are booming in 2025, especially among Gen Z, who favor edible scents such as vanilla, marshmallow, and caramel. These scents trigger feelings of nostalgia and comfort, which align with emotional-driven purchasing behaviors. TikTok trends like “PerfumeTok” have helped boost demand for sweet-smelling products, showing the power of digital scent storytelling. With this momentum, beauty brands will continue launching social media-friendly, food-inspired lines. Going forward, scent marketing strategies will increasingly blend visual and olfactory cues to tap into sensory memory.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #3. Signature Ambient Scents in Retail Spaces

Spring Fair reports a rise in scent branding across physical stores, where retailers craft custom fragrances to create memorable shopping experiences. These ambient scents are tailored to reflect a brand’s identity and improve customer dwell time. Studies show shoppers are more likely to linger — and purchase — when exposed to familiar, pleasant smells. This trend turns fragrance into a branding asset beyond just personal care products. In the next few years, expect ambient scent strategies to be adopted across hospitality, automotive, and even coworking spaces.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #4. AI-Driven Personalized Fragrances

Fashionbi identifies AI-powered personalization as a key innovation in fragrance for 2025. Brands are using algorithms to match customer preferences, body chemistry, and lifestyle to suggest tailor-made scent blends. Consumers can even co-create perfumes digitally, leading to stronger emotional attachment to the product. This personalization elevates the shopping experience and increases retention. As tech matures, real-time scent personalization at retail counters or through wearable sensors may soon become mainstream.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #5. Spiritual and Holistic Fragrances

Vogue Business highlights the surge of spiritual-themed fragrances that draw on rituals, chakras, and energy healing. Scents infused with symbolic ingredients like palo santo or frankincense cater to shoppers seeking meaning and mindfulness. These products appeal to both wellness and luxury markets, blurring traditional segmentation. The spiritual positioning of fragrance reinforces emotional consumption and brand storytelling. In the future, marketing strategies will increasingly explore rituals, intention-setting, and sensory ceremony in product launches.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #6. Crossmodal Sensory Experiences

A LinkedIn feature explains how retailers are combining scent with sound, lighting, and visuals to create multisensory environments that influence behavior. Known as crossmodal marketing, this approach taps into the brain’s associative pathways to deepen engagement. For example, pairing citrus scents with upbeat music can encourage energetic browsing. Retailers are experimenting with scent-sound playlists and immersive scent booths to guide mood and intent. This trend is expected to shape the future of experiential retail, especially in luxury and concept stores.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #7. Affordable Luxury and Dupes

Fashionbi notes a demand surge for “dupe” fragrances — affordable scents that mimic luxury brands — amid inflation and value-conscious shopping habits. Consumers increasingly prioritize scent performance over brand names, seeking similar olfactory profiles at a fraction of the cost. TikTok has fueled this democratization of fragrance by spotlighting best-in-class dupes. Brands offering transparent formulations and accessible pricing stand to win loyalty. Looking ahead, luxury-inspired scents at mid-tier pricing will become a category of their own.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #8. Seasonal and Nature-Inspired Scents

The Financial Times reports that fragrance houses are launching seasonal releases rooted in natural elements — think alpine woods in winter or citrus groves in summer. These scents mirror the emotional and environmental tone of the seasons, promoting sustainability and locality. Shoppers respond to this alignment with mood, weather, and cultural rhythm, making seasonality a tool for customer connection. In future retail strategies, we can expect increased use of regional scent storytelling and climate-responsive launches.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #9. Scent Marketing in Restaurants

Metrobi outlines how restaurants are strategically diffusing scents like freshly baked bread or roasted coffee to enhance ambiance and boost perceived food quality. Customers exposed to scent-enhanced dining environments often linger longer and order more. This kind of olfactory branding creates stronger recall and improves the overall customer experience. As the food industry leans into experiential dining, scent will be used not just in kitchens, but in menus, packaging, and even delivery. Future restaurant design may include scent zoning and signature aroma menus.

 

Scent-Based Shopping Behavior Triggers 2025 #10. Visual Cues Evoking Scent Perception

According to The Guardian, even a photo of a lemon can evoke a scent in the brain — a phenomenon marketers are increasingly using in digital storefronts. This pseudo-olfactory response is harnessed in ad campaigns and product photography to trigger imagined scent memory. As physical scent cannot be conveyed online, visual triggers offer a substitute that still influences buying decisions. Expect more online retailers to incorporate texture, mood, and object association in their product visuals. The merging of scent psychology with visual storytelling will evolve as a new creative discipline in digital commerce.

 

Future of Scent as a Strategic Retail Catalyst

Scent is no longer a background element—it’s emerging as a deliberate, strategic driver of shopping behavior across industries. As consumers seek more emotionally resonant, personalized, and sensory-rich experiences, brands that harness scent effectively will gain a competitive edge. Whether through immersive in-store environments, therapeutic formulations, or scent-evoking visuals online, fragrance is proving to be a powerful tool in shaping perception and deepening loyalty.

The triggers highlighted above signal a broader shift toward multisensory marketing that taps into memory, emotion, and identity. Moving forward, companies that prioritize scent innovation and integration across touchpoints will be better positioned to connect with customers in ways that feel both personal and memorable.

 

Sources:

1. https://www.cosmeticsdesign-asia.com/Article/2025/01/22/fragrance-trends-2025-wellness-and-the-rise-of-therapeutic-scents-shaping-the-future
2. https://www.vox.com/culture/405200/gourmand-perfumedunkin-sabrina-carpernter-vanilla-perfumetok
3. https://www.springfair.com/custom-news-library-test-data/rise-scent-marketing-growing-trend-retail
4. https://www.fashionbi.com/insights/the-top-fragrance-trends-of-2025
5. https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/is-spirituality-fragrances-next-gold-mine
6. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/crossmodal-magic-retail-how-sound-scent-shape-marco-baldocchi-1bpie
7. https://www.fashionbi.com/insights/the-top-fragrance-trends-of-2025
8. https://www.ft.com/content/466de519-9bf1-4876-ab9a-0ca44492f6f1
9. https://metrobi.com/blog/how-restaurants-use-scent-marketing-to-boost-sales
10. https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/13/seeing-is-smelling-how-even-a-picture-of-a-lemon-can-sell-products