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Air purifier in the kitchen, remove fine dust and cooking air

Many people consider the kitchen one of the most important rooms in the house. After all, a freshly cooked meal is a treat! Yet not many people have an air purifier in the kitchen. This while air pollution in the kitchen is often a lot higher than in the rest of the house. In this, we find out where this pollution comes from and what an air purifier in the kitchen should comply with. We also look at whether an air purifier removes cooking odours.

 

Fine dust, what is it?

You hear a lot about fine dust these days. And rightly so! It causes a lot of damage to health. Yet not everyone takes the time to explain what particulate matter really is. After all, particulate matter is not visible. And after all, what we do not see, does not exist…NOT! Particulate matter consists of all kinds of different particles. The size of a particle determines whether it is fine dust. If something floats through the air and it is smaller than 10 micrometres, it is called particulate matter. This is because from this size it enters our airways and damages them. The smaller the particles are the more dangerous. The very smallest ones even enter our bloodstream! As particulate matter consists of many different constituents, it is also created in many different ways. Traffic and industry are big polluters, but natural sources such as sahara sand also contribute. Using an air purifier in the kitchen improves air quality, because cooking also produces a lot of particulate matter.

 

 

Why is an air purifier in the kitchen especially important?

Air pollution occurs throughout the home and across the country. Yet an air purifier is more important in the kitchen than in other places. This is because of cooking. Fine dust from cooking is created by two different methods. By burning fuels or by cooking itself. Heating ingredients at a high temperature releases very small pieces. These are then released into the air. This effect is stronger if you cook at a high temperature and if you use a lot of vegetable oils. This happens regardless of which type of hob you use. Many Dutch people also still cook on gas, which causes additional pollution. Burning this produces a lot of nitrogen oxides. These are particles that react with each other in the air to form particulate matter. This is why air pollution when cooking is as much as twice as high when cooking on gas. An air purifier in the kitchen counteracts this. The device sucks up the air and pushes it through fine-mesh filters. This is where all the pollution is left behind. It then blows the air back into the room. So no new air comes in from outside, it cleans the air that is already inside. This makes it applicable in any situation. An air purifier is also capable of removing cooking odours.

 

Health effects

So fine dust in the kitchen is common, but how much harm can it do? Quite a lot. In the Netherlands, air pollution, with fine dust leading the way, accounts for 6% of the total disease burden. This is more than alcohol, obesity or not eating enough fruit and vegetables. This is mainly because it damages our airways and bloodstream. As a result, people in the Netherlands live on average 13 months shorter thanks to particulate matter. The most harmful effects take place with long-term exposure. People who work in a kitchen or who cook regularly are therefore at extra increased risk. But even a short exposure is scientifically proven to be bad for your health. Since people today spend more than 90% of their time indoors, controlling air pollution there is essential. An air purifier in the kitchen helps with this, and also removes cooking odours. An extractor is also a common tip to reduce particulate matter. Yet it is not the one-size-fits-all solution.

 

Is an extractor better than an air purifier in the kitchen?

In the Netherlands, it is now mandatory in new houses to install an extractor in the kitchen. This is an important means of containing air pollution. An extractor extracts the air directly above the hob and discharges it to the outside. So this works differently from an air purifier. Unfortunately, it is not enough in most cases. This has to do with capacity. The Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has researched that an extractor needs a capacity of 300 cubic metres per hour. According to the Buildings Decree, an extractor only needs to discharge 75 cubic metres per hour. Many of the houses investigated do not even reach that and get stuck at only 40 m3 per hour. So this is only one tenth of the required capacity! So turning on the extractor is not enough to contain air pollution. An air purifier in the kitchen offers solace. US researchers have investigated many different methods to reduce particulate matter levels. Extractor hoods, air cleaners and natural ventilation, among others, have been compared. Alone and in combinations. This showed that an extractor together with an air cleaner is the most effective in removing fine dust from the kitchen.

 

What does an air purifier do against cooking odours?

For many people, there is another reason to think about air quality in the kitchen. Removing all cooking odours. A kitchen air purifier helps with this too. The method by which it does so has to change. A normal filter does not remove odours, just like gases. After all, they just fly through the holes in the filter. This requires a different method of cleaning: A carbon filter. A carbon filter consists of activated carbon. These are very small particles of carbon that have a large surface area. As a result, they easily bind to the odours and gases flying past them. In this way, they are removed from the air. Thus, an air purifier helps against cooking odours.

• It prevents fine dust peaks during cooking
• There are no more nasty smells after you cook
• It improves the health of everyone in the house
• Good performance with low energy consumption
• Best result in combination with your own extractor

 

So which air purifier should I have in my kitchen?

For normal kitchens, the EA30 is very suitable. With its high capacity, it immediately gets rid of all released fine dust. Thanks to its patented AIH filter, it is even more effective than air purifiers with a normal hepa filter and uses less power. For larger, or professional kitchens, the EA90 is then again the best choice. There is also the option to equip them with a carbon filter to get rid of all odours after cooking. With these machines, you can get back to cooking without worrying about yourself!

 

Need advice or more information?

Would you like to have an air purifier in your kitchen or have some more information? Then visit our product page or call us on +31 020 646 4028 for advice without obligation!

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Scented fitness, a real marketing workout

Just relax from all the hassle at work and do some sport. Fitness is for many people a great release. With scenting fitness you reinforce these positive emotions and work away the negative ones. The connection between smells and emotions is very strong in the brain. This influences whether people find it a positive experience and whether they come back. In this article, we explore why exercising is such a great pleasure, yet people are so hard to motivate. In addition, we will discuss what scenting adds to your gym.

 

Scents in our brains, what’s different?

There are probably not many people who are as aware all day of what they smell as of what they see. Yet smells have an even greater impact on how we feel than what we see and hear. This has to do with how our brains work. Our sense of smell is the first sense that has evolved. Therefore, the part of the brain that processes smells is located deep in the brain. Close to the part that regulates emotions. Smell perception has an enormous influence on how we feel, even in the gym, without us being aware of it. This applies to positive and negative emotions. So, if you want to give people a good experience, scenting your gym is essential. If something does not evoke emotions, we remember it much less. So there is a strong triangular relationship between smells, emotions and memories.

 

Scenting in fitness, what is there to gain?

Scents are strongly linked to emotions and memories. Scenting in fitness is a deliberate way of binding people to your gym and keeping them coming back. Exercise releases various endocannabinoids into the brain. These are substances that make us feel happy and content. However, many people do not feel like exercising beforehand. We’d rather sit on the couch with a bag of chips watching Netflix. This has to do with our evolution. We have evolved to be economical with our energy and not to exercise for pleasure. As hunter-gatherers, we got enough exercise anyway! This is why our bodies encourage us to be lazy when we don’t have to.

 

Do scents help with motivation?

Nowadays people move a lot less. So people have to motivate themselves against their instincts to go to the gym. Many people do this by thinking about how good they feel after exercising. By using scent in your gym, you make this memory much stronger. Memories linked to a specific scent are up to 6,5 times stronger than otherwise! By adding a specific scent people remember the positive feelings of exercising much stronger and people stop less often. Perhaps more importantly, people also come back to your gym. Research has shown many times that branding is a lot more effective when scents are involved. Thanks to scenting, people remember the good feeling of working out much stronger and associate it with your gym. They are more satisfied and come back more often. Scent marketing in fitness works!

 

What does scenting do against bad smells in my gym?

Scent marketing in a gym sounds nice, but sometimes you have other priorities. First of all we have to get rid of bad smells. In gyms, it sometimes smells really bad. Sweat and other body odours are often very present. Nobody likes this. It also creates the illusion of poor hygiene. The way it smells determines for the most part our perception of a space. This has to do with the strong connection between emotion and smell. Even if you keep your fitness centre clean, if it smells bad people will think it is a dirty place. By using scenting in the fitness area you are eliminating bad smells and improving people’s memories.

 

 

Which scents should I have?

There is no one scent that is best in all situations. To create a hygienic environment, fruity, fresh scents are best. So a lime scent in a dressing room is a good choice. In the main auditorium, you would rather have a more activating scent. For example, a study has shown that the smell of peppermint helps with sports. The smell of peppermint does not magically make people stronger, but they do feel that the exercises are easier. They also feel that exercising takes less time and they are less frustrated when something doesn’t work out. By using scent diffusion in your fitness area you determine how it smells per room.

 

How do I use scenting in the gym?

There are many ways to use scenting in your gym. A scented candle or a stick are already methods to make it smell better. However, for a professional environment this is not enough. Then a good scenting machine is needed. These are devices that work with ethereal scent oils. A scenting machine puts these oils into the air in a cold mist. As a result, they spread very evenly across the room. This way you benefit from the scent experience in your fitness facility everywhere. This also prevents you from having to use more oil to reach the other side of the room. This way your oil lasts longer.

All advantages in a row:

• Break down bad smells
• Add a fresh scent, so you come across as more hygienic
• Make people exercise harder
• People find exercising more fun
• Reinforce the brand of your fitness, people come back more often

 

What equipment do I need?

Not every scenting device is suitable for every gym. For the larger spaces within a gym the Scent Experience is the standard for good scenting. It has a range of 100 to 800 square metres. Nor can it be limited to just one scent. With its options for extensive scent planning, you set exactly when, and how strong, you want which scent. To get rid of bad smells in changing rooms or other small spaces, the Superscent is very suitable. This device breaks down odours at a molecular level. This makes it smell fresh and fruity again. Diffusion of odours in fitness has many options!

 

Do you need advice or more information?

Do you have questions about scent marketing? Or are you convinced and would you like some free advice on what scent marketing can do for your shop? Discover the possibilities on our product page or call us on +31 20 646 4028.

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Air purification in the classroom. Is it effective?

For a sustainable resumption of activity in schools, it is essential that classrooms are free of all kinds of contaminants. Of course, this can be achieved by using proven hygiene systems, such as a classroom air purifier, to keep the air free from viruses. The coronavirus is a major challenge for teachers, cleaning staff and school directors. Even regular disinfection by spraying and wiping does not protect against this virus, which hardly spreads by contact and droplets, but mainly through the ambient air. Therefore, in order to protect pupils and teachers, proven measures must be taken to reliably reduce the risk of airborne contamination. Can a classroom air purifier effectively reduce the risk of covid-19 infection? In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about air purification in the classroom. As well as the studies that support it and what to look out for when choosing an air purifier for the classroom.

 

Air purification against viruses for safer school activities

Face-to-face classes involve proximity between people, spontaneous reactions through gestures, behaviour, questions and answers. So teachers cannot do without direct contact if they want to do their pedagogical work.

However, such direct contact always entails the risk of contracting an airborne infectious disease. In the most innocent case: influenza, in times of coronavirus: Covid-19. Therefore, in addition to the usual hygiene measures, it is advisable to keep the ambient air and the breathing zone as clean and free from bacteria and viruses as possible. To protect the teachers, but also the pupils. This will prevent absenteeism and the spread of contagious diseases. The question is whether an air cleaner in the classroom is the best option for keeping the air in the classroom free from viruses.

 

Clean air in classrooms protects teachers and pupils

Viruses and bacteria are an invisible danger in every classroom. Pathogens can survive in the ambient air for several hours, during which time they pose a potential health risk each time they are inhaled. For example, current studies show that the coronavirus survives in the air for several hours and during that time it also retains its infectious capacity.

It is important to note that the virus enters the room air through aerosols emitted during breathing and talking. The viruses attach themselves to these small particles and form virulent aerosols that, due to their light weight, float in the air and are inadvertently inhaled by other people in the classroom, such as other students and teachers. Opening windows is not an effective measure for eliminating these aerosols. Therefore, many experts wonder whether air cleaning in the classroom can be an effective measure.

 

 

Strategies to prevent infection in the classroom

Reducing class size has been a basic part of the hygiene strategy in many countries. But no matter how small the groups are, the virus continues to spread. And the use of face masks only provides limited protection against the direct “viral rain” of saliva emitted when talking. Unfortunately, these measures have not proved effective against the aerosols containing germs that are released into the ambient air through breathing and talking and that remain floating freely as an aerosol cloud for several hours.

Just by talking loudly, every person emits thousands of aerosols into the air every minute. Singing in a group releases even more. Masks are an important first step in reducing the risk of direct drop transmission of the coronavirus. However, this measure alone does not protect against a much greater risk of transmission: free-floating aerosol clouds in the ambient air.

 

Aerosols and coronavirus

Such aerosol clouds overcome even the physical barriers formed by a saliva screen or partitions, so that aerosol particles always find their way to the respiratory tract and the eyes. The long floatation period of aerosols also reveals another problem. Since aerosols spread through the air current, the air mixes in a room every time the door opens and closes.

Only a comprehensive solution, synchronised with other hygiene measures and additional air purification, can reliably and sustainably reduce the risk of infection. Especially since, according to TU/E, cleaning the air in classrooms can reduce the risk of infection with the coronavirus by up to 12 times. Therefore, do not rely solely on spatial separation, masks or more frequent hand washing than usual to prevent infection in classrooms. Airborne aerosols are a health risk that can only be avoided by cleaning the air in the classroom.

 

 

The proven effectiveness of air purification in the classroom

Keeping the air in the room free from germs and viruses minimises the risk of airborne infection. Studies have shown that air purifiers for classrooms effectively and quickly reduce the residence time and intensity of aerosol clouds and airborne particles in closed rooms. This creates schools with a very low risk of infection for pupils and teaching staff.

But not every air purifier is equally effective. Essential are:

• Powerful air purifiers. Their power ensures that they can consistently and effectively clean all the air in the classroom.
• Air purifiers with HEPA filter and UVC system. This enables the air purifier to remove not only air pollutants such as fine dust, but also viruses and bacteria.
• Quiet air purifiers. Since it is a classroom, you also need to consider the noise they generate so that it does not disturb.
• No ozone emissions. Ozone is very harmful to health, especially for children.

 

The best air cleaner against bacteria and viruses in the classroom

The UV-C air purifier EDC650 is the solution against virus particles and bacteria in the classroom. Thanks to the UV-C lamps and HEPA filters, you can effectively repel micro-organisms (such as viruses) with this professional air cleaner. Moreover, the EDC650 UV-C uses unique and patented circulation and filtration techniques: reverse air circulation combined with air displacement. According to TNO, this method of air purification removes airborne contaminants up to 30% more effectively than ordinary air purifiers. Not only is it a model approved by the FPS, but it is also on the list of air purification products in Belgium that have been checked and approved against the coronavirus.

Moreover, the EDC650 UV-C is quiet in operation. Depending on the air speed, the decibel level ranges from a pleasant 27 to 49 dB. This is comparable to a quiet classroom or living room. Thanks to its high capacity and quiet operation, the EDC650 UV-C is ideal for the classroom, both in schools and in higher education.

 

Need advice or more information?

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Ambient scenting in healthcare | handling bad smells

Scent marketing in the healthcare sector seems contradictory. After all, scent marketing is not one of the main tasks in a hospital. Yet it is very useful because of the bad smells that often hang around in nursing homes or hospitals. Thanks to the deep link between what we smell and how we feel, olfactory perception in healthcare has many applications. Hospital scenting makes the care facility a nicer place for patients and staff, . Keep reading to find out how to best use scenting in your care facility and for what purposes.

 

Why is scenting useful in healthcare?

There are always a lot of scents in healthcare. No matter how much you keep cleaning you can’t escape sweat, industrial cleaning products or incontinence odours. This, of course, is not pleasant for anyone. Especially if you have to work in it every day, it’s unpleasant. For patients, it can make the experience in your institution unnecessarily unpleasant or stressful. A better experience of smells in healthcare is therefore desirable. Ideally, you would like to get rid of these bad odours and replace them with ambient scents that people like. With an efficient odour control in healthcare this is possible. The reason why odours affect us so much is deeply connected to our brain.

 

How does smell work in our brain?

Our sense of smell is actually different from all our other senses. During the day we are much more aware of what we see and hear. Yet smells have a much greater impact on our emotions and our peace of mind. This is because of where our brains process smells. Because smell is the first sense to have evolved, it lies deep within our brains, near the place where emotions are regulated. Therefore, the connections between smell and emotions are very strong. Research has shown that what we smell determines 75% of our emotions. If something smells bad, we immediately feel uncomfortable. If we hear bad music, we don’t! In this way, the scent experience in health care can have a great influence.

 

 

What does scenting do in healthcare?

Scent marketing often emphasises the commercial benefits. It is said to increase the turnover and the number of impulse purchases. You might think that it makes little sense for a hospital. After all, there are few people who buy a heart transplant on impulse! However, scenting has considerable advantages in the care sector. You get rid of bad smells and you spread nice fragrances through the rooms. So you have a double advantage! That is why healthcare scenting offers concrete advantages for the staff and the patients.

 

What do patients gain from healthcare scenting?

The biggest benefit of hospital scenting for patients is the influence of scent on emotions. When there are bad smells in for instance a nursing home, it is very uncomfortable for patients. Even neutral smells such as cleaning products sometimes evoke bad emotions. This is because people associate these smells with negative memories, such as an operation in a hospital. In contrast, it has been shown that positive smells make a stay in a hospital a lot more pleasant.

Patients feel less anxious about an operation if there is a pleasant smell. For example, the scents of jasmine and citrus make us feel more relaxed and happy. Fragrances also influence how patients experience pain. With a pleasant smell, people experience pain as less bad and less intense, with a bad smell this is the other way around. With scenting in healthcare you get rid of bad smells and you can spread fine smells throughout the room.

 

And how does ambient scenting affect healthcare staff?

For the staff it is of course also much nicer to work in an environment that smells good. This is not the case in every nursing home. Because of the strong link with emotions, an environment with nice fragrances leads to more job satisfaction and a lower outflow. In a sector where the workload is high, every little bit of extra relaxation and job satisfaction is of course very welcome. Ambient scenting in the healthcare sector also has the effect of making people more effective in their work. Certain smells reduce stress, increase concentration or cognitive function. Ambient scenting in health care has many advantages.

 

Advantages of scenting in healthcare

• Removes bad odours. In hospitals and nursing homes there are often bad smells.
• Patients are more at ease. Scent diffusion makes patients less anxious and more relaxed. This makes their stay more pleasant.
• Greater job satisfaction. Staff who do not have to work in bad odours enjoy more their work.
• Improve the focus of your staff. Certain odours can improve the concentration and activity of your staff.
• Reduces stress. Patients and staff are less stressed in an environment with good fragrance.

 

Odour neutralization or scent diffusion?

Scenting in healthcare comes in roughly two variations. Odour neutralization and scent diffusion. With odour neutralization we mean the devices that make bad odours like sweat and incontinence disappear. This happens by breaking down the odour molecules on a molecular level. The result is a neutral odour. Scent diffusers go one step further. These devices add an odour to a room. With a professional scent diffuser you set exactly when you want which smell. It also ensures that the scent lingers in the room and does not disappear. This is done with ethereal scent oils.

 

 

Which scent device do I need?

If you want to get rid of bad smells, the Superscent is the best choice. This powerful device is suitable for rooms up to 210 square metres. By using the Superscent to actually break down bad smells, you are not masking the bad odour, but actually getting rid of it. Odour control at its best! This keeps the environment comfortable for patients and staff. If you want to experience smells, the Scent Experience is a very suitable choice. With this, you spread the scent you want, when you want it. This powerhouse among the scent machines has several variants with which it is suitable for up to 800m2. With our Scent Experience you create a nicer environment for the patients and your staff.

 

Need advice or more information?

Do you have questions about scenting in healthcare? Or do you need personal advice on what scenting can do for you? Explore the possibilities on our product page or call us at +31 20 646 4028.

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Enhance your shop with scent marketing

As a retailer you are busy making the customer experience as pleasant as possible. Yet scent marketing in retail is often ignored. You design the shop perfectly and choose the right music. But what we smell has the biggest impact on how we feel and behave. So to make your shop stand out from the competition, good scent marketing is essential. How to use scent marketing in your shop and for what purposes you can use it read here.

 

Scent in the brain

Our environment largely determines how we feel and behave. When we hear a nice song or see a beautiful painting we feel more cheerful. Although we are often less aware of what we smell, it has a much greater effect. This has to do with where our brain processes odours. This happens right next to our so-called “emotion centre“. Therefore the connections between emotions and smells are strong. When we smell something, our brain immediately sends signals to our emotion centre. Scents therefore have a strong influence on how we feel. Think about how you feel when you smell the fragrance of a fresh forest in a garden centre. Scent marketing in a shop should not be underestimated!

 

What effects does scent marketing have in my shop?

Scenting has all kinds of concrete effects. Customers find shops more pleasant when there is a pleasant fragrance. They also judge the products offered as better with a nice fragrance. Another important effect has to do with memory. People remember things better when an emotion is linked to them. Because odours have such a strong influence on emotions, memories are also strengthened. A pleasant smell creates a positive association with your shop or showroom and people remember your brand better. With scent marketing in retail, people come back to your shop more often. This increases customer loyalty.

 

 

Does scent marketing increase the turnover of my shop?

Besides the fact that people experience the environment as a lot nicer, scent marketing in a shop also has commercial applications. Several studies have investigated the effects of olfactory marketing in retail. It appeared that the number of impulse purchases increases with almost a third. People also stay longer in shops with a strong pleasant fragrance. At the same time this time feels shorter: people underestimate how long they have been in a shop with scent marketing! This actually results in a higher turnover, estimated on average 14% more.

 

Does shop scent marketing also have an impact on my staff?

Customers are not the only ones who benefit from a nice fragrance, your employees do too. After all they work all day in for example your clothing shop. Different smells can also be used to make your staff more productive. When there is an uplifting smell such as coffee in the room the cognitive skills of people improve. Some fragrances also help to reduce stress and increase concentration. When people work in an environment that smells good, they are also more ambitious and work more efficiently. In addition, all the previously mentioned benefits about emotions also apply of course. A pleasant smell makes your employees happier and they work with more pleasure. So scent marketing does a lot for your shop.

 

The five advantages of retail scent marketing at a glance:

• Create a nicer environment for your customers and staff
• Increase sales through more impulse purchases
• Keep your customers coming back more often through stronger associations with your brand
• Increase the concentration of your staff
• Create more fun at work!

 

Which fragrance should I use?

Different fragrances have different effects on people. Some of it is personal. If you have a good memory with a specific fragrance, you will like that fragrance more than someone who does not have that memory. However, there are some general trends. Lavender provides better concentration and people work longer productively. A citrus scent is related to harder physical work and faster reaction time. For cognitive tasks, stimulating fragrances such as coffee are very suitable. The effects on customers do not have much to do with which scents are used. It is especially important that the customers experience the fragrance as pleasant.

 

How do I use scent marketing in my shop?

There are many ways to use scent marketing in a shop. Basically it is nothing more than spreading specific fragrances through your shop. Candles, sprays or scented sticks all have an effect. However, the best method is a scent appliance. A good fragrance appliance spreads the scent in a very constant way through the space. This is due to the cold mist method with which it works. The appliance converts liquid essential oil to a cold mist. As a result, it does not sink to the ground but spreads throughout the room. This way, you make sure that all the nooks and crannies in your shop have the scent you want.

 

 

Which fragrance machine should I have?

For larger shops, the Scent experience is the best choice. This appliance is suitable for spaces between 100 and 800 square metres. So not only is it very powerful, the possibilities are also very diverse. Thanks to its many possible settings, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one scent. You can create your own scent plan to achieve your goals. If you want to do scent marketing, but you have a smaller shop, choose the Smartscent. This is a smaller version with a range of up to 100m2, but does offer all the benefits of retail scent marketing.

 

Do you need advice or more information?

Do you have questions about scent marketing? Or are you convinced and would you like some free advice on what scent marketing can do for your shop? Discover the possibilities on our product page or call us on +31 20 646 4028.

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Scent marketing wellness, why?

The number of people going to a wellness centre to relax is increasing rapidly. Scent marketing helps your wellness resort to distinguish itself and to make the experience unforgettable for your guests. This has to do with the special connection between scent, emotion and memories. It helps people relax, makes them happier and helps them remember your centre. We explain the effects of scent marketing in wellness and how to use it to achieve your goals.

 

What effects does wellness have on people?

Many people go to a wellness centre to relax. A day of relaxation. This relaxation also has significant health effects. For instance, it has been researched that people who come out of a wellness centre have a significantly lower cortisol level than when they enter the resort. This means that people experience less stress when they go to a wellness centre. Also, according to a Japanese study, a spa day makes people feel happier. Naturally, you want to maximise these benefits. Scent marketing in your wellness centre can help you take these effects to a higher level.

 

 

 

 

Why is wellness necessary?

Everyone has experienced stress. Before an important meeting at work, a sports competition or an exam. This does not have to be a bad thing at all! Stress gives us a push and helps us to perform optimally. We call this acute stress. However, if the stress moments follow each other constantly and we have too little rest, chronic stress arises. Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly common nowadays and has negative health effects such as poor sleep, headaches and anxiety. To counteract this, relaxation is very important. Unfortunately, this is becoming increasingly difficult in our modern society. We can be reached 24 hours a day, receive stimuli from social media or quickly watch a series on the train. That is why you often get new ideas in the shower, as you have nothing to do. As a wellness centre, you play an important role in helping people relax. Scent marketing goes hand in hand with wellness.

 

Why scent marketing in my wellness centre?

What we smell always seems to pass us by. We are much more aware of what we see and what we hear. That is why many people think that scent marketing does not add much to wellness. Nevertheless, our sense of smell is perhaps our most important sense. It is probably the first sense to have evolved and is located in our brains right next to the part that processes emotions. Hence, it has the greatest impact on how we feel and behave. Think about how you feel when you walk past the fresh bread section in the supermarket. So, if you want people to relax in your wellness resort, you’d better take scent marketing seriously!

 

Do people return more often to a wellness centre with scent marketing?

The short answer is yes. Smells have a much stronger impact on our memories and emotions than our other senses. So, if your wellness centre smells good, this has a greater impact on how people experience it than what it looks like or what music is playing. If you spread a distinctive fragrance, people will also associate this fragrance with their enjoyable day at your centre. Every time they smell that fragrance, they think of the wellness centre. It also works the other way round. If it smells bad, maybe due to sweat or other body odours, people will not like to come back to your spa, no matter how nice the rest of the day was. Scent marketing is therefore an essential part of your wellness centre.

 

Which scents are most effective?

There is no single scent that is best in all areas of the spa. It all depends on what you want to use scent marketing for in your wellness centre. It has been proven that the scent of lavender makes people feel fresher and more relaxed. The scent of lemon has completely different effects. It stimulates the production of dopamine and serotonin enormously. These two substances make us feel more content and happy and less anxious. So, there are several things to achieve with scent marketing your wellness resort! It is even possible to influence the buying behaviour of people in, for instance, your restaurant.

 

• Let your guests relax
• Your wellness centre will be better remembered.
• Your guests feel more satisfied and happy
• Associate your resort with positive emotions
• Remove bad body odours effectively.

 

How does scent marketing work?

Professional scent marketing in wellness works with the help of a scent diffuser. These are machines specially designed to bring fragrant essential oils into the air for us to smell. This is done with the cold mist technique. Because the machine puts the scent into the air as a mist, it does not sink to the ground but spreads itself through the air. This way, the scent stays longer and you are more economical with your oil!

 

 

What scenting machines are there?

Scent marketing in the wellness area comes in many shapes and sizes. For the larger spaces, like the lounge and the restaurant, there is for example the Scent Experience. This machine is perfectly suitable for spaces between 100m2 and 800m2. This device also has many setting possibilities. Because of this, you are not limited to a single scent, but you have the possibility to compose a real scent plan.

 

For the smaller spaces, think of salt baths or saunas, the Scent Experience is not necessary. Here we recommend the Smartscent. This device is suitable for spaces up to 100m2 and spreads a consistent fragrance. So you don’t have to worry that the fragrance will diminish. Your guests will continue to enjoy it.

 

Do you need advice or more information?

Do you have questions about scent marketing? Or are you convinced and would you like some free advice about what scent marketing can do for your wellness organisation? Discover the possibilities on our product page or call us on +31 20 646 4028.

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Scent marketing for hotels

Scent marketing for hotels is the latest global trend. It is the answer for the hotel industry in its quest for innovation. Offering scent experiences has become a differentiating element that travellers value highly and it enhances the customer experience. Scent marketing allows your hotel to not only strengthen its brand identity, but also to increase sales and improve the customer experience. But what is scent marketing for hotels? And what are the pros and cons? Read on to find out all about scent marketing for hotels.

 

What is scent marketing for hotels?

Imagine a guest entering your hotel lobby and immediately sensing a scent that triggers a mechanism in his or her brain. At that moment the subconscious registers the smell as a very powerful and memorable memory.

 

In milliseconds, you turn the image of your hotel into a powerful memory, creating an even more lasting connection with the hotel brand. Strengthen the marketing concept of the hotel brand by bringing aroma-client-brand together.

 

Studies show that a person remembers 35% of what they smell. Because smell and memory are connected to the brain, people are able to remember smells and aromas for years. Therefore, this sense is fundamental to any marketing strategy.

 

Some studies show that memories triggered by smells can be stronger than those by images or sounds. Based on this principle, scent marketing for hotels is a stimulation technique that uses the sense of smell to convey lasting sensations to consumers.

 

 

Hotel Conservatorium Amsterdam

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of scent marketing for hotels?

A key benefit of this marketing technique is that it transcends the boundaries of distance. That is, no matter how far away your customer is from the hotel, he will vividly remember the experience sown by the brand. This strengthens the bond that has been created. We call this phenomenon the butterfly effect. No wonder hundreds of luxury hotels are already harnessing its power.

 

 

Other benefits of scent marketing for hotels include:

• Creates a positive first impression with travellers and influences their entire experience
• Relates to guests’ holidays, creating memorable memories
• Can stimulate the consumption behaviour of the guests, especially in the hotel room, in the restaurant and in the wellness areas
• Influences the satisfaction of travellers, especially in the area of housekeeping services

 

A disadvantage is that – like all forms of marketing – it requires investment and planning. You may want to use scent marketing only in common areas with the same scent that identifies your hotel. On the other hand, you might consider using distinctive scent marketing in different parts of the hotel. For example, one scent for the rooms, another for the lobby, another for the restaurant, etc. Of course, the costs and planning required will vary. But in both cases the results are worth it.

 

Which fragrance diffusers are suitable for a hotel?

When choosing an odour diffuser for your hotel, it is important to take into account, firstly, the size of the premises. And secondly, the capabilities and power it offers. At Extreme Air Products we have two professional fragrance diffusers that are ideal for scent marketing: the Scent Experience and the Smartscent.

 

Our Scent Experience diffuser is ideal for large spaces such as the lobby and restaurant/bar. This professional fragrance diffuser is designed to influence the perception of scent in spaces between 100 and 800 m2. Moreover, the possibilities of this product are almost unlimited. Different fragrances have different effects. So choose the fragrance that is most suitable for the location. When choosing a fragrance diffuser, it is important that you take into account that it is easy to use. After all, many employees in the hotel will have to work with it, so it is essential that it is easy to use. Then the Scent Experience is exactly what you need. It is easy to use and can be adjusted very accurately. You can also determine exactly how strong the system is and what times and days it is active.

 

Scent Experience

 

For smaller spaces, on the other hand, we recommend our Smartscent scent diffuser. This can be the perfect scent diffuser for spaces such as bedrooms and meeting rooms. It is also ideal for wellness facilities such as massage practices, group practices, yoga studios, etc. With the Smartscent you can easily create the desired fragrance experience in rooms of 60-80 m2. It consists of a cold mist technology. The aromas based on essential oils are gently introduced into the room. The desired intensity can be adjusted with a slider.

 

Scent marketing for hotels also requires a scent neutraliser

One should not forget that the goal of scent marketing for hotels is to create an unforgettable experience. In addition to increasing customer satisfaction with their stay. While the perception of pleasant odours is fundamental to improving the guest experience, neutralising bad odours is equally, if not more, important! We have all experienced how a bad smell can sour our stay, making us forget all the good things the hotel has to offer.

 

A scent cannot mask an unpleasant smell, it can even make it worse. Therefore, in these cases it is essential to have an odour neutraliser. At Extreme Air Products we recommend our odour Neutraliser. Thanks to its patented neutralising cartridges, it can eliminate even the worst odours. It is ideal for restaurants (e.g. preparing fish), for the hotel gym or fitness room, as well as for communal bathrooms, laundry or smoking areas.

 

6 scent marketing tips for hotels

Good use of scent diffusers can make the difference between the competition and your hotel. It is not surprising that most 5 star hotels already use this effective technique. Here are some tips on how to make the most of scent marketing in your hotel:

 

1. Plan a good strategy. Will you use it only in common areas or will you use it in all rooms?
2. Not all fragrances are suitable. Different situations need different scents. Think about what feeling you want to convey in the different rooms, and choose an appropriate fragrance.
3. Use scent marketing. This is to offer a plus to your services. For example, use the smell of jasmine in meeting rooms. According to the latest studies, this smell increases concentration!
4. Play with the illusion. Good cleaning is not always synonymous with a clean and fresh scent. A lemon scent or a fresh cotton fragrance is more effective.
5. Think about the pleasure of your guests. Neutralise bad smells where necessary. And promote pleasant fragrances in your hotel’s restaurant (making the stay more pleasant and increasing sales), in the spa or in the lobby.
6. Create tranquillity in your hotel rooms. Use a pleasant, soft lavender fragrance in the rooms to promote calmness among your guests.

By following these tips, you will ensure that your hotel guests have a wonderful stay.

 

Need advice or more information?

Stimulate the customer experience in a positive way or remove unwanted odours. Extreme Air Products is happy to help you optimise the scent in your building. Discover the possibilities of scent on the product page of our scent solutions. Do you have any questions or would you like a free consultation? Call +31 20 646 4028. Or go directly to our fragrance product range:

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An air purifier, how healthy is it?

Whether an air purifier is healthy is a frequently asked question. On the one hand, you hear stories about the harmful effects of air pollution. People say air purifiers help against this. On the other hand, you hear bad things about the effects of ionisation, ozone and dirty filters. Some even go so far as to claim that an air purifier is unhealthy. What should you believe? Here we explain how healthy an air purifier is. But also what the risks are and what you should pay attention to.

 

What is an air purifier good for?

The biggest health benefit that an air purifier brings is, of course, the removal of air pollution. Air pollution, especially by fine dust, is a big problem in the Netherlands. Fine dust is a collective term for all kinds of different particles smaller than 10 micrometres. Soot, Sahara sand or even microplastics are examples of these. The smaller these particles are, the further they enter our bodies when we inhale them and the greater the damage to our health. This is because the lungs do not filter the very smallest particles and, as a result, they can directly enter your bloodstream.

 

The RIVM estimates that people in the Netherlands live on average 13 months shorter thanks to particulate matter. So an air purifier is definitely useful! Yet sometimes you hear that an air purifier is unhealthy. This would mainly have to do with ozone and polluted filters.

 

Air purifier with ionisation, healthy or not?

Many air purifiers have the option of adding an ioniser. An ioniser creates negatively charged ions by means of electricity. These ions easily bind to other particles in the air. This way you can easily destroy viruses and other organic material and your air cleaner will keep you healthy. An air purifier with ionisation also works better against fine dust. Ionisation causes particles to clump together in the air. This creates larger particles that sink to the ground due to gravity and thus disappear from the air circulation. Unfortunately, after some time, these particles re-enter the air. Another disadvantage of this method is that the ions also react with oxygen, creating ozone.

 

 

Are ozone emissions from an air purifier unhealthy?

Ozone is a gas with three oxygen atoms that easily reacts with other particles. This is why it can be dangerous. It is created when an oxygen molecule binds an extra oxygen atom. Ions eventually form loose oxygen atoms through various reactions, and thus also ozone. When we breathe in ozone, it reacts with our body cells and irritates them. That is why ozone is known as a toxic gas. Long-term exposure to too much ozone causes a variety of health problems. This is why you sometimes hear that an air purifier can be unhealthy. A carbon filter removes ozone from the air. The ozone binds to the carbon and leaves normal oxygen behind. However, it is important to replace this filter regularly.

 

What are the consequences of ozone?

Ozone has many negative health effects, such as:

• Irritation of the airways
• More asthma
• Reduced lung capacity
• Chest pain and increased coughing
• Greater chance of inflammation in the airways

Research shows that negative ions do indeed purify the air. Unfortunately, the negative effects of ozone are also significant. It also appears that prolonged exposure to ozone has more risks than short term exposure to a high concentration. Whether an air cleaner is healthy therefore depends on how many ions it introduces into the air circulation.

 

Can ionisation before the filter make the air cleaner healthy?

You must therefore consider the ozone production of an ioniser. An important difference is whether the ioniser is located before or after the filter. If the ioniser is located after the filter, the ions end up in the air and eventually react with oxygen to form ozone. However, if the ioniser is in front of the filter, the ions only react with the particles that are blown towards the filter. Thanks to the electrical charge of the filter, it absorbs all ions. The ionisation process thus remains limited inside the air purifier. Because of this, ultimately no negative ions enter the air you breathe and no ozone forms. A healthy air purifier therefore has ionisation before the filter and not after.

 

Which air purifier is healthy?

A good example of an air purifier with ionisation before the filter is the EA30. Thanks to its combination of a fine mesh Hepa filter and effective ionisation, this device removes no less than 99.98% of pollution from the air. Thanks to the ionisation, fine dust particles are electrically charged when they reach the filter. As a result, the filter catches them better and there is less pressure loss. Noise and energy consumption remain limited. So this is an excellent choice for most living rooms and bedrooms.

 

 

Filter full, health risk?

There are people who claim that your air purifier sends unhealthy particles into the air when the filter is full. And these people are right! However, these are the same particles that would be in the air if you hadn’t had an air purifier in the first place. If you seldom change your filter, it gets clogged up with all the particles it picks up. This causes it to lose some of its effectiveness and the situation slowly returns to the way it was without an air cleaner. So a dirty filter can never make your air worse than it was originally. This problem is also easy to prevent by changing the filters regularly.

 

Healthy air purifier, when is it good and when is it not?

An air purifier delivers many health benefits. By removing fine dust, air purifiers make you a lot healthier. However, you must be careful of too much ozone. Ozone affects your lungs and causes a lot of health problems. So make sure you buy an air purifier with ionisation before the filter. Dirty filters never cause health damage, but by replacing the filters regularly you maintain their effectiveness.

 

Need advice or more information?

Check out our product page with air purifiers. Or read more about the air purifier in our extensive advice. Do you have any further questions or would you like advice without obligation? Please call +31 20 646 4028. Or go directly to our range of air purifiers:

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A professional scent diffuser, what is it and what can it do?

We all smell, 24 hours a day. Scenting directly determines our image of the environment. Because certain smells evoke strong memories of the past. That is why scent marketing has been on the rise for years. But how does a professional scent diffuser work? And for which purposes do you use scent marketing? In this blog, we will provide you with all the facts about professional scent diffusers and essential oils.

 

Professional diffusers, why is it useful? Smell is perhaps our most underestimated sense. We are all very aware of what we see and what we hear, but what we smell seems to pass us by. Yet nothing could be further from the truth! Smells have a huge influence on how we feel, how we behave and what we think of other people (source). Some people experience this even more strongly than others. Also to achieve professional goals, people increasingly use scent marketing. For instance with a scent diffuser.

 

 

Our brain and scent, what about it?

Our brain processes odours and emotions right next to each other. Therefore, smells have a stronger emotional response than, for example, sounds or images. A scent diffuser takes this into account. Because people remember memories better when emotions are linked to them, scent also plays an important role here. Many people are not aware of the effects that different aromas have on our lives. But when we lose our sense of smell, as many of us unfortunately have experienced through corona, we notice how important it is. Can these effects be applied in a professional way with a scent diffuser?

 

What does a professional scent diffuser mean for me?

Yes you can! Many organisations are already using professional scent diffusers to achieve their goals. For example a hotel lobby where the smell of fresh linen makes guests feel at home, but there are many more goals possible with scent marketing. It has been shown many times that the right aromas strengthen the buying incentive in shops. Also, people remember your brand a lot better when it has a distinctive smell. These effects do not even have to be consciously noticed by people. Research has shown that people trust each other more when the smell of freshly ground grass is in the air, even when people do not consciously notice it! So a professional scent diffuser is very versatile:

• Increase the sales incentive in your shop
• Make people relax even more in your massage parlour
• Stimulate the productivity of employees with stimulating fragrances
• Eliminate bad smells in your nursing home with scent neutralization
• Don’t be forgotten thanks to a recognizable scent

 

A scent diffuser in a professional environment. Is it useful?

That odours have a real effect on people should be clear by now. But that these effects are very large is increasingly shown by scientific research. Many studies have been done to measure these effects. It appears that customers stay 27% longer in a shop if there is a strong, pleasant fragrance. The number of impulse purchases also increases significantly. In a supermarket, for example, a strong, pleasant fragrance increases this number by as much as 43%! People’s willingness to buy increases even if it smells good in a room. For an unknown product, people are sometimes even prepared to pay 40% more. A professional scent machine works wonders!

 

 

Professional scent diffuser in the care sector

A fine aroma does not only have commercial advantages. A scent diffuser also contributes to a pleasant environment. In healthcare, a fine aroma is of great importance to residents, visitors and employees. The smell of wounds, faeces or incontinence is very unpleasant. For residents, this reduces the pleasure of living and even the quality of sleep. Care workers who have to work in a foul odour every day have less job satisfaction and this even leads to a higher outflow. A professional scent diffuser can be an important part of the solution.

 

Essential oil, necessary for a professional scent diffuser?

Most scent diffusers work on the basis of a fragrance oil, also called essential oil. Although this liquid is called an oil, there are no fats in it. It is a liquid composed of many different scents. Because there are thousands of fragrances, each essential oil is personally composed by a professional. This way, our diffusers provide the best possible experience!

 

How does a scent diffuser work?

Different aromas have great effects on people. There are many ways to spread the desired fragrance in a room. Candles, scented sticks or sprays can all be used, but the best method is with a scent diffuser. A professional scent diffuser works with the so-called cold mist technique. Here, the liquid un-vaporised fragrance oil is dispersed into the air, creating a cold mist. This mist spreads evenly through the room and does not sink to the floor. The fragrance therefore lingers longer and the oil lasts longer!

 

A good example of a professional scent diffuser is the Smartscent. This device is easy to operate. Its strong fragrance oil and effective design make it an excellent choice for improving business results with scent marketing.

 

Need advice or more information?

Extreme Air Products is happy to think along with you! Go to our information page or call +31 20 646 4028. Or go directly to our scent products:

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An air purifier for MCS – how effective is it?

One in every four Americans suffer from MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) when exposed to common chemicals. As shown in a recent study of the University of Melbourne. How effective is an air purifier for MCS? In Europe, MCS is now also regarded as an emerging new disease. Due to MCS environmental nature, experts on the matter have much discussed the role an air purifier could play in treating this disease. But what is the best air purifier for MCS? Continue reading to know more.

What is MCS?

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an environmental disease, characterized by increased sensitivity to common low-level chemicals. The European Parliament has recently defined MCS as a new disease due to the pollution in the environment increasing by 300% the prevalence of diagnosed MCS in the last decade. Experiences and tests on air purifiers for MCS show positive results.

 

 

Factors

It is not always easy to identify the factors responsible for the manifestation of hypersensitivity. Indeed, many products used in our daily life can be responsible, making their identification often complex. Among the volatile organic compounds that have the greatest impact are:

• fresh paints
• pesticides
• perfumes
• cosmetics
• building materials and industrial fumes
• cleaning products

Exposure to these products can be respiratory, digestive, or cutaneous.
Consequently, significantly altering the quality of life of the person. Patients are within their own homes intoxicated. Could an air purifier for MCS alleviate the symptoms?

Can an air purifier help MCS?

The treatment of MCS is quite complex. The experts agree that the best treatment is addressing the environmental factors that cause the hypersensitivity. Given that we spend an average of 80% of our time indoors, removing chemicals and their fumes from your home is essential to treat MCS. Thus, an MCS air purifier is crucial for treating it (as it has been shown in the latest studies).

Buying an air purifier for MCS. What should I look for?

A good air purifier to treat MCS has an HEPA filter and emits no ozone. You should also consider the noise it produces and where you will place it.  As well as being essential to take into account the energy consumption. For a bedroom, the EA15 is ideal. This device produces a decibel level of only 25 dBA. Thus, almost inaudible to humans. The EA15 also has an extremely low energy consumption (using only 10W at its max). This is a very economical model compared to other air purifiers. Furthermore, our purifiers do not emit ozone, so you can rest assured when using one of our air purifiers with MCS.

 

 

Air purifier for MCS, which one do you need?

Depending on your work environment, you can be exposed to many chemicals, as it is the case, for instance, for hair salons, nail salons and industrial factories. A study taken place in Korea, showed how Multiple chemical sensitivity could  also be caused by exposure to ignition coal fumes in the workplace. It is very important to protect your workers from such exposures to avoid problems such as absenteeism.

What is the best air purifier for MCS?

In the workplace we recommend the EDC650, a professional air purifier specially designed for workspaces. It is powerful, quiet and energy friendly. All these features make it the best workplace MCS air purifier. Thanks to its high capacity (650 m³ per hour), it is also extremely suitable for larger workspaces. Are you looking for an air purifier for a small workplace? Then the EA30 is an excellent alternative.

Other strategies to treat MCS

MCS needs multiple strategies, to effectively treat it. In addition to a good air purifier, you should as well use:

• Latex-free paper face masks or cotton masks and filters and/or masks with a high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter (HEPA) and activated carbon filters.
• An active carbon water purifier with a percentage of rubber gaskets < 3%.

Need advice or more information?

Take a look at our product page with air purifiers or read more about the air purifier in our extensive advice. Do you have any further questions or would you like some free advice? Call +31 20 6464028 or go directly to our range of air purifiers: