This post may be a little too “psychologically minded” but I have been thinking about how smells trigger strong associations and memories (good or bad). So here goes…
Recently, I read a post from a guy who greatly disliked a shaving soap (Master) because, among other reasons, its smell. He had worked as a janitor and the smell reminded him of the fragrance in those urinal deodorizer pucks. No wonder he hated putting that odor on his face! Conversely, I think that the same soap smells nice. In my mind it has an old fashion soapy smell. Clearly, I’m making an association too; I just can’t remember what it is.
The first few times that I used Tom’s Mint Shaving Cream I felt that it was a great product but I thought the smell was very industrial. I finally put two and two together and realized that the interior paint that I sometimes use (Benjamin Moore) has a very similar “minty” smell. I thought that the paint smelled fresh but I was associating latex paint with Tom’s (I have since gotten over it, since I think the product is so good).
I now like the way that traditional Clubman smells but unfortunately, the frangrance is similar to Canoe. Canoe was often used by fellow gym mates in high school when there wasn’t enough time to take a shower. When I occasionally use Clubman I consciously think to myself “barbershop” not “gym socks.” Other folks have a very pleasant association with this fragrance while still others think it is too old fashioned (“like grandpa”.
On a side note, I asked my wife to offer her opinion on the same cologne twice (Pinaud’s Special Reserve). To me it has a pleasant vanilla smell. It doesn’t wow you but it doesn’t offend. The first time she smelled it (with no comment from me) she said it smelled fine. The next time (several weeks later) I said to her: “Tell me what you think about this cologne, it was pretty cheap.” She gave me a sniff and said: “I don’t like it.”
Anyway, beyond the positive associations that you get from a scent, do you ever reject a product because it has a more negative association? Also, does price effect how you think about a product?
Recently, I read a post from a guy who greatly disliked a shaving soap (Master) because, among other reasons, its smell. He had worked as a janitor and the smell reminded him of the fragrance in those urinal deodorizer pucks. No wonder he hated putting that odor on his face! Conversely, I think that the same soap smells nice. In my mind it has an old fashion soapy smell. Clearly, I’m making an association too; I just can’t remember what it is.
The first few times that I used Tom’s Mint Shaving Cream I felt that it was a great product but I thought the smell was very industrial. I finally put two and two together and realized that the interior paint that I sometimes use (Benjamin Moore) has a very similar “minty” smell. I thought that the paint smelled fresh but I was associating latex paint with Tom’s (I have since gotten over it, since I think the product is so good).
I now like the way that traditional Clubman smells but unfortunately, the frangrance is similar to Canoe. Canoe was often used by fellow gym mates in high school when there wasn’t enough time to take a shower. When I occasionally use Clubman I consciously think to myself “barbershop” not “gym socks.” Other folks have a very pleasant association with this fragrance while still others think it is too old fashioned (“like grandpa”.
On a side note, I asked my wife to offer her opinion on the same cologne twice (Pinaud’s Special Reserve). To me it has a pleasant vanilla smell. It doesn’t wow you but it doesn’t offend. The first time she smelled it (with no comment from me) she said it smelled fine. The next time (several weeks later) I said to her: “Tell me what you think about this cologne, it was pretty cheap.” She gave me a sniff and said: “I don’t like it.”
Anyway, beyond the positive associations that you get from a scent, do you ever reject a product because it has a more negative association? Also, does price effect how you think about a product?