Will A Scent Make You Choose A Hotel?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Mar 25th 2006 at 4:02PM

Scent strips in magazines are nothing new but a scent strip for a hotel? I was reading my New Yorker this morning when I came across the Westin White Tea scent ad. The ads only say "White tea. The calming new scent of Westin." Curious, I opened the strip. In comparison to other scents that come billowing out of those tiny flaps of paper, this one is mild, more like laundry detergent than white tea. According to Brandweek, the ads will pop up in The New Yorker, Wired, Vanity Fair, Real Simple and Gourmet. It's an interesting move away from ads that usually focus on what the hotel looks like rather than what it smells like but I'm not sure that the pallid white tea scent is memorable enough to haunt people into choosing a Westin hotel.

Tags: advertising, hotel, westin, white tea

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stace Mar 25th 2006 11:36PM

A good idea....
out of all five senses, smell is the only one that is linked to emotion and memory. People will remember it.

JasonY Mar 26th 2006 12:28AM

bleah. I'm sitting here with a current edition Wired magazine next to my desk. The "white tea" smell has made my whole office smell like a laundromat. Ick.

I think they poured on the smell a little too strong. If it had been lighter I might have appreciated it, but the only thing I can think of is going into a Weston and having the room reek of this strong odor. I wouldn't be able to sleep!

of course, it might not be that bad if the new smell covered up the stink of cigarette smoke.

Laura Mar 27th 2006 10:46AM

Where can I buy this?

Noelle Mar 29th 2006 10:13AM

I like the White Tea scent. I don't know if it will make me think of a hotel. How can I get it in a spray bottle?

Bella Trix Aug 25th 2006 3:39PM

Disgusting. I am allergic to perfume. I would not be able to breathe in a room filled with this. Adding scent to their rooms will keep me from ever returning to Westin again. They just lost a valuable customer.

white tea addict Apr 9th 2006 11:01PM

I can't believe they were moronic enough to introduce this new scent and not have it part of the Westin store they're already running to sell other stuff ranging from beds to dog gear. Why not get me used to this smell at home so that being in their hotel feels like being at home? Good lord. They saturated the market with this odor (which I happen to love and would seriously overspend to get), but haven't made it available for consumers. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

nan Apr 15th 2006 5:16PM

I totally agree with White Tea Addict - just smelled this scent in Travel & Leisure Magazine and would kill to be able to purchase it. Have been on the internet for 20 minutes now trying to find out if it is for sale - please let me know if and when it is. I think the Westin would make a good choice by selling this!

lil Apr 16th 2006 6:11AM

it is not necessary to perfume a clean hotel room because in a clean hotel room there is no stink to be covered up !

Lori Apr 16th 2006 4:27PM

I laughed when I read about spending 20 minutes trying to locate the White Tea scent for online purchase. That's what I've been doing--to my credit, for only 17 minutes.

RoRo Apr 22nd 2006 1:35AM

Well now that you all searched - -I won't bother....The smell is so appealing to me, my arm is red from rubbing the magazine against my skin! LOVE IT! please do post info if you find where we all can get it - - ugh - a great smell.....now I will consider Westin for my last minute booking this week -
see that, they're not so stupid....

rachel Apr 26th 2006 12:23PM

So.. I feel in love with the scent, too. I actually called Westin. If you could imagine the conversation.."This is a really stupid question, but..." and to everyone out there that loves this scent. The good news is that they'll be releasing it to the masses for purchase, the bad news, not until June. And I'm still not sure if this is true, or if they just told me this, and are still laughing.

cathie May 10th 2006 1:11AM

having just returned from a stay at a Westin Hotel, & i remember sleeping BETTER than i sleep at home (i travel with my own sheets & NEVER unpacked them). i also close my eyes & smell the "white tea" that was ONLY in the lobby area---NOT in the individual rooms, although i would have loved it there!!! i am anxious to purchase it for use at home!!! what a memory for my senses!!!

cathie May 10th 2006 1:12AM

ALSO, the Westin Hotel concierge informed me that within a month the "white tea" fragrance will be available at NORDSTROMS!!!

paula j. lowe May 11th 2006 1:40PM

Please tell me where i can purchase White Teascent

Dora C, May 20th 2006 8:21PM

We also love the white teascent of the Westin. I need to find it for my house. I just can't get that scent out of my head!

amanda b May 23rd 2006 11:38AM

White Tea will be available in June at Nordstroms,
per Westin.

Terrie Grossi Jun 7th 2006 12:02PM

The only short sightedness to this market plan was the unavailibility to purchase the scent for home and body.
I'm 48, a business owner, saavy traveler, and embarrassed to say that I also tore the page out and rubbed it on my body. The page is at this moment my wireless mouse pad with the words Westin Hotels and Resorts starring out me: Advertising job well done, Almost!!!!!

Vicki Jun 8th 2006 10:56PM

Great news! Westin has chosen a soy candle manufacurer in Western PA to produce a White Tea candle for them! These candles will also be sold at Nordstrom's department stores. So keep an eye out because soon you'll be able to get the scent you love in a clean burning candle for your home!