Blog series

Fragrance as a statement

Ilja Snoek
Ilja Snoek
Commercial Manager

Table of Contents

  • Ongecategoriseerd
  • Products

Part 1: The fragrance trend explained

There is a growing demand for luxury and experience in daily life. Fragrance products have evolved into a mature and indispensable segment within the ‘home & lifestyle fragrances’ category. In this blog series, we delve deeper into the world of fragrance experience. We discuss trends, developments, relevant market insights, and provide practical tips that help retailers make strategic decisions, including regarding assortment, product development, and marketing.

Part 1: The fragrance trend explained

The popularity of home fragrances, laundry perfumes, car air fresheners, and neutralizers continues unabated. In this first part of our blog series ‘Fragrance as a statement,’ we delve deeper into the emergence of this trend.


After all, it’s not just about what you sell, but also about why you sell it. Knowledge of the origin of a trend provides insight into deeper customer needs. By responding to this, you demonstrate your added value as a retailer.

Fragrance trend, room perfume, laundry perfume

The numbers

The analysis report by Straits Research on the market size and outlook for home fragrances mentions a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% during the period 2025-2033. The category is growing with significant potential. There is increasing purchasing willingness: consumers are increasingly willing to spend money on these products.

https://straitsresearch.com/report/home-fragrance-market

Why? The consumer need

The explanation for the rise of home fragrances and other fragrance products lies, according to various trend reports, in a combination of social and psychological developments. Partly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the home has become more than ever a multifunctional space, with living, working, exercising, and meeting under one roof. Since then, there has been more need for products that improve the atmosphere and comfort indoors and positively contribute to mood. Additionally, fragrance is seen as ‘proof’ of hygiene.
Fragrance trends, smell, atmosphere, emotion, retail

Fragrance as interior statement: atmosphere creator

Fragrance is used as an invisible dimension in the interior. Fragrance determines the feeling in the space and is also an extension of someone’s style. Fragrance is an important atmosphere creator and the packaging serves as decoration, providing an aesthetic addition to the interior.

Fragrance as wellness statement: self-care

Consumers seek fragrances that contribute to their well-being: reducing stress, increasing focus, or helping with sleep. A fragrance is not only for external presentation but serves as an instrument to regulate internal emotional state. For example: a calming lavender scent as mental support.

Fragrance as 'Personal brand': identity

Especially for Generation Z, fragrance is much more than a luxury product; besides being a means for self-care, it is also a means for identity and self-expression: This is who I am, this is what I find important, and this is my anchor.

Fragrance as hygiene statement: (pure) clean

Smelling good is associated with hygiene. Besides the masking effect, fragrances are now actively used to signal beauty and purity: fragrance as confirmation of order, tidiness, and hygiene. The old-fashioned ‘chemical’ cleaning smell is being replaced by refined, clear notes of freshly washed linen and white tea.

Promising category

The perception of home fragrances has shifted from an ‘air freshener’ to a ‘wellness product’ and ‘interior accessory.’ The market for home fragrances, laundry perfumes, neutralizers, and other ‘home & living fragrances’ is growing and offers plenty of opportunities for retailers. In part 2 (December) of this blog series, we will discuss these opportunities and delve deeper into possible actions.
Can't wait for the next edition?

Discover our possibilities in a personal conversation. Packit brings various fragrance lines to market, available both as Private Label and through one of our own brands. Contact Ilja Snoek at i.snoek@packit.eu for more information.

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