Our smells are used by some of the biggest theme parks in the world- but if you haven’t noticed them, that’s a good thing! When a park uses the smell of salty rum barrels to bring its pirate village to life, the aroma needs to blend seamlessly into the sights of ye old pubs and the lively sounds of gulls and parrots. Guests need to be so immersed in the environment that they won’t notice all the artificial features that create the illusion.

We’re going to tell you the best places to find these smells at a theme park, whether you’re visiting or want to enhance the park you work at!

Roller Coaster Loading Areas

Your throat goes dry as you anxiously ascend the steps higher and higher. The screams above pierce your ears before shooting into the distance. Whether you feel excited or terrified, emotions are high when you’re about to take a thrill ride, so this is a prime moment for park designers to plunge you into their world.

If you’re boarding a dragon-themed coaster, the loading area may have a Vortex Utopia flooding the space with the scent of burning wood. If it’s a zombie ride, they could be using a smaller machine with an ominous stench, subtly creeping up on you as you stand in line.

Our smells were used for brand new, award-winning roller coasters in 2018. Can you guess which ones?

Dark Rides

Dark rides are one of the best places to find themed aromas! Taking you through haunted houses, forests and castles, there is no end to the olfactory opportunities.

The best places to find smell in a dark ride will often be the themed queue, the intro show or the start of the ride, as that’s when park designers want to pull you into their storytelling.

Food, Retail and Ticket Sales

Have you ever walked past a bakery and been drawn in by the smell? Caterers and retailers alike are taking advantage of the sales-boosting magic of smell. It brings people through the door, it entices them to stay and it can put them in the mood for taking a product home.

This works great if guests have just walked off a ride and don’t feel ready to leave its world. They will spend money in the gift shop if it means they can take some of that world home with them, and a themed smell will hold them in that special place while they consider their purchase. The same trick can be used in reception areas for hotels, escape rooms and parks as guests ponder making a booking or buying a ticket.

Interactive Features

Parks like to have fun interactives in the spaces between rides. These could be talking bins, photo opportunities or cannons to squirt water from!

Displayed outside, in shops or ride queues, Aroma Cubes are a low-cost favourite for concealing inside pull-out drawers or themed boxes. Imagine you’re queueing in a dungeon and come across a mysterious box, only to open it and be met with the stench of rotting flesh! Kids especially enjoy the surprises of Aroma Cubes.

Live Performances

The Vortex Standard is a plug-in-and-go machine, so it’s often used for sending a scent through an audience during a live performance. Take a sniff next time you watch a show at a theme park- especially if it’s a 4D cinema!

If you’re a park owner and want to find out how to use smell for a specific use or without stretching your budget, get in touch at info@aromaprime.com!