The first impression of a world-class airport is no longer defined solely by its soaring glass arches or its sprawling duty-free corridors; it is defined by the air itself. As Indian airports evolve into “lifestyle destinations” and major international transit hubs, facility managers are increasingly recognizing that the olfactory environment is critical to passenger satisfaction. In a high-traffic ecosystem where thousands of travellers transition from stress to leisure in a matter of minutes, air care has moved beyond simple odour masking to become a sophisticated tool for sensory branding and emotional regulation.

To explore the technology behind this invisible infrastructure, Keerthana Sundar, Special Correspondent, spoke with Claire Reid, Head of Marketing and Innovation; Dave O’Donoghue, Export Sales Manager at Vectair Systems Ltd and Ajil George, General Manager of Excel International, their Indian distribution partner. While Vectair’s range provides a primary case study for ‘Total Hygiene Solutions’, the broader science behind these systems reveals a deep intersection of psychology, biology and engineering.

Why Scent Matters

Research in environmental psychology suggests that the ‘servicescape’ — the physical environment in which a service is delivered — has a profound impact on consumer behaviour. In the context of transportation hubs, the olfactory system is uniquely positioned. Unlike other senses, smell is processed by the limbic system, which directly manages memory and emotion.

“Choosing the right scent is really important; for high-stress areas like security, we recommend calming botanical profiles that support relaxation without drawing attention to the scent itself, while our systems adjust in real-time to align with passenger flow.” — Claire Reid

Academic studies on ambient scent in transit environments show that:

•    Stress Mitigation: Specific botanical profiles have been shown in trials to reduce physiological markers of anxiety. Claire notes the importance of this choice: “Choosing the right scent is really important. For high-stress areas like security, we recommend calming profiles built around soft, botanical, herbal and clean base notes. It supports relaxation without drawing attention to the scent itself.”

•    Perceived Wait Times: A pleasant ambient scent can reduce “temporal distortion”. Passengers in scented environments often perceive their wait times at security or baggage claim to be shorter than they are.

•    Memory and Brand Advocacy: Because the olfactory bulb is located near the hippocampus, scents are ‘hardwired’ into memory. Dave emphasizes the value of this long-term impact: “Brand advocacy and retention is the new gold. Scent marketing has turned out to be one of the best ways to achieve this because smell connects emotions and influences decisions.”

Managing The Flow

The primary challenge in an airport is not just the volume of space, but the fluctuation of people. “Our systems are very easy to program, so units can be set to align with passenger flow,” says Claire. During peak travel periods, fragrance delivery is increased to handle higher air turnover. “During quieter periods, intensity can be reduced, so it really ensures the scent always feels appropriate to the environment rather than it being constant or overpowering.”

Dave emphasizes that this performance is tied to professional consultation. “It’s pretty much about choosing the correct dispenser according to the size, space and ventilation,” he notes. The goal is to provide a consistent positive experience, avoiding the “hit or miss” application often seen in smaller commercial settings.

Restroom Hygiene

In a facility handling upwards of 10,000+ visitors daily per restroom block, the objective shifts from “scenting” to “sanitization”. Modern air care utilizes a layered approach that goes beyond the surface.

“Brand advocacy and retention is the new gold, and scent marketing is one of the best ways to achieve this because it creates an atmosphere where people feel relaxed, linger longer, and ultimately spend more time with retailers and food providers.” — Dave O’Donoghue

Neutralizing vs. Masking

Traditional fresheners often use heavy oils to coat the air, but sophisticated systems utilize malodour neutralizers that treat the problem at a molecular level. “We actually do use a malodour neutralizer. So, you’re not just masking fragrances, you’re neutralizing the malodour at the same time,” explains Claire. “The result is a genuinely cleaner smelling environment.”

Dave highlights that this process begins at the source: “The P-Screen® deals with the cause of bad odours around the urinals… reducing the risk of splashing and spreading malodour. It releases active enzymes which eliminate uric waste, feeding off uric salts to provide protection against the buildup of limescale.”

Fragrance Synergy

A critical but often overlooked aspect of washroom management is “fragrance clash”. Ajil George underlines the importance of a unified approach to maintain a premium atmosphere. “A cardinal point is the synergy of fragrance,” George explains. “For the urinal screen that we are using, if that is Citrus Mango, we have Citrus Mango in SensaMist oil too. This is how we can make sure there is a synergy in the fragrances that we use.”

He further notes that synergy must be paired with technical control: “For all our diffusers, we can adjust what density or how long a duration it can be set up —how many seconds we should dispense and how many seconds we should hold. This is how we make sure the dispensing is properly done at the required density.”

“A cardinal point is the synergy of fragrance—by matching the scents across different systems and precisely adjusting the dispensing density and duration, we ensure a unified, premium atmosphere throughout the entire facility.” — Ajil George

Engineering for Large Spaces

Airports feature long terminals and high ceilings that can easily ‘swallow’ standard scents. To combat this, airports utilize Cold Air Micro-Diffusion technology :

1.   Micron-Sized Particles: Systems create particles under 1 micron in size. These ultra-fine particles are lighter than air, allowing them to remain suspended for hours rather than falling to the floor.

2.   Coverage: High-output units can cover anywhere between 500 and 4,000 cubic meters. Dave notes, “We’ve installed these units in airports across the world. It’s a combination of the delivery method we use… adjusting outputs according to the space.”

3.   Precision Placement: Dave stresses that “careful location” is the key. Site surveys prevent placing units near high-suction HVAC returns. “You make sure that you don’t put a dispenser right under a vent,”
shares Claire.

Economic Impact

There is a direct link between air quality and airport revenue. Research into airport shopping environments has found that clean-smelling, high-arousal environments encourage “approach” behaviours.

Dave explains the strategic benefit: “Research says that the power of scent is that you can create an atmosphere where people will linger for longer, they’ll spend more time. If we can use our fragrance just to create this nice calm atmosphere, people will feel relaxed and can choose from that lovely array of food providers or retailers.”

In luxury duty-free zones, Claire notes that bespoke profiles can be developed to match brand identities: “We work with the retailer and the customer to really work out what’s important to them… having bespoke fragrances is something that we specialize in.”

Sustainability

As India pushes for Green Airports, the chemical makeup of air care is shifting.

• VOC-Exempt Formulas: Reducing Volatile Organic Compounds ensures that the air care does not contribute to indoor air pollution.

• Bio-Refining: Claire highlights the shift in ingredients: “We have products where we actually use ethanol that is derived from sugar cane, not fossil fuels. It means our products start life with a lower carbon footprint than a lot of other products that are out on the market.”

• Recycled Materials: “We always look at our packaging. We try to use recycled, post-consumer waste where we can,’ adds Claire. “It’s all about assessing, tracking and reducing our products where possible.”

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Ask the Experts:

• Claire Reid, Head of Marketing and Innovation, Vectair Systems Ltd
• Dave O’Donoghue, Export Sales Manager, Vectair Systems Ltd
• Ajil George of Excel International

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