Its at this time of the year that most people start to either look forward to or yearn for a good holiday (Icelandic volcanos permitting of course!). I’m looking forward to a break next week, it’s my annual family jaunt down south – in this case it’s going to be Dorset. I haven’t been there before as we usually head towards Cornwall and occasionally Devon, so i’m really looking forward it. I just hope the predicted heatwave arrives in time otherwise we’ll be the ones sat on the beach in Poole, hoods up, eating fish n chips, shivering and teeth chattering but determined to have our chippy tea outdoors in true British spirit – ‘because it is our holidays!’

So we have been having a chat in the office about holidays, and holiday memories, and whether certain places can be remembered by a specific scent.

Both Anne-Marie and Linda have said their main olfactory memory for Tunisia and Spain is the beautifully fragranced Jasmine, and for Greece the main flower memory would be Geraniums. Name any one of the seaside resorts around the UK, and you’ll remember the smell of hot sugary doughnuts, battered fish and chips complete with salt and vinegar and the smell of the sea and the ozone as you walk along the promenade. The smell of freshly cut grass reminds Aimi of all her summer dog shows and camping trips.

Mr Chris cant smell a fragrance by the name of Seychelles without remembering his holidays in North Wales. Its a scent that reminds him of walks along by the sea with the smell of ozone in the air. For Miss Chris, its the smell of that first smattering of rain as the heavens open after a long dusty dry spell, that reminds her of her festival days – one in particular actually, Billy Idol at last years Download festival who took to the stage just as the heatwave broke.

Any beach in the world usually has a lingering aroma of coconut suncream that you just cant escape. Companies such as Thompson and First Choice have utilised this information, and as you walk into one of their stores to book your annual summer holiday you will be blasted with the scent of suntan lotion as you walk in the door. Apparently this puts you in the mood for a holiday before you’ve even picked out your brochure, and therefore gives them the edge when it comes to securing a deposit from you before you leave the store.

They aren’t the only big companies using scent to put you in a feel good holiday mood. Fred Olsen apparently rubs coconut oil into the backs of  their seats to promote caribbean cruise sales. The big hotel chains cottoned on to the fact that their customers associate holidays with certain scents years ago.  Chains such as the Shangri-La,  Le Meridien, The Dorchester and Mandarin Oriental to name but a few, have all decided to make an impression through scent. Of course a comfortable lobby, beds and high quality service are essential, but among the more subtle cues, fragrance plays a big part. Data has shown that the subtle use of fragrance creates memories and drives loyalty to the brand.

You can even take a bottle of the signature scent home with you to remind you of your week in the sun.

Due to the global recession still being in full flow, even the budget hotels such as Travelodge and Holiday Inn have started trialling scented bedlinen in an effort to relax their guests. Aromas such as freshly mown grass, to remind you of summer, or sweet apple pie to remind you of home.

So i’ll keep all my senses on heightened alert next week to see what scent memories I can bring back from the hopefully sunny Dorset coast – unhurried mornings, restful afternoons and leisurely evenings. Let me know if there are any fragrances that particularly remind you of your holidays…….

Based in Bury, Carvansons supply

fragrance and compounds for you to try.

A little scent of rose for a candle you see,

or maybe a violet would fill you with glee.

How about pine for your new bathroom cleaner,

or a sharp cut grass to make it greener.

A new detergent powder could smell really nice

with a baby powder fragrance and a little hint of spice.

The latest fragrance trends you’ll find with us

and we’ll happily send them without a fuss.

So why not have a think and give us a call,

no job for us is too large or too small!

Well this weeks post was supposed to be about the lovely sunny weather we had at the weekend but as is fitting for April, our English weather has yet again swung from one extreme to the other and we are back at a more seasonal 7-9 degrees with cardigans and fleeces instead of  t-shirts and shorts….although in hindsight, thats probably not such a bad idea.

So instead of talking about ice-cream inspired fragrances (which i’ll leave for another, slightly warmer time…), I’ll concentrate on the fresher, dew drenched fragrances that remind us of lovely strolls in the countryside and peering into Old English cottage gardens. These fragrances tend to have a green element that remind us of cut grass or fresh young green shoots, and are ideal for applications such as air fresheners, conservatory candles and cleansing liquid soaps. The newer powder detergent fragrances also tend to use this type of freshness in their product to convey an overall sense of cleanliness with names such as April Showers, Spring Burst and Morning Dew and incorporate light spring flowers such as bluebells, foxgloves, daisies, buttercups and tulips.

We can supply similar fragrance compounds to suit any application for any product in either minimum 1kg lots or in bulk fragrance lots – just give me a ring at the office or comment below on my blog and i will arrange samples for you to try out in your particular base.

So finally how will we know when the warmer weather has finally arrived for good?

Well here are a few pointers to look out for….

Ice-cream needs to be eaten very quickly to stop it melting and dripping down the cone – in fact its not even considered a treat – more of a food group in the summer.

You start buying punnets of strawberries with only 3 in them as they are all the size of your palm!

You can take a photograph in the evening in (almost) natural light without a flash.

Salad becomes a viable lunch option rather than a quick fix into a swimsuit from your New Years resolutions.

You cant find anything in the supermarket anymore as there are sunscreen bottles jammed into every available shelf spot!

You dont even know where your pyjamas are, never mind remember the last time you slept in them!

Its actually warmer inside the house with all the windows open than it is outside.

Yoghurt and fresh fruit replace porridge for breakfast.

You get out of bed 15 minutes earlier so that you can have said breakfast in the back garden!

Anybody any other suggestions?……