Panera in the mall used to pull that trick with the fresh-baked bread smell, didn't they? Worked on me every time - suddenly I'd be craving a soup bowl I didn't even want. From a consulting perspective, that kind of ambient scent is pure emotion hacking. You can't just assume it'll lift sales, though. I've seen clients throw money at scent machines without testing first, and it just becomes background noise. You really have to trial it on different footfall days, measure dwell time, and ask customers how they felt, not just what they bought. The smell works best when it ties directly to the product experience - like that bakery aroma Panera used. Without that link, it's just perfume.
