Dirty restaurant… Dirty food? How opinions can change based on smell

Often the smell of your favourite meal at a restaurant can instantly take you back to your childhood or a fond memory. But, as you enter the restroom, WHAM!… the smell hits you and the fragrance of “Urine Eau de Toilet” fills the air. “Why isn’t there an air freshener in here?”, you ask.

A person’s connection between fragrance and food begins before birth, as a mother’s diet plays a big part in her new-born child’s perception of odour and taste. Once we are born, our mothers fragrance us with light and fresh citric scents, to help keep us cool in the heat.

Throughout our life, food and its fragrance can take us on a journey back to our childhood, or a happy moment in our lives.

Restaurant restrooms

A person’s floral perfume can remind us of when we used to play in our back garden, or having a long, cool, glass of lemonade can remind us of our mothers. Dining at a restaurant is a clear example of when this can happen. The different smells and flavours, can take you back, but your happy memories can instantly be ruined when you visit the restrooms in some restaurants…

As you enter the restroom the overriding fragrance of urine hits you, almost overwhelmingly. There are hand towels on the floor where a potential basketball player has missed the waste paper bin. The wash basin is decorated with blue soap that has leaked from the dispenser, and the warm air drier has decided to stop working… Just when you are rushing to get out, you spot the air freshener (thank the lord) but typically the red lights flashing, there`s a buzzing noise, as it`s crying out for a new refill!

As you leave this chaotic disaster zone you ask yourself, – “Are they always like this?” “Where`s the cleaner?” and finally “What is the kitchen like?”

You sit back down at your table, your food arrives, you are no longer hungry and leave disappointed – possibly with a bad review on TripAdvisor lined up.

Opinion change

My point is that people`s perception after an event like this can change their opinions instantly and what appeared to be the perfect restaurant, changes into a nightmare experience and a place you`re keen to get out of and likely not return to.

It`s not rocket science, restaurant owners and managers who concentrate on first impressions need to consider how best to present ALL areas of their establishment or run the risk of events like the above seriously damaging their reputation and ultimately their earnings!

The fact is that for a minimal cost the solution is easy and provides the answer to kill bad odours at the source, improve the air in the washroom and introduce fragrance that truly compliments the environment you wish to create.