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Monday, Jan. 11, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Why do casinos smell like they do? No, not the smell of menthols, sticky drinks and desperation. That’s everywhere. Rather, why does the Bellagio smell like the Bellagio and why does the Venetian smell like an old man who has been wearing the same cologne for 40 years and steadily adding more as his tolerance grows?
The simple answer is that there are metal devices the size of breadboxes attached to the ventilation systems of nearly every Strip resort. The boxes vaporize highly aromatic and shockingly expensive oils into the ducts, where the airflow dilutes and distributes them. The first such systems in Las Vegas were installed at the Mirage in 1991 by Mark Peltier, president of a company called AromaSys. Since then, the systems have spread up and down the Strip — and now Peltier has competitors.
Why would anything so profit-minded as a casino bother?
It’s because humans are wired so that smell is a weird and powerful sense. Smell and its sister sense, taste, have quick access to your emotional conditioning, your sexual urges and your memories. It’s why the smell of a familiar dish can transport you to your mother’s kitchen or a perfume can return you to a lover’s arms. It’s also why many neuroscience papers include pretentious little Proust quotes.
You can see why it’s so tempting to use scents in a casino.
But smell is tricky. It’s not that everyone smells something differently — scents are the same volatile chemical compounds for everyone. The problem is, smell is tied up with your memories. For instance, Peltier has a good friend who loves the smell of skunk because the first time she smelled it, she was on a pleasant trip to her grandmother’s house. Every time she smells skunk, she remembers that day and is happy.
“There’s no expression in our genes that says you will like this smell and not the other,” Peltier says. Still, Peltier has some guidelines that work for most people most of the time. Citrus smells are refreshing. Floral smells are relaxing. Herbaceous smells are usually relaxing but can also be invigorating, especially peppermint. Cedar and other wood smells relax and soothe. By blending these odors, Peltier and his competitors evoke moods or environments.
The environments vary throughout hotels, from lobbies to spas to casinos. In most of the world, Peltier and AromaSys try to make the hotels smell like the ideal version of their location, so that in South Florida he uses citrus scents, and at a Colorado ski resort, he’ll use woodsy scents. But in Las Vegas, each resort supplied by AromaSys has a signature theme. The Mirage smells Polynesian, Mandalay Bay smells Southeast Asian and the Bellagio has the scent of Northern Italy. The Wynn and Encore “are very unusual. You may never smell anything like that in the world.”
“Mr. Wynn,” Peltier says, “has extraordinary sensory ideas and knows what he wants. It’s more of a co-creative process with him.”
And the Venetian, Mr. Peltier — who is responsible for that smell?
Well, AromaSys is. It’s called “Seduction” and features a significant amount of musk and is described as “strong, soothing and sensuous.”
“I actually think it’s turned up a little too strong, but the management insists on it being that way and actually kind of resented me offering my opinion,” Peltier says, before adding that the Venetian is a “great and loyal customer.”
“They sell a lot of it as room sprays and candles, so what do I know?”
This story also appears in the current issue of Las Vegas Weekly, a sister publication.
We were just at the Venetian last weekend. Personally, I think they should turn down the smell a few thousand notches. What these places forget, is that some people are hypersensitive to smell. I no longer shop in Old Navy, Abecrombie and several other stores because they pump similar oils into the air.
I'm sure the casinos spend big bucks trying create a scent that will help loosen people's wallets. Seems more like a way to mask the stench of cigarettes, if you ask me. Personally, I think we have enough pollution without adding more irritating chemicals.
Someone needs to gently inform the Horseshoe that 'Essence of Bronco Billy' might be ok during rodeo week....but after that - they should switch back to the floral cartridge.
2 Casinos that need to adjust their scents: Venetian and TI. Both are way too strong and are not my favorite smell in the world.
Funny how we are all wired different. I LIKE the strong smell at the Venetian. But, I can see where it would be strong for others. And the smell at El Cortez...it totally smells like the El Cortez looks (and I will leave it at that), but I love the smell. Why? Because its my mother's favorite casino when she comes to visit, and I miss her!
I love the romanticism in this article describing the scents - "Bellagio has the scent of Northern Italy"etc. Face it, Bellagio smalls like gardenia, mirage like coconut/pineapple, Venetian/Pallazo like an old lady (in fact so strong, I hate going in there), Mandalay smells like coconut, Sun Coast like cinnamon/peach (yuk), Wynn is pleasant and unusual. I haven't noticed many others but will keep my nostrils open. I guess these smells are better than the old-school Vegas combo of ciggs, BO, fried food, rancid beer and Old Spice.
Something STINKS here...
Most of the smells I only notice within resorts and casinos are within restaurant or food court areas - mainly food.
Years ago I remember going into The Sands one day and one section reeked so bad, it was like someone just got done with their big business.
I also remember when the old Debbie Renyolds and San Remo hotels had that skank musty porno theatre carpet smell at those establishments.
My Calico cat smells better than a casino. By the way so does my Basset hound. It don't matter want the smell is people, you're gonna loose.
These casino scents are ridiculous. How about piping in a "traditional casino" scent like "El Cortez at midnight."
All i ever smell anymore is burning money comeing out of peoples pockets,then steam because they are tired of getting ripped off!!!
Has anyone smelled Aria ??/ it smells like a strong parfume
I noticed the M has a Vanilla scent. Good story.
However, there is a fine line, I was having a foot long hot dog (on bagel bun grilled with grilled onions and sauerkraut at the Vig deli there. Good value for $3.50)
To much smell might have ruined the dinning experience.
I love the muck at the Venetian. There is nothing better than being able to taste a smell while you're trying to eat an expensive chicken sandwich off the casino floor.
*musk*
"Mr. Wynn," Peltier says, "has extraordinary sensory ideas and knows what he wants. It's more of a co-creative process with him."
Um, good job. I translate that as 'High maintenance customer.'
GooGoo I was gonna say the same thing.. I agree he is more than likely very very high maintnance.. Also everyone complains of the smoke,, well its not bad considering the way some people smell.. Havnt showered since too busy gambling...And the Cortez isnt as bad since they changed the carpet...
They changed the carpet at the El Cortez? Did Jackie Gaughn die? There's no way! Even if they did, I'll bet they didn't clean the windows and change the air in that dump. El Cortez, Trophy of the old guard oligarchs and monument to the failure of O.G.
Give me the smell of old Vegas. Cheap perfume from the ladies, cigarette smoke, stale booze. Ahhh
refreshing.
I would not mind having the scent of MGM's lobby in my house. No lie!
The stink of the Venetian is sickening. I don't want my clothes and hair reeking like that for hours afterward. So I stay away from the Venetian and Palazzo. Not sure how people can spend hours in there filling their lungs with who-knows-what chemicals they pump in the air.