The Essentials

Airlines Scenting Planes: What’s the Smell?

What’s that smell?

The next time you board your plane, take a deep breath. Do you smell the aroma of grapefruit? How about Lilac? What other scents? A growing number of airlines are following the hotel lead of scenting lobbies, gyms, and meeting rooms.

United calls its special scent “Landing,” and it’s supposed to smell like orange peel, cypress and sandalwood.

Delta’s scent is called, “Calm.”

Alaska Airlines scents its planes with something called “Ocean Citron.”

Other airlines like Air Canada, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic have all hopped on the scent bandwagon too.

I’m waiting for the newest scent from some carriers, because they can call it, “Delay.”