To scent a car dealership you need to calculate by volume, not by floor area: a showroom with a high ceiling needs large-coverage devices or a connection to the HVAC system. The workshop smell is cut off with a door, extraction and a neutralizer. Fragrance is reserved for the showroom, the handover area and the waiting room, with a profile consistent with the brand.
A car dealership has two olfactory problems at once: a huge room with a high ceiling where any scent gets diluted, and a workshop next door whose smell of oil and tyres creeps in through the door.
Volume rules, not square metres
A 400 m² showroom with a six-metre ceiling has the same air as an 800 m² space with a normal ceiling. Sizing by floor area is the most common mistake and explains why so many showrooms smell of nothing even though they have a device.
| Showroom | Equivalent volume | Suggested equipment |
|---|---|---|
| 200 m², 3 m ceiling | Normal space of about 220 m² | Two FLOW or one ORBIT |
| 400 m², 6 m ceiling | Normal space of about 800 m² | HALO or ATMOS connected |
| 800 m², 6 m ceiling | Normal space of about 1,600 m² | NOVA or several devices |
Reference coverages: FLOW 120 m², ORBIT and ATMOS 600 m², HALO 800 m², WAVE 875 m² and NOVA 1,600 m². Only ATMOS and HALO connect to the air conditioning, which is what spreads scent best in spaces of this height. The full table is in diffusers for large spaces.
Separate the workshop from the showroom
The workshop smell is not masked, it is cut off. Closed door, its own extraction and, if customers pass through, a device with a neutralizer in that transition area. For smoke and fuel, Cotton Fresh works well. More in odour neutralization.
Fragrance is reserved for the showroom, the handover area and the waiting room. The handover area deserves special attention: it is a special moment for the customer and works very well with a slightly more pronounced profile than the rest of the room.
Which profile to choose
In the automotive sector, woody profiles and those with hints of soft leather work well, as they connect with the vehicle interior. Clean citrus scents suit brands with a younger positioning better. What matters is consistency with the brand: a premium dealership and a mainstream one do not have to smell the same. You can see the options in fragrances.
Where to place the devices
- Main entrance, up high and not pointing at the door.
- Showroom area, spread out and not concentrated at one end.
- Workshop waiting room, with its own, softer device.
- Never inside the vehicles or pointing directly at them.
Schedule
Start before opening and stop at closing. In large buildings it is worth increasing the intensity on busier days and lowering it on weekdays, because the number of people changes perception a lot.
On event days or at a model launch, program a dedicated slot with slightly more intensity in the area where people gather, and lower it as soon as it empties.
How much it costs
With the scenting subscription you pay a fixed monthly amount per device, with the fragrance included every month, no minimum term and 30 days' notice, in Spain and Portugal. The range starts at €29.90 per month + VAT. The final price depends on the number of devices and their size. More information in scenting for car dealerships.
Tell us the square metres and ceiling height at info@bendis.es, with a couple of photos, and we will tell you how many devices you need and with what coverage. We reply in less than 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can the interior of the cars on display be scented?
We do not recommend it. The product should not be directed at upholstery or dashboards. You scent the space, not the vehicle.
What should I do if the workshop smell reaches the showroom?
First, the door and extraction. Then, a neutralizer in the passage between workshop and showroom. Adding fragrance on top only mixes the two smells.
How many devices does a 500 m² dealership need?
It depends on the ceiling. With a normal height, one 600 m² device may be enough. With a six-metre ceiling, you need more coverage or a connection to the HVAC system.
