Does odour affect our work performance?

21st September 2022

In a survey commissioned by Initial, it has been confirmed that, after general cleanliness, smell is the biggest factor that people notice after entering a public toilet. Over 90% have encountered unpleasant odours, and these bad smells create strong impressions of a business. Odours affect people in a variety of ways.

“There have been many scientific studies on how smells and odours affect us as human beings,” says Dumisani Simelane, sales and marketing director for Rentokil Initial Sub-Saharan Africa. “Smell has a direct impact on our mood, work performance, and behaviours, as smell is typically associated with some event in our past.”

A good example is the anxiety that the antiseptic smell within hospitals can create. Similarly, the smells within toilets – especially public toilets – can elicit a powerful response.

Positive smells create a good mood, leading to better creativity, morale, and a generally more productive workplace overall. On the other hand, the workplace bathroom is one of the factors that can create a foul ambient odour and is a leading contributor to inferior indoor air quality.

It is important for businesses to understand the cause of a foul-smelling office bathroom. There are five factors that commonly cause malodour. High moisture and temperature levels are the perfect storm for bacteria and germs, while bacteria use urine as a food source. Leaking or blocked pipes, cleaning supplies, and improper cleaning all also contribute to negative odours.

Some easy solutions can be implemented to mitigate these issues. Proper ventilation, open windows, or extractors will help to lower high moisture content. Staff should also report any blocked or leaking pipes and ensure proper management of feminine hygiene products and waste bins. Regular engagement with the cleaning staff on proper and thorough bathroom cleaning procedures will make a difference, as will education regarding the importance of proper bathroom etiquette. In general, a holistic approach must be taken to prevent bad-smelling bathrooms.

Additionally, research by the Sense of Smell Institute, which is the research and education division of The Fragrance Foundation (the non-profit, educational arm of the global fragrance industry), shows that “visual recall of images sinks to about 50% after only three months. Yet, humans can recall smells with 65% accuracy after an entire year”.

There is a growing body of research suggesting that workplace scent can enhance moods by as much as 50%. It should be managed just like other factors that impact our lives at the office, such as air quality, temperature, lighting, and personal space. Pleasant olfactory experiences improve employee productivity, performance, confidence levels, and social behaviours. Visual indicators have short-term effects compared to scents and must be reinforced with a positive scent to surround staff and customers with what they consider to be a reassuring and safe environment.

Businesses can use such findings to help create a sense of safety on their premises. Adopting a fresh and clean scent within all workplace environments can influence visitors’ experiences and help them feel protected.

“After spending a substantial amount of time at home due to the pandemic and government regulations, it has certainly come as a shock to many returning to office spaces, many of which have been empty for so long,” says Simelane. “Readjusting to the close proximity of other people in confined environments – and all the included social aspects thereof – needs to be managed correctly.” Visit www.initial.co.za for more information.