When I first started placing perfume vending machines out, I thought it would be easy. The idea looked perfect: a clean design machine, with a pleasant scent, and a dollar per spray. Who wouldn’t stop to try it?
Reality was quite different. People walked by. Some looked curious, most didn’t stop. That’s when I realized the hard part wasn’t selling fragrance—it was making people notice the machine in the first place.
From then on, I tried to move the machines around, testing designs, and watching people’s behavior, I found a few things that may help draw people’s attention and they are quite easy to do. Just like in all the other businesses, small details make big difference.
Eye-Catching Designs
The first thing I found is that people will buy things which their eyes like.
If your machine doesn’t stand out, it might as well be invisible.
I started decorate my machines with soft LED lights, especially around the spray area. The lights do not need to be too bright, just need to create a little glow. And after that, at one night I was standing there watching people. It is in front of a mall past. I found a couple noticed the light, slowed down, and came closer. One of them smiled and said, “What is this?” They tried it, laughed, and pulled their friends over. That’s when I knew: the light pays for itself.
I also added one simple line on the front:
“$1 Quick Spray.”
This will help people to recognize the function of the machine immediately.
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Location Is Everything
If you dont put the machine in the right location, even the machine loods perfect, it won’t have too many sales
I’ve tried all kinds of places: near food courts, in clothing stores, next to escalators. Some spots looked great on paper but got almost no traffic. The best results came from areas where people care about how they smell—right before they meet someone, or when they’re heading out.
Gym locker rooms worked surprisingly well. Same with hotel lobbies and nightclub entrances. Even airport restrooms—people freshen up before aflight.
The trick is timing. A perfume vending machine doesn’t sell to everyone. It sells to people in a hurry who suddenly think, “Maybe I should smell better.”
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Keep the Scents Simple
I made a mistake early on: I offered too many choices.
Ten different scents on the screen. It looked impressive but confused everyone. People don’t want to stand there comparing perfume names like No. 14 Amber Sunset.
Now I keep it to three: something fresh, something floral, something warm. Easy to choose, easy to remember.
And every few weeks, I change one scent and write “New this month” on the screen.
It’s funny—people notice it, even if they don’t buy that one. It makes the whole machine feel “alive.”
Make the Moment Fun
When someone uses the machine, it’s a five-second experience. You have to make that five seconds count.
I added a short message after each spray:
“You smell <strong>amazing.”</strong>
It’s silly, I know. But you can see people smile every time. Some even take a selfie in front of the machine.
Later, I added a small mirror near the spray area. That tiny detail doubled engagement. People spray, check themselves, fix their hair, and sometimes spray again.
That’s when I realized — you’re not just selling perfume, you’re giving people a tiny boost of confidence.
Let the Venue Be Your Partner
I used to rent space and just place the machine there, hoping people would notice. That was another mistake.
When I started giving the venue a small percentage of the sales, everything changed. Suddenly the staff mentioned it to guests:
“Need a quick refresh?The perfume machine’s right there.”
I also began printing the venue’s logo on the side with a line like“Fresh scent powered by [Venue <em>Name].”</em>
It looks like part of their service, not just a random machine standing around.
One hotel manager even asked if he could post the machine on their social media. That single post brought more attention than any ad I’d paid for.
Small Promotions Work Best
I tried big ideas—discount codes, QR campaigns—but honestly, the simplest ones worked best.
One day I put a sticker on the side:
Tag us on Instagram for a free spray.”
It cost me nothing. The next weekend, people started filming short clips of themselves using the machine. The local nightclub reposted them. Traffic tripled for that night.
Another time, I added a “Buy 5, get 1 free” message on the screen. A few regulars actually came back to test it. People love a little reward, even if it’s small.
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Social Media Helps (If You Keep It Real)
I’m not a big social media person, but I’ve learned that a 10-second video showing someone using the machine can go far.
Don’t overthink it. Just show real reactions — the mist, the laugh, the “oh wow” face.
I had a friend film a quick clip at a bar. No editing, no fancy filter. That one got thousands of views in a local group. It brought more people to the venue — and to the machine — that weekend.
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Read the Numbers, Not Just the Comments
Data doesn’t lie.
When I started tracking usage time, I realized most sales came between 7 p.m. and midnight. So I kept the LED lights brighter in the evening.
At the gym, mornings did better, so I adjusted the lighting to match daylight hours.
Also, watch which scent sells fastest. If “Ocean Breeze” is gone by Friday and “Warm Amber” sits untouched, you know what to do.
These tweaks are small, but together they make a real difference.
Adapt to the Season
Changing the mood helps people notice.
During Valentine’s week, I used a soft red light and renamed one scent <em>Love</em> in the Air.
In summer, I switched to cooler colors and lighter fragrances.
One of our Wehoo Vending clients even turned aperfume vending machine into a “photo corner” during a fashion show — floral wrap, rose lighting, and a hashtag wall. People lined up not just to spray but to take pictures. That’s real engagement.
Keep It Clean. Always.
This one sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many operators forget it.
If the screen is dusty or the spray button is sticky, it doesn’t matter how good your marketing is.
I wipe my machines every morning and refill them before they run dry.
A clean machine smells like trust. A dirty one smells like neglect.
Final Thoughts
Running perfume vending machines taught me something simple: it’s not about selling perfume, it’s about creating a small, satisfying moment.
If peoplestop for five seconds, smile, and walk away feeling a little better — that’s success.
Everything else — the lights, the location, the scents — just helps that moment happen.
And when you get that right, the machine starts doing the marketing for you.
