Sense of Smell

👃 What do families smell when they visit your church?

The sense of smell plays a subtle yet powerful role in shaping how families experience your church. Pleasant aromas can create an immediate sense of welcome, comfort, and cleanliness, while unpleasant odors may subconsciously make visitors feel uneasy or undervalued. From the scent of fresh coffee or baked goods in the foyer to clean restrooms and well-maintained children’s spaces, the smells of a church communicate care and attention to detail. For new families, inviting scents can help them relax and feel at home, and for long-time members, they reinforce a sense of pride and belonging. Thoughtfully considering smell as part of the church environment helps create a welcoming atmosphere that resonates on a deep, emotional level.

Here are a couple question you can begin to ask yourself about how your church values what people SMELL?

• Does your building smells fresh? (no musty carpets, bathrooms, or kitchens)

• Do people experience the smell of coffee brewing or light refreshments in the foyer?

• Does the children’s area smell clean?

• Do you host special family events include pleasant food aromas that draw people together?

We have provided a scorecard to help you see how your church is doing using the sense of smell.

Church_Smell_Scorecard.pdf

Download PDF • 5KB