How sights, smells and sounds alter what you buy
Nudge29 Sep 2025

How sights, smells and sounds alter what you buy

In 2011, Coca-Cola introduced a white version of their Coca-Cola can. The drink inside was identical to original Coca-Cola, but customers drinking from this white can hated the taste. The white can made buyers think the Cola tasted worse. To explain why, I need to delve into the science of sensehacking. With Professor Adrian North, I’ll explain why tennis players grunt loudly, why cars smell different when new, how a tablecloth alters our taste, and that music changes what you buy. --- Join the Nudge Vaults waiting list: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/vaults Join the Nudge Unit waiting list: https://maven.com/nudge-unit/course-cohort Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.nudgepodcast.com/mailing-list Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phill-agnew-22213187/ Watch Nudge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nudgepodcast/ --- Today’s sources Bschaden, A., Dörsam, A., Cvetko, K., & Stroebele-Benschop, N. (2020). The impact of lighting and table linen as ambient factors on meal intake and taste perception. Food Quality and Preference, 79, 103797. Cañal-Bruland, R., Müller, F., Lach, B., & Spence, C. (2018). Auditory contributions to visual anticipation in tennis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 36, 100–103. Garber, M. (2012, July 26). The future of advertising will be squirted into your nostrils as you sit on a bus. The Atlantic. Golan, M., & Fenko, A. (2015). Toward a sensory congruence model: Matching sounds with material properties. Food Quality and Preference, 46, 33–43. Guéguen, N., Jacob, C., Lourel, M., & Pascual, A. (2012). When drivers see red: Car color and driving behavior. Color Research & Application, 37(5), 452–455. Hanss, D., Steger, D., & Giesel, F. (2012). The influence of car color on driver behavior and perceptions of speed. Color Research & Application, 37(4), 304–309. Hirsch, A. (1991, February 4). Preliminary results of olfaction Nike study. Marketing News, 25, 1–2. Horswill, M. S., & Plooy, A. M. (2008). Auditory feedback influences perceived driving speed. Perception, 37(7), 1037–1043. Leenders, M. A. A. M., Smidts, A., & El Haji, A. (2019). Ambient scent as a mood inducer in supermarkets: The role of scent intensity and time-pressure of shoppers. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 48, 270–280. Milliman, R. E. (1982). Using background music to affect the behavior of supermarket shoppers. Journal of Marketing, 46(3), 86–91. North, A. C., Hargreaves, D. J., & McKendrick, J. (1999). The influence of in-store music on wine selections. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(2), 271–276. Spence, C. (2021). Sensehacking: How to use the power of your senses for happier, healthier living. Viking. Wall Street Journal. (2012, October 23). Why consumers doubt silent vacuum cleaners. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203406404578074671598804116 Zellner, D., Geller, T., Lyons, S., Pyper, A., & Riaz, K. (2017). Ethnic congruence of music and food affects food selection but not liking. Food Quality and Preference, 56, 126-129.

Episoder(281)

#64: Welcome to the Rory Sutherland Nudge Clinic

#64: Welcome to the Rory Sutherland Nudge Clinic

In today’s special episode you’re invited to enter a brand new clinic. Instead of a waiting room, there’s a bar with live jazz. Instead of a doctor, there’s a marketer in a tweed jacket. Today, we’re ...

13 Sep 202121min

#63: Rory Sutherland | Why counter-intuitive thinking wins

#63: Rory Sutherland | Why counter-intuitive thinking wins

Throughout our lives, we’re taught to think rationally. We’re taught to consider the evidence. To make forecasts. To follow the economic models and stick with the trend. This rational thinking is a c...

30 Aug 202130min

#62: Unexpected ways to overcome anxiety

#62: Unexpected ways to overcome anxiety

We’ve all heard advice on beating anxiety. We’re told to vent our frustrations, to break down and analyze the problem, sometimes we’re told to try and forget about it or move on. But what does science...

17 Aug 202125min

#61: The science of stress and 3 ways to beat it

#61: The science of stress and 3 ways to beat it

What do you do when you get stressed out? Do you work through exercises and routines to solve the problem, or do you hope it’ll go away? Most of us wait for the experience to pass, but we shouldn’t. I...

2 Aug 202124min

#60: How not to suck at customer interviews

#60: How not to suck at customer interviews

Speaking to customers isn't something that comes naturally to many marketers. We're not researchers. We're not trained to interview. And yet it's a vital task for all of us to master. My guest today h...

19 Jul 202123min

#59: How to stand the f*ck out

#59: How to stand the f*ck out

As little as 16% of marketing is remembered and recalled successfully. That means that as much as 84% of marketers’ work is wasted. To capture consumer’s attention we’re told to stand out. To be diffe...

5 Jul 202127min

#58: Why brands should flaunt their flaws

#58: Why brands should flaunt their flaws

You might be surprised to learn that a 5/5 star review isn’t the best, or that an imperfect cookie tastes better. The science behind this weird phenomenon is the Pratfall Effect. In this episode I cha...

21 Jun 202115min

#57: Charm Pricing: The greatest trick in marketing?

#57: Charm Pricing: The greatest trick in marketing?

Charm pricing (also known as 9-ending prices) is one of those marketing tricks that is known by all. It has left the marketing textbooks and is used by everyone from kids selling lemonade to businesse...

7 Jun 202115min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
utbytte
pengepodden-2
finansredaksjonen
pengesnakk
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
okonomiamatorene
rss-sunn-okonomi
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
lederpodden
rss-markedspuls-2
rss-andelige-tanker-med-camillo
rss-impressions-2
rss-fa-makro