Sensory Marketing Is Here To Stay: 5 Methods Your Business Can Use in 2025

Ever passed a mint green shopfront as you went about your day? It’s likely that you saw a branch of Blank Street Coffee. The coffee chain’s signature green shade is an integral part of its branding. You’ll see this calming color across the brand’s website and social media feeds, whether that includes a snapshot of a blueberry matcha latte or a video showcasing its latest pop-up experience.

Which colors can you associate with your brand? It’s worth taking another look at your brand identity to see if you can find any colors that are aesthetically pleasing and will delight your target audience.

Once you’ve identified a key color (or two), make sure that they’re included in your marketing strategy. You might want to give your site design a slight refresh to reflect this shade or start incorporating the color into your social media imagery.

🎨 Wondering what colors are trending? We’ve compiled 2025’s biggest color trends to help you find stylish hues for your business.

When you turn on Netflix, what’s the first thing that you hear? Its famous “ta-dum” sound, of course. This small piece of audio has a huge impact on viewers and often signals the beginning of another late-night binge watch or movie night with friends.

If your site could do with an extra touch of personality, or you want your video marketing content to stand out online, it’s worth experimenting with sonic branding. This can include:

• Using audio on your website – Only include sounds that will enhance the user experience. Gentle rain or sea sounds could be used to set a relaxing mood, while an upbeat notification jingle could bring attention to your live chat support.
• Adding sound effects to product listings – Ever watched a Magnum ice cream ad and enjoyed the crisp “crunch” sound? You can add delightful sounds to your product videos too, such as the snap of a camera or candy being unwrapped.
• Hop on trending sounds – If your brand has a presence on TikTok or Instagram Reels, I recommend that you hop on any trending sounds that are relevant to your business. By tapping into what’s popular, you can easily reach new audiences online.

The frustrating thing about shopping online is that you can’t physically touch or try on a product. However, you can give audiences a better understanding of how your items feel through tactile product copy.

For example, here’s some product copy from Free People that I particularly liked:

Add the absolute coolest layer to any outfit with this stunning kaftan featured in a sheer fabrication and long, flowy silhouette with lace detailing throughout, exaggerated side slits, and cut out detail at the neckline for a dramatic, femme finish.

Though I can’t physically touch the kaftan, the description does help me imagine what it might feel like. The descriptive words like “sheer” and “flowy” help me visualize something quite lightweight.

Apply these principles to your product copy. Use rich, descriptive words to your advantage while remembering to state any key materials when necessary.

✍️ Need some help writing this copy? Check out our guide to creating product descriptions.

When Marc Jacobs collaborated with influencer Nara Smith in 2024, we all had one thing on our mind: food. In a viral video on TikTok, Nara filmed herself “baking” a Marc Jacobs bag from scratch. Nara’s cooking niche, paired with her impeccable sense of style, made this collaboration a match made in heaven.

I’ve also seen a rise in brands incorporating food imagery into their social media content – Rhode Skin is a notable example. The beauty brand is known for using mouthwatering visuals in its marketing, like its photo of a cinnamon-flavored lip tint perched on top of an indulgent cinnamon bun.

To add a foodie touch to your own social media content, think about how you can make your products appear irresistible. Ask yourself:

• Are there different textures you could play with?
• Which colors could you use to remind consumers of specific foods?
• Are there any food items that reflect your brand’s aesthetic or message?

Thinking about holding an experiential marketing pop-up? Or want to add a small surprise to your product packaging? I recommend thinking about scents since this could add another dimension to your brand’s customer experience.

Scents are known for triggering memories, so if you can find a signature scent that represents your brand well, you could stay on your customer’s mind for longer. To start incorporating specific scents into your brand, you might want to:

• Offer freebies – To thank customers for ordering, you could add a small scented freebie (like a scented candle or small perfume sample) to their package.
• Create scented packaging – You could spritz packaging with your signature scent before you hand it to a customer. This will give them a pleasant surprise when they open it!
• Enhance your next pop-up with an aroma – If you’re holding a pop-up, consider adding a signature scent. You could use lavender for a relaxed mood or florals for a fresh, seasonal atmosphere.

In an ecommerce landscape where content is saturated and attention spans are fleeting, sensory marketing can help your brand stand out. By creating unforgettable marketing experiences that appeal to multiple senses, you can trigger positive emotions within consumers and improve the general perception of your brand. 

With the five steps listed above, you now have numerous ways that you can apply sensory marketing to your own business and engage with new customers in the process. But if your brand has already tried sensory marketing, I’d love to hear about it. Let us know in the comments below.