Real Christmas Trees: The Smell of Joy
From gingerbread cookies and candy canes to a crackling fire and of course, a real Christmas tree – it is the sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas that make the holidays for many. In fact, a survey fielded by the Real Christmas Tree Board1 showed the number one reason people go real (real Christmas tree, that is) is the scent!
Yep, “I like the scent” is the top reason respondents identified for why they chose a real Christmas tree , pulling ahead of other fine reasons such as “tradition,” “it’s fun going to get the tree,” and “my kids like it.”
So what is it about the scent that keeps people coming back? 4 out of 5 respondents said it was the unmistakable smell of Christmas itself that rose to the top and 80% described the smell of a real Christmas tree as “soothing.”
Survey takers were asked to rank a list of scents strongly associated with Christmas and promptly picked the scent of a real Christmas tree as their favorite. “Cookies” came in second, followed by “cinnamon” “hot cocoa” and “gingerbread” (in that order) “peppermint” ranked 6th but beat out further-down finisher “open fire” and “roasted chestnuts.”
Respondents were asked to pick a word to finish the sentence “When I smell a real Christmas tree, I feel…” “joyful” was the word picked more often than any other emotion. Other good feelings followed:
#1 Joyful
#2 Merry
#3 Nostalgic
#4 Calm
#5 Thankful
There’s something about a real Christmas tree that can’t be replaced. In another recent survey, 40% who say they are switching this year say it’s because of the scent.2 52% of those who had a real tree last year say they plan to stick with it because of the scent and 77% of ALL respondents say nothing can replicate the smell of a real Christmas tree in their home.2
People switch to real Christmas trees because they are a joy to see and smell!
Are you one of them? Visit RealChristmasTreeBoard.com for a special retail locator, a guide to the different kinds of real Christmas trees, care tips, and more.
SOURCE:
ABOUT THE 2022 SURVEY: TRUE Global Intelligence (TGI), the in-house research practice of FleishmanHillard, fielded a survey of 1,500 Americans adults ages 21 to 49 years. All survey respondents celebrate or observe Christmas and either decide or share in the decision of whether and what kind of Christmas tree to put up in their home each year or influence their home’s decisionmaker. The survey was fielded from May 26 to June 13, 2022. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.5% and higher for subgroups.
ABOUT THE 2023 SURVEY: TRUE Global Intelligence (TGI), the in-house research practice of FleishmanHillard, fielded a survey of 1,499 Americans adults ages 21 to 54 years. All survey respondents either celebrate/observe Christmas or display a Christmas tree. Respondents were required to either decide or share in the decision of whether and what kind of Christmas tree to put up in their home each year or influence their home’s decisionmaker. The survey was fielded from August 21 to September 6, 2023. The survey has a margin of error of ±2.5% and higher for subgroups.