RACINE, Wisc., March 2, 2010 – The fresh scent of spring cleaning may be just as good for your soul as it is for your home, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University, University of Toronto and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
“The Smell of Virtue” study evaluated more than 120 people in two, separate experiments to gauge whether scent can have a positive effect on a person’s behavior. The results revealed that people in rooms in which citrus-scented Windex® was used acted in a more fair and generous manner than people in non-scented rooms.
“The Smell of Virtue” Study
The results from each experiment reveal the potential power of scent:
• Scent Lends a Helping Hand: One experiment evaluated the effect of scent on people’s charitable behaviors. Ninety-nine participants rated their willingness to volunteer. Those who were in the room in which Windex was used were more likely to volunteer (60 percent vs. 47 percent). They also were more willing to donate money – 22 percent of people in the scented room said they would donate to charity, whereas only 6 percent of people in the non-scented rooms were ready to open their checkbooks.
• Fragrance = Fairness: In another experiment, 28 participants were given $12 and told that they could either keep a portion (or all of it) or return it to the sender. Participants in the rooms sprayed with Windex returned, on average, more money than people in the non-scented rooms ($5.33 vs. $2.81).
“As a family company, SC Johnson has always prided itself on creating products that help to make families’ lives cleaner, easier and better,” said Kelly Semrau, SC Johnson Vice President of Global Public Affairs and Communication. “It’s wonderful to know that the products we make may also have added benefits.”
The study findings will be published in the March issue of Psychological Science.
About the Study
“The Smell of Virtue” study was conducted by lead-author Katie Liljenquist, professor at Brigham Young University and co-authors Adam Galinsky, professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and Chen-Bo Zhong, professor at the University of Toronto. Brigham Young University and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University funded the study.
About Windex
Windex knows that a clean home is important to families. There's a Windex cleaner for just about any household surface. No matter which Windex product is used, families can expect great results — a streak-free shine and a fresh, clean scent. Windex products are available in grocery, drug, hardware and discount stores in the United States. For more information about Windex brand products visit www.windex.com
About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 124-year-old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com
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