# Scented Fast Food Billboards McDonald's Set Up a French Fry-Scented Billboard By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2024-04-10 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scented-billboard References: [adweek](https://www.adweek.com/creativity/mcdonalds-made-scented-billboards-that-smell-like-its-french-fries/)  Visual branding powerfully shapes perception, yet sensory marketing can eclipse its influence, particularly through scent that evokes emotions and triggers vivid memories—and [McDonald's](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-truck-billboard) did just that with its scented billboard. The global fast food brand known for its golden arches set up a minimalist, unbranded billboard that diffused the aroma of its fries. The series of blank red and yellow billboards contained a hidden compartment for storing fries and an internal heat and ventilation system made it possible to intensify the scent of the best-selling menu item and waft it in the direction of passersby. All of the billboards were set up within 200 meters of a [McDonald’s](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/name-free) so that cravings sparked by the scented billboards could be satisfied. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 77% | Activity: 86% | Freshness: 23% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/billboards) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Scented Billboards in Marketing:** Exploring the sensory aspect of marketing through scent can create emotional connections and trigger nostalgic memories for consumers. - **Sensory Branding Experiences:** Incorporating unique sensory elements like aroma can enhance brand perception and engagement with the audience. - **Location-centric Marketing Tactics:** Utilizing strategic locations to amplify the impact of marketing initiatives can drive consumer behavior and brand affinity. ### Where This Applies - **Advertising:** Innovative scent-driven advertisements can revolutionize traditional marketing strategies and captivate consumer attention. - **Food Retail:** Integrating sensory experiences such as scent into food retail environments can elevate customer engagement and drive sales growth. - **Outdoor Media:** Leveraging interactive sensory elements in outdoor media campaigns can create memorable brand interactions and increase foot traffic to physical locations. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Food Truck Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-truck-billboard.md) - [Illusory Fry Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fing-fing-cajun-chips.md) - [Fast Food-Themed Roads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonaldsfries1.md) - [Festive Scratch-and-Sniff Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scratch-and-sniff-billboard.md) - [Brandless Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/name-free.md) - [Flame-Grilled Billboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flame-grilled-billboard.md) - [Night QSR Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-night-posters.md) - [Sensory Outdoor Posters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scratchandsniff-ooh-campaign.md) - [Farm-Fresh Ingredient Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golden-arches-of-mcdonalds.md)