What Is Sensory Marketing—and Why You Remember the Brand Without Realising It

Crafting compelling visual identities with PurpleChalk: your brand's look is the key to engaging your audience.

Ever scrolled past a product and instantly recognised it by just the colours? Or opened a skincare box and thought, “Wait, this feels premium”? That’s not coincidence. That’s sensory marketing—and it's the secret sauce behind every brand you can’t forget.

From the clean aesthetics of Rhode to the bold energy of NYX, and even the unmistakable “tu-dum” of Netflix, top brands are doing more than just selling products. They’re creating full-blown sensory experiences. Let’s break down what sensory marketing really means—and how your brand can use it to leave a lasting impression.

So... What Exactly Is Sensory Marketing?

Sensory marketing is the art of using sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to make your brand memorable. It’s not just how your product looks on a shelf or online—it’s how it feels to interact with it.

Whether it’s the soft matte of a lip balm tube, the jingle on your checkout page, or the scent of a physical store, sensory branding turns one-time buyers into loyal fans.

Sight: It Starts With the Scroll

Visual cues are everything. The first thing someone sees—the colours, the fonts, the packaging—sets the tone. That first impression sticks.

Rhode uses calming pastels and minimalist typography to reflect its soothing skincare philosophy.

NYX uses bold contrast, neons, and edgy design that scream confidence and fun.

Netflix’s UI design uses deep blacks and striking red to evoke drama and intensity, fitting their high-stakes, high-emotion content.

At PurpleChalk, we help brands build visual identities that align with emotion and audience. Because in the digital world, your look is your hook.

Sound: Turn Up the Feel-Good Factor

Sound might be underrated, but it’s a major player. Think of Netflix’s iconic “tu-dum”—it’s only a second long, but it triggers instant recognition and anticipation.

Netflix uses sound as a brand signature—short, sharp, and emotionally charged.

NYX layers upbeat pop in campaigns to match their playful energy.

Luxury brands lean on ambient, slower soundscapes to create calm and exclusivity.

Want your brand to be heard and remembered? Let's talk sonic branding.

Touch: Design That Feels as Good as It Looks

Whether it's the texture of your packaging or how smooth your website scrolls—touch matters.

Rhode’s product bottles are soft, matte, and minimalist, instantly conveying calm.

A website with frictionless navigation and tactile feedback can create just as much of a sensory impact.

Great UX is a tactile experience too. It's about comfort, trust, and fluidity—online and off.

Smell: A Quiet but Powerful Trigger

Scent is a memory-maker. It ties emotion to memory faster than any other sense. If you’ve walked into a store and remembered it just by smell, that’s strategic sensory marketing in play.

Brands like NYX subtly infuse their retail spaces with signature scents. Even packaging paper can carry a fragrance for an elevated unboxing experience.

If your brand lives in a physical space—or ships IRL—don’t ignore smell.

Taste: Yes, Even if You’re Not in F&B

You don’t need to sell snacks to tap into taste. Lip balms, edible gifts, or even flavour-themed campaigns can add that extra bit of engagement.

Rhode’s tinted lip products often carry soft, pleasant flavours that feel luxe.

Gifting campaigns with curated treats make your brand feel more personal and thoughtful.

Taste connects to pleasure and memory—both critical in brand retention.

Why Sensory Branding Actually Works

Because we don’t remember facts—we remember feelings.

Sensory marketing creates emotional connections. And emotional connections drive loyalty, higher engagement, and longer retention.

Some quick facts:

• Multisensory brand experiences improve recall by 70%

• Sensory-rich campaigns see higher social shares and customer satisfaction

• Customers are more likely to buy again if they felt something the first time

So... What’s the PurpleChalk Take?

We believe a great brand should feel like something. From the mood of your homepage to the unboxing of your product, we build full-stack brand experiences that leave a mark.

Think of us as your brand’s sensory stylists:

1. We design how your brand looks

2. We build how it sounds

3. We shape how it feels

   
   

Ready to make your brand unforgettable? Let’s bring your identity to life—one sense at a time.

Let’s talk.