From sun cream to freshly cut grass. Scented Air Vending machine brings the smell of summer to busy train station.
It is a vending machine stocked with bottles of “summer-scented” air at Slough train station (Berkshire, UK) to help evoke holiday memories among commuters and offer the perfect pick-me-up for those who are feeling down.
This was a promotional stunt rather than a permanent fixture, and it captured media attention in 2015.
What It Was
- Concept: The “Smells of Summer” vending machine dispensed free bottles of scented air capturing classic summer aromas and are national favorites. Top scents included:
- Freshly cut grass
- Barbecue (BBQ)
- Sun cream (sunscreen lotion)
- Sea air (Mediterranean-style breezes)
- Purpose: Commissioned by Holiday Autos (a car hire comparison site, now part of Lastminute.com), it aimed to brighten up gloomy commuters’ mornings by triggering nostalgic holiday vibes. A survey by the company found that 69% of Brits consider smell the most evocative sense for recalling happy memories, with 82% saying summer scents could serve as a mood booster.
- How It Worked: It was Twitter-activated—users tweeted their favorite holiday memory to @HolidayAutos using #SmellsofSummer, which triggered the release of a matching scent bottle from the machine. No payment required; it was all about the fun and free pick-me-up.
- Design and Setup: Built by vending designer Solomon Rogers and tech firm Rewind in just a week, the machine held about 100 custom-labeled bottles. It was placed in the station’s ticket office for maximum commuter exposure.
When and Where
- Launch Date: Unveiled on July 30, 2015, right in the heart of Slough station—a busy hub on the Great Western Main Line, serving thousands heading to London Paddington daily.
- Duration: It was a temporary installation, running for a short promotional period (likely weeks). Reports describe hundreds of commuters interacting with it immediately, calling it a “storm” of popularity, with plans to tour it to other UK stations—but no evidence it became a long-term thing.
- Location Specifics: Slough station, Brunel Way, Slough SL1 1QW, UK. If you’re there today (as of November 2025), you’d find standard vending machines for snacks, drinks, and tickets, but nothing scent-related.
Why It Made News
This quirky setup went viral for blending tech, nostalgia, and marketing in a delightfully British way—think ambient advertising meets sensory therapy. It tied into Holiday Autos’ goal of inspiring travel bookings by “injecting fun, freedom, and frivolity” into daily routines. Media outlets like the Daily Mail and Belfast Telegraph hailed it as a clever mood-lifter for rainy commutes.
We want to inject fun, freedom and frivolity into holidays by giving people back that holiday feeling and something to smile about
Michael Callaghan (Holiday Autos)
