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The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Scents, Sweets, and Storytelling: How Disney Hooks You with Smell (Ep. 52)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Society & Culture, Places & Travel

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 June 2025

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey follow their cult-favorite “cup” episode with a deep dive into the most powerful sense in the Disney parks—smell. From Mickey’s PhilharMagic to burning Rome and popcorn-scented blowers, this episode explores how Imagineering has used fragrance for decades to spark emotion, trigger nostalgia, and boost sales. Plus, they dig into scented merch like candles, oils, and the plushie line that smells good enough to eat. How scent became a secret weapon in Disney park design Walt Disney’s original plan to use smells in Fantasia The evolution of “Smellitizers” and where they show up in classic attractions The rise of smell-based merch: Scenty, Magic Candle Co., and Disney oils What munchlings are—and how they combine snacks, scent, and plushies If you’ve ever chased the smell of Main Street popcorn or hunted for the perfect Polynesian candle, this one’s for you. Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. Learn More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

It's the cinematic event of the year.

0:03.0

Critics are saying a stunning, breathtaking triumph of savings.

0:08.0

It's two for one cinema tickets from Compa's Market in cinemas all year.

0:12.0

That sounds like a great movie.

0:14.0

Serge is no movie, it's two for one offer on cinema tickets.

0:17.0

Oh yeah, I knew that.

0:19.0

Get two for one cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday with compares the market.

0:23.2

Simples.

0:24.1

When you take out a qualifying product to compare the market, one membership per year,

0:27.1

participating cinemas, two standard tickets, only cheap as free.

0:29.2

Ties and Cs apply.

0:30.1

Welcome back to I Want That Too, the podcast where Disney merch meets Disney history.

0:35.9

I'm entertainer writer Jim Hill and as always I'm joined by the

0:39.6

lovely Lauren Hersey. Hey Jim. How's it going? It is going well. It is going well. We are

0:45.3

recording this on a somewhat overcast Sunday night in June. What about you? What's going on there?

0:53.3

Yeah. I mean, it's finally stopped rating here that

0:56.8

was great but i have to tell you so the last well a couple shows ago at this point uh the show that

1:03.6

we did where we spent an hour talking about cups it was a a huge hit uh around these parts and how clearly obsessed we are with said

1:15.3

cups, which kind of got me thinking about other underrated things that we love about Disney.

1:23.6

And if I'm looking back, like, personally, at the thing, one of the things that, like, really

1:28.9

hooked us in to, like, at least the theme park side of things, it wasn't just, you know,

1:36.2

rides, characters, shows, all of that.

...

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