Many years ago, I had an idea about having some sort of fragrance dispenser hooked up to the vents of cars to provide a pleasing scent. My friends did not think much of this idea. Fast forward to many years later and airlines are doing something very similar to produce the same results.

Delta Air Lines created Calm, a fragrance consisting of a blend of lavender and chamomile. Calm, used by Delta for about two years, was designed to create a more relaxing environment on the plane. More practically, it was also designed to improve the smell of the lavatories.

Other airlines, including Spain’s Iberia, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, are also producing their own fragrances. Surely others will follow. The potential drawbacks include irritating people with allergies, asthma, migraines or other such conditions. The airlines are proceeding with caution, keeping the scents at low levels to gauge the success.

I am in favor of lovely scents wafting through the stale air of planes, but I see how it could negatively affect others. I also wonder what might be tried next to improve the in-flight experience. Perhaps they can pipe in soothing music. I’d like to put in my vote for massaging seats (although that is probably cost-prohibitive). In the end, at least it is good to know that airlines are working on making the flights more pleasurable.

— John Wroblewski, online contributor