Scents of Freedom

Easter is typically the time when tourers take to the roads in their caravans, motorhomes and campervans to start the holiday season and begin their adventures. A recent survey by the Caravan and Motorhome Club finds that  the smell of salt air, grass and a freshly brewed coffee reminds holiday makers of being away, enjoying the great outdoors and generally enhancing their wellbeing.

The survey, called Scents of Freedom, highlights the benefits of how smells evoke certain memories to stir the senses and create a feeling of wellbeing, particularly when spending time outside.

It is well known that smell is a highly evocative sense, conjuring memories of people, places and things; the survey asked respondents to smell six scents and vote for their most favourite smell that brought back holiday memories. Salt air came out top with 665 votes, followed by grass (380 votes) and freshly brewed coffee (351) respectively. Memories of beach walks, fresh air, sun cream and crabbing came to mind for many, as they smelt the salt air fragrance, while grass evoked memories of a freshly mowed lawn, dog walks and walking holidays, camping and being outdoors.

With many people preparing for the great Easter getaway, the Club looks to remind holidaymakers they do not need to go far or spend a fortune this spring in order to improve their wellbeing. The Club has more choice and more campsites surrounded by nature than any other UK touring club, offering a great variety of locations for the perfect outdoor adventure. Spending time outdoors is so important to our health and the Club has focussed all its efforts to make your next touring holiday great value for money and provide hundreds of offers and savings for members.

“Unlike our other senses, smell connects directly to centres of memory and emotion in the brain. The direct route to the amygdala lends smell its power to stir our emotional response and remind us of early pleasures. Scent occupies the space between us and is hugely beneficial to our health and wellbeing. Without always knowing it, the smells we encounter make vital contributions to awareness of ourselves and our surroundings.” explains smell specialist, Professor Barry Smith, from the Centre for Olfactory Research and Applications. Smith, who took part in the project, said the salt air fragrance had floral notes, linking to descriptions of fresh, light and ethereal feelings.

He comments: “Just catching the merest whiff of a scent from our past can take us right back to a childhood holiday. Spending time outdoors by the sea, in forests and by mountains can lift our mood and the smells of these places establish and consolidate memories that are easily evoked when we encounter certain scents.

“The third favourite of freshly brewed coffee was less coffee shop and more home-brewed, with toffee and caramel notes, so it is no wonder the scent brought to mind the first campervan coffee in the mornings.”

According to a recent Centre of Economics and Business Research (Cebr) report commissioned by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, 81.2 percent say being on holiday improved their well-being. In addition, 91 percent of CAMC members recently surveyed on what they liked about touring holidays said they loved spending time outside, with 85 percent feeling less stressed and 81 percent liked being more active. Up to 64 percent of adults who own or want to buy a leisure vehicle say that their level of exercise increases when on holiday. Compared to only 46.5 percent of the wider adult population.

A likely explanation for increased exercise among touring holidays is the nature of the trips, which typically take place in more rural and outdoor areas that lend themselves to activities such as cycling and exploring.

To help members make the most of their holidays and enjoy their time in the great outdoors, the Caravan and Motorhome Club offers a range of benefits, including savings of £15 per night, which means members have an extra £15 a day to spend on any number of great offers and savings that the Club provides. These offers cover a wide range of interests and activities including eating out, magazines, like-minded membership organisations, cars, ferry crossings, supermarket savings, bikes, outdoor clothing, accessories, car hire, glamping and great days out - with discounts at up to 1000 local and national attractions - to name but a few of the incredible offers available to members.

Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “We predict a rise in Club members taking a staycation this year in order to save money and take advantage of the great outdoor landscapes the UK has to offer. Our Scents of Freedom survey aims to encourage more people to get outside when on holiday and take in the smells of the great outdoors and nature, to improve wellbeing and make happy holiday memories. It is great to see that so many respondents’ holiday memories involve being outside, exploring nature and doing all those things you expect from a camping, caravan or motorhome holiday."

Other smells in the survey included paperback, with vanilla notes that received 302 votes, thunderstorm with petrichor (295) and dirt, with camphor notes (168).

As more camping sites open up for the spring season, tourers will also be able to save more, as the Club launches its mid-week and family saver offers. Back by popular demand, members and non-members can save up to 50 percent off* the pitch price on a number of Club campsites across the UK on selected dates, while a new family-saver offers allows family groups to save 15 percent off**.

As the UK’s number one rated touring club, the Club has more offers than any other UK touring club including children under five-years-old go free, dogs can stay for free and awnings are also free. For further information about becoming a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club or to book, please visit www.camc.com  or call 01342 318 813.

 

Notes to Editors

Sample fragrances were smelt 2,146 times as part of the survey that was conducted at the end of February 2023.

*50% OFF midweek - Full terms and conditions

• 50% discount on touring pitch price (excluding tent pitches)
• Discounts applicable midweek; on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Minimum of three nights stay
• All nights (falling in the qualifying date range) are discounted, and stays can start on any day of the week
• If a booked stay incorporates a discount period and a non-discount period, this can be booked with only the applicable dates receiving the discount
• 28 days advance purchase required
• Book by 2 May 2023
• Offer is valid in 2023 for nights from 27 - 30 March, 17 - 27 April, 2 - 4 May, 9 - 25 May and 25 September - 14 December.
• Bookable by members and non-members
• Offer is subject to pitch and site availability
• Standard booking and cancellation policies apply
• The Caravan and Motorhome Club reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time

**15% OFF family saver - Full terms and conditions

• 15% off stay including non-member fee (excluding tent pitches)
• Minimum one paying child required on the entire stay
• Discounts applicable all week; Monday to Sunday
• Minimum of two nights stay
• All nights (falling in the qualifying date range) are discounted, and stays can start on any day of the week
• If a booked stay incorporates a discount period and a non-discount period, this can be booked with only the applicable dates receiving the discount
• 28 days advance purchase required
• Book by 30 April 2023
• Offer is valid in 2023 for nights between 27 - 30 March, 17 - 27 April, 2 - 4 May, 9 - 25 May, 5 June - 20 July and 4 September - 21 December.
• Bookable by members and non-members
• Offer is subject to pitch and site availability
• Standard booking and cancellation policies apply
• The Caravan and Motorhome Club reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time

About Caravan and Motorhome Club

Championing and helping its members get more from the great outdoors, whether glamping or touring, the Caravan and Motorhome Club represents the interests of over 1.1 million caravan, motorhome, campervan and trailer tent owners across the UK.  With over 115 years of knowledge and expertise, the Club has a wealth of experience and prides itself on offering great value and high quality campsites for tourers and glampers.

Caravan and Motorhome Club membership is just £59 per year and provides members with access to over 2,700  quality campsites across the UK and Europe. As the UK’s No. 1 rated touring club* it makes sure members get the most from their membership, saving them money with great value offers whether touring or at home.

The Club also offers a range of escorted European tours which are protected by ABTA.  Plus escorted and independent tours in Australasia, North America and Southern Africa which are also fully protected, either by ABTA or ATOL when a flight is included. All members can take advantage of expert advice, overseas travel services, cover and insurance and exclusive member offers and discounts.

For further information about becoming a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, please visit www.camc.com  or call 01342 318 813. 

*As rated on Trustpilot

About Experience Freedom

Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club provides glamping accommodation in some of the most beautiful locations in the UK. Helping members get more from the great outdoors, Experience Freedom offers a choice of glamping accommodation, motorhome hire and tent camping, all of which are available to non-members.  Motorhome hire, including some discounted hire schemes can be found here https://www.experiencefreedom.co.uk/motorhome-hire/

Experience Freedom is operated by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, a membership organisation with a wealth of experience in operating high quality campsites.

Caravan and Motorhome Club members can save up to 10% on glamping accommodation for their friends and family staying at the campsite at the same time, it is automatically applied to the booking when the membership number is used. To book friends and family, simply call on 01342 777533 to make a booking with your Club membership card.

To find out more, visit www.experiencefreedom.co.uk

Media Contacts:

For more press information, please email Nikki Nichol at the Caravan and Motorhome Club on nikki.nichol@camc.com or by calling 07771 834443.

Or contact the Four Communications press team, by emailing Victoria Eltis and Fleur van Heusde at camc@fourcommunications.com or call 07891 423322.