Anáhuac University Querétaro has taken an innovative step by introducing "Apaloa", an exclusive scent that represents its identity. This project was presented at the recent Anáhuac Business and Innovation Summit, marking a milestone in olfactory marketing for educational institutions, since, according to Dr. María de los Ángeles Lucía Peña Molatore, professor-researcher at the university, "no university in the world has an authentic odotype."
The Project Behind Apaloa
Developed in collaboration with Olfativa , a leading company in olfactory marketing in Latin America, Apaloa is the result of transdisciplinary research that explored the impact of aromas on human behavior. This collaboration seeks to understand how aromas can influence well-being and decision-making, which represents a new perspective for the educational environment.
During the presentation, Anthony Mandujano, director of Olfativa, and Manuela Pedroza, founder of ARS Aromática Studio, shared how smell can generate deep emotional connections, longer lasting than other senses. According to Pedroza, “olfactory memories are the first we develop ,and smell is the dominant sense until the age of ten ”.
The Inspiration Behind Apaloa
The Apaloa scent evokes concepts such as “serene future,” “place of transformation,” and “warm home,” among others. The name comes from the Nahuatl words “Apaloa” and “Napaloa,” which refer to a place of inspiration and formation. To create the scent’s visual identity, students from the School of Design participated in specialized workshops en aromas and created graphic representations that reflect their olfactory impressions. The winning version was created by student Lizbeth Álvarez Alvarado.
The creation of Apaloa involved the collaboration of various areas of the university, highlighting the importance of teamwork and positive action leadership.
This odotype not only reaffirms the identity of the university, but also sets a precedent for how the educational environment can incorporate innovative sensory strategies to enrich the university experience.
