The Psychology of Color in Hygiene Products: How Hues Impact User Experience

When it comes to hygiene products, performance is paramount—but appearance matters more than you might think. The color of a urinal screen, air freshener, or even a soap dispenser can subtly influence how users perceive cleanliness, freshness, and overall hygiene. Welcome to the world of color psychology, where science meets design to shape user experience in surprising ways.

Why Color Matters in Restroom Products

Color plays a powerful role in perception. Research shows that people form first impressions within 90 seconds—and up to 90% of that judgment is based on color alone. In high-traffic environments like restrooms, where cleanliness and odor control are key concerns, the right hue can help communicate hygiene, calm the senses, and even influence behavior.

Let’s take a closer look at what different colors say in a hygiene context:

Blue: Clean, Calm, Trustworthy

Blue is one of the most popular colors in hygiene products—and for good reason. It’s associated with water, cleanliness, and tranquility. Light blues evoke a spa-like freshness, while deeper blues imply trust and reliability.

Recommended Products:

• Air fresheners that signal freshness, such as the Eco-Air in Cotton Blossom or ourfresh 2.0 in Spa Minerals

Green: Natural, Eco-Friendly, Restorative

Green conveys nature, health, and sustainability. It’s a go-to color for products marketed as non-toxic, biodegradable, or environmentally conscious. In restrooms, green can also give a sense of renewal and cleanliness.

Recommended Products:

• Eco-conscious cleaning products such as Bio Conqueror 105, whose formula is biodegradable and has green packaging
• Air fresheners and urinal screens that come in any of our green fragrances such as Herbal Mint and Cucumber Melon

Yellow & Orange: Energizing, Alert, Inviting

Bright hues like yellow and orange grab attention and bring warmth. In small doses, these colors can make a product feel cheerful or energizing. However, they should be used thoughtfully—overuse might come off as harsh or overstimulating in spaces where people expect a calm atmosphere.

Recommended Products:

• Tropical-smelling scents such as our Citrus in the Wave 3D urinal screen and Summer Sunshine

White: Pure, Sterile, Minimal

White is universally linked to cleanliness and purity. It’s often used in medical and professional environments for its sterile, no-nonsense appeal. However, white can also reveal dirt and stains easily, so it works best when paired with materials that are easy to keep clean.

Recommended Products:

• ourfresh 2.0 and ourfreshe active air fresheners both have sleek, modern designs and come in white
• Easy Fresh active air freshener also comes in white and resembles a smoke detector which deters tampering and can be placed discretely in a variety of areas

The Scent-Color Connection

Interestingly, color also affects how people interpret scents. A purple air freshener might be assumed to smell like lavender, even before it’s activated. A green product might be expected to smell herbal or eucalyptus-like. Aligning your color choices with fragrance expectations enhances the overall sensory experience.

Creating a Cohesive Experience

At the end of the day, the best hygiene products do more than clean—they contribute to a complete user experience. Color is a silent communicator, working in the background to assure users that a space is fresh, safe, and cared for.

Whether you’re designing a restroom solution or selecting a product for your facility, think beyond function and consider the emotional impact of color. The right hue might just be the finishing touch that makes your restroom not just clean—but memorable.

Need help choosing the right product color for your space?
Our team can help you align your hygiene solutions with the tone, mood, and message you want to send. Contact us to learn more.