This is the first systematic review that focuses on the influence of product-intrinsic and extrinsic sounds on the chemical senses involving both food and aroma stimuli. This review has a particular focus on all methodological details (stimuli, experimental design, dependent variables, and data analysis techniques) of 95 experiments, published in 83 publications from 2012 to 2023. 329 distinct crossmodal auditory–chemosensory associations were uncovered across this analysis. What is more, instead of relying solely on static figures and tables, we created a first-of-its-kind comprehensive Power BI dashboard (interactive data visualization tool by Microsoft) on methodologies and significant findings, incorporating various filters and visualizations allowing readers to explore statistics for specific subsets of experiments. We believe that this review can be helpful for researchers and practitioners working in the food and beverage industry and beyond these scopes (e.g., cosmetics). Theoretical and practical implications discussed in this article point to computational approaches that facilitate decision-making regarding multisensory experimental methodology design.

Important institutions, such as the World Health Organization, recommend reducing alcohol consumption by encouraging healthier drinking habits. This could be achieved, for example, by employing more effective promotion of non-alcoholic beverages. For such purposes, in this study, we assessed the role of experiential beer packaging sounds during the e-commerce experience of a non-alcoholic beer (NAB). Here, we designed two experiments. Experiment 1 evaluated the influence of different experiential beer packaging sounds on consumers’ general emotions and sensory expectations. Experiment 2 assessed how the sounds that evoked more positive results in Experiment 1 would influence emotions and sensory expectations related to a NAB digital image. The obtained results revealed that a beer bottle pouring sound helped suppress some of the negativity that is commonly associated with the experience of a NAB. Based on such findings, brands and organizations interested in more effectively promoting NAB may feel encouraged to involve beer packaging sounds as part of their virtual shopping environments.

The increasingly competitive skincare market demands more engaging consumer experiences to foster loyalty and adherence. The framework developed here analyzes the customer journey for topically applied skincare products, first, through a literature review of multisensory design and consumer behavior research, and second, by proposing the redesign of different touchpoints focusing on multisensory cues to create a cohesive product experience. This contribution offers a novel approach that distinguishes between topical pharmaceutical and cosmetic product experiences. In general, both offer distinct opportunities for hedonic and utilitarian values. Multisensory design can be adopted to prioritize clear communication of function and efficacy for pharmaceuticals, or luxurious, pleasurable experiences for cosmetics. Multisensory design can lead to higher engagement, promotion of loyalty, and treatment adherence by differentiating topical skincare product brands and enhancing customer journeys. Future research agenda draws attention toward crossmodal correspondences, digital transformations, and eco-friendly product development.

Studies on the effect of music on task performance are contradictory about this relationship’s direction and valence. Task characteristics may be accounting for these inconclusive findings. Thus, this study employs effort to mediate music’s effect on task performance (objective and perceived) under a stressful decision-making process. This is a between-group experiment with three conditions: slow-tempo music, fast-tempo music, or no music. We designed a computer web interface, where participants did a stressful task. Results demonstrated that participants made a strong effort under the conditions with music. Hence, turning the music off under stressful activities is favorable in terms of performance. The article contributes to understanding the interaction between music and task performance, expanding the discussion within a stressful task.

This study analyzes the adoption patterns of sustainability practices among oil palm producers in Colombia using cluster analysis of the Sustainability Index (SI). Employing advanced data mining algorithms, including K-means and Ward’s method, producers were grouped according to their compliance with sustainable practices at national and regional levels. The analysis revealed ten distinct producer typologies, ranging from “Advanced adopters” to “Lagging adopters” in economic, environmental, and social sustainability dimensions. Key factors influencing cluster formation included palm-growing area, producer scale, age, and gender. At the same time, the Palm Nucleus (organizational model for fruit commercialization) emerged as a significant variable at the regional level. Our findings challenge the conventional notion that adoption of sustainability practices is primarily scale-dependent, showing that contextual factors play a crucial role across all producer categories. This research underscores the importance of more nuanced, context-specific technological extension strategies. By providing a comprehensive understanding of adoption patterns, this study contributes to developing tailored interventions that can effectively promote sustainable practices in the Colombian oil palm sector, regardless of producer characteristics.