In boating, comfort is often defined by quiet engines, spacious decks, and luxurious interiors. Yet the first impression a boat makes on its guests usually reaches the nose before the eyes. You step down the ladder, the door opens, and the feeling of “being at sea” is either established or ruined. It’s precisely in these ten seconds that the brand comes into play. ODORGO…
Odor on a yacht isn’t just a matter of decor; it’s an integral part of the onboard experience. The sources are always the same: the wastewater line, the bilge, moisture in enclosed cabins, textiles that absorb odors, and—in the galley—fish, fried foods, or the refrigerator. Spraying a pleasant scent over these odors in a confined, cramped space won’t solve the problem—it will actually make it worse. A room spray you might tolerate on land can give you a headache on a boat.
ODORGO’s approach is therefore different: The goal isn't a pleasant scent, but a neutral atmosphere.
“We’re really after those ten seconds”
The person who said these words Şebnem Oğuz, ODORGO’Founder of ODORGO. A graduate of Galatasaray University and the Sorbonne. After working in the communications industry for many years, she took a break to raise her three children. She founded ODORGO while searching for a personal solution to the odors that had been triggering her migraines for years. She started as a user and later became an entrepreneur.
Today, Oğuz applies the same level of care to the yachting industry based on this experience. In his view, the most critical factor that distinguishes odor management in yachting from other fields is the enclosed and confined space. An odor that is tolerable on land can become overpowering and unpleasant on a yacht.
“On a boat, a guest’s impression is formed within the first ten seconds. You walk down the stairs, the door opens, and the scent tells you something. What you experience in that moment either creates or ruins the feeling of ‘being at sea.’ We’re focused entirely on those ten seconds.” Şebnem Oğuz
ODORGO’s goal in the yachting industry is not to infuse the environment with a specific fragrance, but rather to neutralize unwanted odors and create an atmosphere that guests do not even notice.
So, what does ODORGO promise to boaters?
Oğuz explains the brand’s promise to the sailing community on two levels:
Simplicity on the captain's side:
“You put the gel in the shower, the bathroom, or the closet and forget about it; it has no plug, no battery, no charger, no fuse, no parts that can break, and it doesn’t add a new item to your maintenance list.”
A 250-gram jar lasts up to 30 days in an area of up to 15 square meters. A spray is used for immediate, intense odors; a multipurpose product is used for odors that have seeped into surfaces over the years; and a professional dry fogging application is used for boats that have been stored for long periods. In other words, the customer isn’t left to fend for themselves with just the jar.
Sensitivity on the part of the guest:
“What I’m most proud of is that the product contains no fragrance. It contains no fragrance, phthalates, parabens, dyes, sulfates, alcohol, toxins, or harsh chemicals.”
To understand what this means in an enclosed cabin, just ask a guest who gets seasick or someone bothered by strong odors. For the same reason, ODORGO can be safely used alongside teak, leather, varnish, and textiles on a boat.
And then there are the things they didn't promise
There is one distinction that Oğuz specifically highlights:
“ODORGO is not a disinfectant or a biocidal product; we have never claimed otherwise. It also does not fix the source of the problem. If there is an issue in the tank or bilge, managing the odor will not resolve that issue. We manage the odor; the captain handles the technical solution.”
This distinction is critical for understanding how the brand is positioned in the professional yacht management industry. ODORGO is positioned not as a replacement for technical maintenance, but alongside it. When the two work together, the boat gains those first ten seconds.
Neutralize rather than mask
ODORGO’s core philosophy is to target odor molecules rather than masking unpleasant odors with another scent. Its five plant-based oil formulations neutralize unwanted odors. This approach was measured in an independent study conducted at Delaware State University, showing up to 98 percent effectiveness.
Today, ODORGO offers solutions for a wide range of needs—from home and vehicle use to hotels, and from corporate spaces to industrial facilities. Yachting is one of the new and meaningful areas of this journey.
Editor's Note: In short, in pursuit of unseen comfort
Among the details that define the experience of a yacht, scent is perhaps one of the least visible but most noticeable. The success of good scent management lies not in what something smells like, but in what it doesn’t smell like.
This is exactly the opportunity ODORGO is looking for in the yachting industry: It’s not about creating a boat that smells better; it’s about creating a boat where unwanted odors don’t detract from the experience.
English