Is there anything worse than walking into a room that reeks of some horrible smell?  Bathroom odors, kitchen odors, pet odors, trash-can odors….. they can all be overcome with the right type of air fresheners or odor eliminators!  In this blog we will explain the various types of air fresheners available on the market today, as well as which ones are best for each kind of environment.  The number one “signal” that you can send to your customers, employees, or even your family that a room is clean and fresh is to ensure the rooms air is pleasant.  In public spaces, it’s best not to have overpowering scents, as many people are sensitive to strong fragrances.

The first modern air freshener was introduced in 1948. Its function was based on a military technology for dispensing insecticides and adapted into a pressurized spray using a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellant.  We’ve come a long way in improving the safety and effectiveness of air fresheners since then!

FUN FACTS:

• In a nationwide survey, the favorite scent of consumers in the USA was by far “Citrus” or “Lemon”.  After that, it is totally a matter of personal preference with honorable mention going to vanilla, cherry, lavender, mint, mango, cedar, & for the holiday’s, pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
• When choosing a scent for air fresheners, it’s a good practice to “match scents” with other products you’re using in that room.  For example, in the restroom, if you’re using a citrus scent timed-mist freshener, it’s a good idea to also use citrus or lemon scented toilet bowl cleaner and countertop / hard-surface cleaner as well so that you the scent of the room is the same throughout.

• BULK AIR FRESHENERS:
  • Many commercial properties as well as schools and healthcare facilities utilize bulk air fresheners which are highly dilutable, in some cases only 1 oz of the chemical mixed with a gallon of water will make a very pleasant, long-lasting ready-to-use air freshener that can be applied using a hand-held or tank-style sprayer.  They’re great for using at higher strength to mask the odors around trash dumpsters or outside trash containers as well.
  • The come in gallon bottles ready for you to measure and mix, or in containers that are specially designed to fit in wall-mounted dispensers that automatically measure the product and mix into the water for you.

• DIFFUSER AIR FRESHENERS:
  • The most popular diffuser styles are “wick” style.  These come in bottles or cans that have a fiber “wick” sticking out the top, which draws the fragrance oil up, allowing it to disburse thought the room evenly.
  • Others are more like a “wax” that evaporates slowly over time depending upon how much exposure to air they have.  They usually come in cans or containers that have adjustable lids allowing you to control the amount of air that gets to the product.  These work best in out of the way areas janitor’s closets, under the sink cabinets or other areas that do not get much air circulation.

• HANDHELD SPRAY AIR FRESHENERS:
  • Aerosol Cans: Clearly the most popular style of dispensing, the hand-held sprayer comes in an infinite variety of brands, sizes and scents.
  • Trigger-Sprayers: In recent years, there has been an increased demand for non-aerosol spray, and manufacturers have responded with “trigger sprayer” style dispensers, which don’t use aerosol propellants.  These are typically considered “consumer/household” products but are certainly still used in many small offices and shops as well due to their relatively low cost and ease of use.

• STICK-ON & HANG-TAG AIR FRESHENERS:
  • Hang-Tags: According to “Fresh Products”, the most popular maker of the “hang-tag” style air freshener, “The slim design of the Hang Tag makes it easy to install just about anywhere. It’s perfect for those small areas that can start to smell stale such as inside cupboards, behind the toilet, and even closets.”.  Fresh Products is generally recognized as the innovator to first introduce this handy style of product, but quickly dozens of other companies came out with similar products.
  • Stick-On:  Very similar to hang-tags, but designed to adhere to the side of a urinal or toilet bowl, and will constantly release fragrance for about 30 days.

• METERED or TIMED-MIST REFILLS:
  • Using a Timed-Mist Dispenser is a very effective way to maintain a fresh scent in a small to medium sized room.  The purpose of these products is to allow the dispenser to automatically dispense a small amount of air freshener at predetermined intervals, so that the environment has a consistently pleasant fragrance.  Using the “Burst-on-demand” feature of a metered dispenser allows you to give a “shot” of scent instantly, when needed.
  • You can purchase either “air fresheners” that add a scent to the air to mask odors, OR you can purchase “odor neutralizers” which don’t necessarily scent the air, but act to eliminate unpleasant odors.
  • Many dispensers are “universal” style that will accommodate a 6.5 oz or 7 oz refill from almost any manufacturer, however many other dispensers are proprietary in design, so that you are forced to purchase the refill manufactured by the maker of the dispenser so that they guarantee you’ll have to use their refill even if it’s more costly than the “universal” style refills.

• FABRIC DEODORIZERS / ODOR ELIMINATORS:
  • This category was pioneered by Febreze, and the first product was introduced in test markets clear back in 1996 with sales in the USA starting in 1998.  Febreze is marketed in non-English speaking countries as “Ambi pur”.  There are many competitors in the marketplace now, but Febreze remains the dominant brand. The active ingredient is “hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin” which traps and binds the offensive odor molecules which diminishes the foul scent.  You may be interested to know that this active ingredient is produced from corn cobs and was patented by Proctor & Gamble.
  • Over the years, Febreze has developed many specialized versions of this product, for pet odors, bedrooms, automobiles, and more.  However, you should be mindful of the warning labels, as many products are not safe around birds, although proven safe around cats, dogs and other household pets.

• ODOR ABSORBERS & NEUTRALIZERS:
  • These products don’t necessarily claim to introduce a pleasant scent to the environment, but instead act to eliminate malodors by neutralizing the source of the odors, usually with the use of enzyme-based solutions that produce bacteria that digests and liquefies organic material like food and grease.  Many of them DO have a pleasant scent added due to customer demand.  This is very helpful in keeping drains clear and smelling “neutral”, and can be used safely in hospitals, apartments, schools, kennels, etc.…
  • The concept of enzyme-based odor neutralizers has been incorporated into many products including carpet sprays, drain treatment, urinal blocks, and even dishwashing detergent.