If there’s something that we all want to avoid, it’s our living quarters having a foul smell to them. In this case, you will want to try something to neutralize the odor – or at least cover it so that the air is fresh. In this case, the best air freshener is something that you should turn towards – to keep that space smelling fresh, no matter if it’s the living room, the bathroom, or even your car.
However, considering the abundance of air fresheners on the market, it might be rather difficult to narrow it down to one good choice. In this case, you may want to look at some air freshener reviews and see which one works best for you. Each home and person are different – and depending on the room that you want to freshen up, you may want to look for a certain product. We are here to help you in that regard.
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What Is an Air Freshener Used For?
An air freshener is a product used for (obviously) making the air feel fresh in a particular room. If a room tends to develop a bad smell (e.g. mold, mildew, tobacco, or other particularly bad smells), we use the air freshener to ensure the air stays nice and breathable. For bathrooms, for instance, we may use a bathroom fan – but while it may take out the bad smell, it won’t bring out the good scents.
Air fresheners are also good for giving a particular ambiance to a room. For instance, if the room doesn’t smell like anything particularly bad, you may still make it feel more comfortable by adding a floral smell in the mix.
Air fresheners might also be used to neutralize a certain smell, without actually covering or trying to give the room a certain vibe. For example, someone may use an air freshener to neutralize the lingering smell of tobacco from a smoker’s house. This way, the air will smell clean and breathable for anyone entering the house. Another alternative is to buy a top-notch air purifier for smoke.
What Are the Benefits of Using Air Fresheners?
As you may have realized, there are certain benefits that you may reap by using air fresheners. Here are just some of the most popular ones:
Use everywhere
Air fresheners were made for a variety of spaces – from small rooms to large rooms. So, as long as you buy an air freshener with the appropriate capacity, you can use it in any space that you want – from the bathroom to the living room.
Rejuvenate your senses
Most of the time, when you feel tired, moody, or without any physical energy, that is because something around you is messing with your senses. If you stay in a room with a musty odor that doesn’t smell good in the slightest, then you might also feel as bleak and energy-less as you would on a rainy day.
However, if the room smells like flowers and nature, your senses automatically detect a “sunny day” and you will instantly feel much better. The right smell can work to rejuvenate your senses and actually make you feel like you have more energy.
Flexibility of installation
Air fresheners can be installed pretty much anywhere – from the wall to a nightstand or any other place that feels comfortable for you. For example, if you are going for an air freshener for the toilet, you can easily have one installed right next to the toilet seat for extra efficiency.
They look stylish
Nowadays, air fresheners are not only practical – but they have also become a very stylish décor piece. Air fresheners, particularly diffusers, are made to look good and elegant – like pieces of art that you generally use to display on your furniture. You won’t even know that they are actually air fresheners until you hear them go off in the room (in the case of automatic fresheners, of course).
Make a room smell nice
When you use an air freshener, you can rest assured that you are always “safe” from bad and unpleasant smells. Your air will stay fresh all the time, and you may install any type of air freshener, with any smell that you may want. So, you can add a woody scent, a flowery scent or whatever makes you feel comfortable and “at home”.
Best Air Fresheners for Home and Bathroom Use Comparison Chart
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
---|---|---|---|
Febreze ONE Fabric and Air Freshener |
| View On Amazon | |
Air Wick Freshmatic Automatic Spray Kit Dispenser |
| View On Amazon | |
Glade Automatic Spray Holder and Hawaiian Breeze Refill Starter Kit |
| View On Amazon | |
Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray |
| View On Amazon | |
Natural Bathroom Spray |
| View On Amazon | |
Febreze-Plug-In-Air-Freshener-Scented-Oil-Warmer |
| View On Amazon |
Air Freshener Reviews – Top Picks
1. Febreze ONE Fabric and Air Freshener
If you are looking for a good spray air freshener with some unique smells, then you might want to give this one a try. Made to eliminate odors while not using any heavy perfumes, this one is an air freshener that stands true to its name: it can eliminate bad odors from both air and fabric.
This product is a nature-inspired one – and the starter pack includes both bamboo and orchid scents. It all depends on which is your preference. You may use them in the living room, on your bedroom sheets and even the car.
Since the product is based on natural ingredients, it is also safe to use in a house with kids and pets. It is suitable mostly because the scent is not strong enough to be toxic – but while it might be safe to use with them in the room, you should still keep it out of their reach.
Pros:
- Scents are unique and exotic
- Perfect for those with health issues
- Great if you have high sensitivity to scent
Cons:
- The smell is rather weak
- The sprayer might not last
2. Air Wick Freshmatic Automatic Spray Kit Dispenser
Some people like the benefit of spray fresheners but tend to forget spraying them regularly throughout the house. If you want an automatic sprayer to take away that problem from you, then you might want to give this one a try.
Dispelling the fragrance of fresh linen, this will bring a fresh smell in your home – just like it would feel after you just washed everything. However, you may also go for other fragrance options if linen is not your thing.
Plus, the freshener comes with two refills – each of them will last a total of 60 days. As a result, just this set will bring you 120 days of fresh scent.
Pros:
- A unique scent that does not feel too artificial
- Beautiful design
- Lasts for quite a long time
Cons:
- The cans tend to leak
- Some complain that the scent is rather weak and short-lived
3. Glade Automatic Spray Holder and Hawaiian Breeze Refill Starter Kit
If you want to feel the Hawaiian breeze in your home, then Glade should certainly be the way to go. With the notes of flowers and lush fruit, it completely burns through the horizons and gives every room a fresh smell.
This air freshener also comes with a stylish battery-operated holder. This unit, like the refills, can last up to 60 days – ensuring that you get all the freshness that you need. Moreover, it looks good on every piece of furniture.
Plus, this freshener doesn’t just cover the odors – it eliminates them completely. Regardless of the room that you are staying in, this should be a great way to ensure that everything is nice and fresh.
Pros:
- Fruity and fresh Hawaiian scent
- Both the refill and the holder last for a fairly long time
- Stylish and can be placed in any room
Cons:
- Some say that the cocktail of scents is too strong
4. Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray
We can all agree that the toilet is the one room that needs an air freshener the most – particularly when a certain deed was done. With this air freshener, all you have to do is spritz the bowl before you go, and no one should ever know.
Unlike air fresheners that try to mask the odors that have already gone up in the air, this one will stop them before they are even formed. Spritz, go, flush, and the air will be nice and clean.
The best part of this air freshener is that you can take it on the go with you. This way, if you need to go to a foreign toilet, you won’t feel the embarrassment of someone coming in after you and feeling that smell.
Pros:
- Prevents odors from forming from the very beginning
- Portable and easy to carry
- Made with a non-toxic formula
Cons:
- Spray bottles are prone to leaking
- May run out quite fast
5. Natural Bathroom Spray
Once more, if you are looking for a good air freshener to sanitize the toilet and eliminate foul odors in the bathroom, this one has proven to be very effective. Instead of masking the odors, this product eliminates them altogether.
Made with a non-toxic formula, this spray is safe for houses that have pets or children in them. You may even use it as a body spray if you like – although its main use is that of an air freshener.
Plus, the warm lemongrass and geranium are very relaxing. You may use the product for any room that you’d like – and on any object for that matter.
Pros:
- A fresh, breezy scent that opens up any room
- It is made from organic ingredients
- Very effective in completely eliminating odors
Cons:
- The smell does not last very long
6. Febreze Plug In Air Freshener Scented Oil Warmer, 4 Count
If you don’t want to be bothered with continuously spraying air fresheners around, then you might want to try this one out. All you have to do is to plug it in and the unit will do the job itself – without you having to intervene.
This air freshener lasts for about 1200 hours in its lowest setting – which is roughly 50 days. During this time, rather than just masking the odor, it completely eliminates it continuously. It’s perfect for homes that need a constant “refresh”
You may pick any scent that you want and it’s compatible with any Febreze plug-in refills. You may go from wood scents to spicy and floral, as you have a wide selection available.
Pros:
- Continuously refreshes the air
- You have a variety of scent choices
- Lasts for quite a long time
Cons:
- The scented oils are not included in the price
7. Squatty Potty Unicorn Gold Toilet Spray
If you need a portable spray to give the toilet a refresh after every use, then this air freshener is certainly something you may want to invest in. With the ability to trap odors under the waterline, this will leave the bathroom smelling fresh even after a “bomb” was dropped.
The air freshener has a citrus scent that will not only mask the odors – but will also eliminate them completely. This way, even if the smell goes out, the bathroom will still not contain any “evidence” that anything happened there.
A single bottle covers about 200 trips to the toilet. Depending on how many times you have to “go” per day, this one can last you for quite a long time. And you may easily take it anywhere with you – from your home to your office or any other toilet that you may have to use.
Pros:
- The spray bottles last for quite a long time
- It is made from natural ingredients
- It kills the odor-causing bacteria instead of just trapping them
Cons:
- Still leaves off a rather soapy and plastic smell
- The scent can be too strong for some people
Things to Consider when Buying an Air Freshener – Features and Specifications
When you want to buy an air freshener, there are several things that you might want to consider. Based on them, you can determine whether a certain model or scent is suitable for you or not.
Scent
This is perhaps the main reason why people use an air freshener: to make the room smell all nice and beautiful. You have a variety of scents to go for – from spicy to floral, from oriental to fresh or whatever tickles your senses. What’s important is that you pick one that you like – or feel that it would be appropriate.
So, do you like roses? Then a rose-scented air freshener might be an appropriate choice. Or maybe it’s close to Christmas, and the holiday vibes are catching on to you. In this case, maybe a pine, spruce, or fir scented air freshener might be the more appropriate choice for you. The choices are endless, and only you can decide.
Keep in mind that the smell should be friendly and non-offensive. Not only should it appeal to your other family members, but to your friends as well.
Room Size
Some air fresheners work better when used in a specific room. For example, a small air freshener might not be very effective when it comes to a large living room, as there will not be enough scent to go by. If there is any strength to the smell, the chances are that the air freshener will run out before you realize it.
Similarly, if the room is too small, then a big air freshener will make the scent feel too strong – intoxicating, actually. Inhaled in high quantities, not only will it be unpleasant, but it might also be quite toxic, especially for people with allergies, kids, pets, etc. This is why you should make sure that you only buy a product designed to cover a certain room size.
Purpose
Before buying an air freshener, you have to determine why you need it in the first place. Do you need if as an all-day solution for your living room – or do you want it to occasionally cover a smell in rooms like, say, the bathroom? Depending on the purpose, you may need a different kind of air freshener – so, think carefully about the purpose and then choose accordingly.
Design
Sure, it’s the smell that matters to you the most – but if it’s an all-day air freshener for your living room, the last thing you want is for it to greet all your guests in its ugly glory. This is why you might want to ensure that the design is good-looking enough to actually compliment the rest of your room.
Type
Air fresheners also come in various types. Some are sold as sprays, while others come in bags that you place all around the room. These bags can release scents continuously, whereas the sprays are used as a temporary fix to cover a just as temporarily bad smell.
Similarly, you might also go for reed diffusers or for various kinds of plugged-in air fresheners. Just like with the scents, the options here are endless. You just need to pick the one that you believe will suit your purposes the most.
Plug-In vs. Spray Air Freshener: Pros and Cons
As already mentioned, air fresheners come in different types. However, the most common options are the plug-in models and the spray one. Meant for different purposes, here is what you will get if you use either of these air fresheners.
Spray Air Fresheners
Spray air fresheners represent a great option for any temporary odors that might be appearing in your house. For instance, if someone uses the bathroom, or smokes a cigarette in your house or near the window, a spray air freshener should immediately cover up the smell going on in your house.
The problem with these air fresheners is that their effect on the air is temporary – and without proper ventilation, the lingering bad smell might come just right back up. Even if the room is ventilated, the chances are that in about half an hour, you won’t even feel any evidence that your room was technically freshened up. Still, if you have some “help”, like a window fan, for example, that smell might go out right away.
Plug-In Air Fresheners
A plugged-in air freshener is a good option if you do not have the time to constantly spray nice fragrances in your home. It is also a great idea if you like to have a constant nice smell in your home, without having to spray continuously.
So, as you probably know, plug-in air fresheners can deliver that perfume in a constant manner – even when you are not at home. For instance, they are a good idea when moldy smells are a problem – or general smells that you can’t get rid of (e.g. typical smells left around by pets).
Still, these kinds of air fresheners are working and delivering scent continuously throughout the room – and with that happening, a lot of liquid will be used. Compared to the spray diffuser that is only used occasionally, this type of air freshener will run out much faster – so, you have to take into consideration that it’s not the most economical option.
How Does an Air Freshener Work?
The molecules that you find in air fresheners are often highly volatile – which means that they can easily go from liquid to gas form, even when they are placed at room temperature. Our smell senses are “tuned” to feel these kinds of molecules that are drifting in the air. They feel them much easier than they feel liquid molecules.
The spray air freshener is the most popular, and this one is an aerosol. The word “aerosol” signifies that it “dissolves in the air.” To put it simply, what is shot out from your air freshener is liquid that evaporates quickly in the air when it meets the “standard pressure.”
The aerosol that has been propelled is then mixed with the fragrance molecules before it gets released into the air. From that point on, it will begin covering the bad odor. Most of the time, it will simply replace a bad smell with a stronger, much nicer smell – in a way that you won’t even feel the old one anymore. A certain air freshener may also reduce your smell sensitivity – so, instead of being bothered by the smell, you won’t even know it’s there. Technically speaking, the smell will still be there. It’s just that you will not think that it’s so bad anymore.
FAQ
- How often do you have to change an air freshener?
This will mostly depend on the product that you are using. For instance, if you are using a purifying bag, this product may last for years. On the other hand, if you are using a spray freshener or a diffuser, then it might only last for about a couple of days/weeks depending on the quantity. You should check how long the product usually lasts before you purchase it (normally, the brands state this on the packaging).
- Is it safe to use an air freshener if I have allergies?
This depends. Not every product may trigger your allergies – but some of them can. For this reason, you might want to check the ingredients that have been listed on the air freshener and see if it has something that might trigger your allergies. If you see anything like that listed there, then you might want to refrain from buying that particular product and look for something else. In general, we can say that air fresheners are safe. You can also look for a top-quality air purifier for allergies or a good humidifier for allergies.
- Can an air freshener also purify the air?
Yes, it can – but this will mostly depend on the product. Some of these items are designed to cover the smell, whereas others are there to neutralize it. In other words, while some air fresheners simply “mingle” with the bad smell, trying to cover it, other fresheners work by wrapping up around the smell and eliminating it completely.
You just have to be careful about which one you purchase. A neutralizing air freshener will likely be more expensive compared to one that simply covers up the smell – but, on the other hand, the effect should be long-lasting.
- Can an air freshener be unsafe for pets or children?
This once more depends on the air freshener that you use. For instance, if your air freshener was made using toxic substances, then it may become a great health hazard and can be very dangerous for your kids and/or your pets.
For this reason, you might want to be particularly careful about the product you are buying if you have children or pets. If that is the case, then you might want to focus on natural air fresheners that function by using natural essential oils.
Wrap Up
Wherever you may be, it’s great to have the best air freshener around. It can “clean” the air, making it seem fresh – and overall change the entire mood of a room.
However, finding the best air freshener is not something very easy to do. That is precisely why we took it upon ourselves to bring you some air freshener reviews to read through. This way, you may choose the one which you believe is most suitable for your available space, needs, and preferences.
If you have enjoyed our product reviews, read more like spray foam insulation kit reviews or HVAC refrigerant leak detector reviews , as well.