How Does an Air Freshener Work?

For Cars

Most people hang their air fresheners from their rear view mirrors. These air fresheners are actually a paper product designed in an attractive shape that people will enjoy seeing hanging in your car. Manufacturers know they need to produce some shapes and images people would be interested in buying as well as some scents that would be pleasing. Sometimes the shape has to do with the scent that is placed on it. For instance, a cherry-smelling air freshener would have a cherry shape. After the shape and colors are placed on the air freshener, the scent is added. This is usually a concoction of fragrances. These air fresheners don't last long, and you will find yourself replacing them often.

Sprays

Air fresheners also come in aerosol cans. These cans are made so that the fragrance can cover a large area such as a living room or bathroom. Most of these fragrances are designed to give your house a fresh smell. Instead of finding fruit smells you are more likely to find flower smells in an aerosol can. The can works by pressing on the tip, which allows the pressure inside the bottle to release the liquid fragrance. Use your hand to guide where the fragrance goes in the room. The liquid will land unseen around the room and will cause a nice smell. This smell will not last a long time, and so you may need to repeat usage daily.

Candles

When people use candles as air fresheners, they don't use fruit or flower smells. They usually use smells of baked goods such as pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, or cinnamon spice for a real estate open house. These candles are burned for a warm affect, and having them make the house smell like comforting foods encourages buyers to feel welcome and at home. It also makes guests feel relaxed and ready to enjoy themselves. The fragrance is added while the candle wax is still hot. Then as the candle burns and melts the wax, the fragrance is released. The fragrance should last as long as the candle does.

Potpourri

Potpourri is a natural air freshener and the most earth friendly choice. Potpourri provides homes with different outdoor smells because it consists of shavings of fine smelling woods and dried-up flowers and plant parts. These smells can be combined to make new scents. The potpourri smells last longer than aerosol sprays or car air fresheners because they are all natural and the smell is in the item itself. In other words, there is no factory chemical to wear off. The smell might not be as strong over time, but it will still be there.