Having fresh smelling air in your home or office is important for creating a pleasant environment. However, with so many air freshener products on the market, it can be hard to know which type will provide the longest lasting fragrance. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of air fresheners and look at tests and reviews to determine which lasts the longest.
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Types of Air Fresheners
There are several main types of air fresheners to choose from:
- Spray air fresheners
- Plug-in air fresheners
- Electric air fresheners
- Gel air fresheners
- Candle air fresheners
- Oil diffusers
Each type works a bit differently and offers its own pros and cons. Let’s look at each type in more detail.
Spray Air Fresheners
Spray air fresheners are very common and easy to find. They come in aerosol cans that you simply spray into the air whenever you want a burst of fragrance. Popular brands include Febreze, Glade, and Air Wick.
The pros of spray fresheners are that they are portable, inexpensive, and give you instant fragrance. You can spray them wherever odors occur. The cons are that the scent tends to fade quickly, sometimes in just 30 minutes. The aerosol spray also contains propellants that some people prefer to avoid.
Plug-in Air Fresheners
Plug-in air fresheners go by other names like wallflowers (Bath & Body Works) or scent pods (Glade). But they all work the same way. The plug-in contains a scented oil that passively diffuses into the air. You plug it into an outlet, and it constantly emits fragrance.
These are very convenient since you don’t have to do anything after plugging them in. Many allow you to control the scent level. Downsides are that you are limited by the outlet location, and the refills can get expensive over time.
Electric Air Fresheners
Electric air fresheners look like small household appliances. They have an electrical outlet plug and a small fan that actively blows out fragrance from a scent cartridge. Brands like Air Wick and Glade make popular electric models.
The forced air movement means they can cover larger spaces than plug-ins. They offer consistent fragrance levels and some include neat features like fragrance timers. On the downside, refill cartridges tend to be pricy.
Gel Air Fresheners
Gel air fresheners use fragrance oil suspended in a thick, sticky gel. They come in open containers or dispensers that you set out in rooms. As air moves across the gel, it slowly releases the scent.
Gels are inexpensive, have no mess, and the scent can last for weeks. But they have limited range and can lose potency over time as the oil evaporates. Popular brands are Glade, Air Wick, and Renuzit.
Candle Air Fresheners
Candles are a classic way to scent your home. When burned, the fragrance oils are warmed and released into the air. Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works have many fragrance options.
Candles can provide inviting ambiance along with great scent. But they require an open flame which can be risky if left unattended. The fragrance also disappears as soon as you blow the candle out.
Oil Diffusers
Oil diffusers have surged in popularity in recent years. They utilize 100% natural essential oils and water to scent the air. Ultrasonic models create micro-fine vapor while others use heat or fans to diffuse the oils.
Diffusers provide natural fragrance without chemicals, plastics or propellants. And many oils have added aromatherapy benefits. The biggest downsides are the higher upfront costs and the need to routinely refill water and oils.
Air Freshener Fragrance Duration Tests
Knowing how long each type of air freshener lasts helps narrow the choices. Several sources have done systematic tests of fragrance duration.
Consumer Reports tested six plug-in air fresheners back in 2010. They noted the initial scent strength and then checked again at the 1 hour, 3 hour, 6 hour, and 24 hour marks. Here were their results:
| Plug-In Air Freshener | Fragrance Duration |
|---|---|
| Febreze NOTICEables | 3 hours |
| Glade Wisp | 6 hours |
| Air Wick Scented Oil | 6 hours |
| Renuzit Adjustables | 6 hours |
| Glade PlugIns | 24 hours |
| Air Wick Scented Oils | 24 hours |
Based on these tests, the Glade PlugIns and Air Wick Scented Oils plug-ins maintained noticeable fragrance for a full day. Other plug-in types faded in 3-6 hours. So in the plug-in category, Glade and Air Wick had the longest duration.
Another extensive test was done by House Method in 2018. They tested five popular air freshener types: spray, gel, electric, candle, and oil diffuser. The fragrances were tested every 30 minutes for the first two hours, then hourly for 8 hours, then at 24 hours. The results were:
| Air Freshener Type | Fragrance Duration |
|---|---|
| Spray – Glade Clean Linen | 4 hours |
| Gel – Glade Tahitian Breeze | 10 hours |
| Electric – Air Wick Essential Oils | 11 hours |
| Candle – Yankee Candle Clean Cotton | 11 hours (burn time) |
| Oil Diffuser – Aura Cacia Lemon & Tea Tree | 24+ hours |
In this case, the oil diffuser had the longest detectable fragrance at over 24 hours. The electric and candle air fresheners were next at around 11 hours. Followed by gel at 10 hours and spray at only 4 hours.
Professional Testing in Commercial Spaces
Industry air freshener tests confirm oil diffusers and electric dispensers last the longest in commercial environments like offices, hotels, and bathrooms.
Airtame performed head-to-head challenges of popular commercial air fresheners in washrooms and other spaces. They tested for initial scent intensity and fragrance longevity at set intervals. The electric air fresheners consistently performed the best for duration:
- AromaTech Aroma-One (electric) – 90 days
- Airoma Spa Deluxe (electric) – 60 days
- Ozone generators (electric) – 60 days
Other types like gravity or passive gel feed dispensers ran out in 30-45 days. Fan air fresheners were also low performers at just 20-30 days due to irregular fragrance release.
Overall, their recommendation was electric air fresheners for their ability to cover large commercial areas with prolonged, consistent fragrance release.
Consumer Reviews of Air Freshener Longevity
Looking at actual user reviews can provide more real-world data on air freshener duration. Here are some insights on longevity from popular air freshener brands:
Febreze PLUG Air Fresheners
The Febreze PLUG line earns positive reviews for scent options and intensity. But many customers note the scents fade after only a few hours:
“Smells great but doesn’t last more than a day.”
“Scent is completely gone in less than 5 hours.”
Febreze plugs seem to have shorter longevity compared to competitor plug-in brands.
Glade PlugIns Scented Oil
Glade PlugIns earn top marks from most users for long-lasting scent. The oils can fill a room for weeks:
“The fragrance from one plug will last for at least a month.”
“Works great, lasts a long time.”
Negative reviews mainly report issues with the plug design, not scent duration.
Air Wick Scented Oils
The Air Wick Scented Oils plug-ins are another favorite for strong, lingering fragrance:
“Lasts longer than 30 days for me.”
“Smells up the whole apartment; one plug does a lot.”
Many reviewers mention getting 30+ days of scent from one Scented Oil refill.
Yankee Candle Air Fresheners
Yankee Candle makes popular plug-in, electric, and candle air fresheners. Reviews indicate the electric models provide the most enduring scent:
“The electric ones last a long time, 30+ days easily.”
“Doesn’t seem to lose intensity over time.”
The candle and plug-in types earn more mixed reviews for longevity.
URPOWER Essential Oil Diffusers
URPOWER is a leading brand for ultrasonic essential oil diffusers. Users consistently report the diffusers emitting scent for weeks or months:
“Lasted the whole 60 days, very little water added.”
“Didn’t have to refill for over 3 weeks.”
Oil diffusers rate very well for continuous, long-lasting fragrance versus other types.
Conclusion
Based on all the available data, ultrasonic essential oil diffusers consistently come out on top for the longest lasting air freshener scent. In tests, many diffusers emitted noticeable fragrance non-stop for over 30 days. User reviews similarly report diffusers running for weeks or months before needing refilled.
After oil diffusers, electric air fresheners seem to have the greatest longevity. Brands like Air Wick, Glade, AromaTech, and Yankee Candle make electric dispensers that provide strong, enduring fragrance for up to months in consumer and commercial tests.
Plug-in air fresheners take third place for duration. The top-performing plug-ins like Glade PlugIns and Air Wick Scented Oils can provide scent for approximately 4-6 weeks according to reviews.
Further down the list are gel and spray air fresheners which typically last just days or weeks before losing potency. Candles also fall into this shorter duration category, with scent fading within hours after being extinguished.
So in summary:
- Essential oil diffusers have the longest lasting scent, typically over 30 days.
- Electric air fresheners also last approximately 30 days or more.
- Plug-in air fresheners come in third at 4-6 weeks longevity.
- Gels, sprays and candles last the shortest at just days or weeks.
If you want to keep your home or office continuously smelling fresh and pleasant, go with an essential oil diffuser or electric air freshener. For best results, look for trusted brand names with positive reviews for longevity. Avoid spray cans and candles if you don’t want to be constantly reapplying fragrance.