Buzz
From lingering body odors after guests leave to the unspeakable messes your pet may have brought inside, unpleasant smells are everywhere. Instead of waiting for the stench to fade naturally, many turn to odor-neutralizing products like Febreze to reduce the smell. But do they just cover it up, or do they actually eliminate it?
It's a combination of both.
As reported by The Washington Post, Febreze—launched in 1999—works by chemically attacking the smell molecules. Odors are created when molecules in the air trigger receptors in the nose. When you spray Febreze, it uses a compound known as cyclodextrins to trap these molecules. Although the odor doesn’t vanish entirely, it’s contained, effectively preventing it from bothering your nose.
The spray offers additional benefits. Sodium citrate alters the pH level of odor molecules, while the unique combination of PSB polymers helps the spray penetrate deep into fabrics.
But if Febreze can neutralize odors, how does it release a pleasant fragrance of its own? Wouldn’t it cancel itself out? Not quite. Both cyclodextrins and odor molecules are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. On the other hand, the perfume in an odor neutralizer is hydrophilic, which attracts water. Since the two don’t mix, Febreze can both neutralize odors and emit a fresh scent without interfering with itself.
Although Febreze is a smart chemical solution, its most remarkable feature initially went unnoticed by consumers. When Procter & Gamble first tested it in the 1990s, ads highlighting its ability to eliminate unpleasant odors didn't seem to resonate. People often become desensitized to persistent smells. One company representative, questioning a woman about what he thought was a strong odor from her nine cats, was puzzled when she claimed the cats hardly smelled at all.
