Febreze is an American brand of household odor eliminators manufactured by Procter & Gamble. It is sold in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
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| Product type | Air freshener |
|---|---|
| Owner | Procter & Gamble |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | March 1996 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Website | www |
First introduced in test markets in March 1996,[1] the fabric refresher product has been sold in the United States since June 1998, and the line has since branched out to include air fresheners (Air Effects), plug-in oil (Noticeables), scented disks (Scentstories), odor-eliminating candles, and automotive air fresheners.
The name Febreze is a portmanteau of the words fabric and breeze. In many non-English speaking countries, the products are sold as Ambi Pur.
Ingredients
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The active ingredient in several Febreze products is hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPβCD). The molecule traps and binds volatilized hydrocarbons within its structural ring, retaining malodorous molecules, which reduces their volatility and thus the perception of their scent.[2] The active ingredient is produced from corn cobs.[3] The use of cyclodextrin as a sprayable odor absorber was patented by Procter & Gamble.[4]
The products include additional ingredients such as emulsifiers, preservatives, and perfumes. Benzisothiazolinone is a preservative included in some of the products.[5]
Lines
editThere are many types of Febreze branded products. For example, the main Febreze products are air freshener sprays, which are claimed to have a disinfectant effect. There are specialized ones for odor from pets, for cars, and for fabric. Some are aromatic and others are odorless.
- Air Effects
- Bedroom Mist
- Fabric Refresher
- Febreze ONE Fabric
- Bedding Refresher
- NOTICEables
- 3VOLUTION
- Bedroom Diffuser
- Bedside Diffuser
- Set&Refresh
- Stick&Refresh
- CAR Vent Clip
- Candles
- Wax melts
- Sleep Serenity
In other countries, there are Febreze products for house dust and toilet facilities.
Marketing
editThe product was initially marketed as a way to get rid of unpleasant smells. It sold poorly until P&G realised that people become accustomed to smells in their own homes, and stop noticing them even when they are overpowering (like the smell of several cats in a single household). The marketing then switched to linking it to pleasant smells and good cleaning habits instead, which resulted in a massive increase in sales. Only after the product became well established in the marketplace did the marketing go back to emphasising odour elimination properties as well.[6]
Animal safety
editFebreze fabric freshener products are considered safe for use in households with pets.[7] However, the package labeling indicates that the product is considered not safe around birds, and results from testing with other animals are not indicated.[citation needed]
See also
edit- Olfactory fatigue, referred to as "nose blind" in advertising campaign
References
edit- ^ "P&G tests Febreze", Advertising Age, May 9, 1996
- ^ "Chemical Functional Definitions - Cyclodextrin". Procter & Gamble. 2005. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012.
- ^ *P&G. (2014). Febreze FAQ (in japanese). Retrieved: http://www.febreze.jp/Faq.aspx?id=4442 Archived 2014-12-22 at the Wayback Machine [July 14, 2014].
- ^ Uncomplexed cyclodextrin solutions for odor control on inanimate surfaces. US Pat. No. 5,714,137. Filed 1994; assigned 1998.
- ^ Febreze® Air Effects® All Varieties (PDF), retrieved 5 April 2016
- ^ Duhigg, Charles (February 19, 2012). "How Companies Learn Your Secrets". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
- ^ "Poisonous Household Products". ASPCA. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
