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Sprays are common and good for quick fixes, but gel air fresheners andreed diffuserswill last longer.
The Spruce
Consider a plug-in that senses motion or connects to your smartphone for a high-tech option.
Some air fresheners are designed to mask certain scents, includingpet odors, garbage smells, and more.
Others are perfect for everyday use in your living space, providing a pleasant, lasting scent.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
With the Glade Automatic Spray, your air freshener isnt one of them.
The convenience of this product is outstanding.
However, you cannot customize it to add other time options.
The Glade Automatic Spray Kit is hands-free, but you can press the top button for an extra spray.PHOTO: The Spruce
Don’t worry, there’s also a manual button if you need an extra spray of freshness.
Just place your fragrance inside the canister, set your interval, and leave it be.
Since its battery-operated, youll need to replace the batteries.
It is made withessential oilsand free from phthalates, parabens, and artificial colors.
The sprayer has a black tab that can be locked, so the trigger won’t work.
This is great for households with children since it helps deter them from using it excessively or dangerously.
We tested the geranium scent and found it pleasant and effective for quickly covering bad smells.
For more scent, pull up the cone fully, and for less, twist it down.
It is similar to adding or removing reeds in a diffuser, like ourbest long-lasting pick.
The cones are available in a variety of fragrances.
The scent of these air fresheners is strong without being overpowering.
Each cone will last for three weeks before needing to be replaced.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Gel air fresheners, like this one from Fresh Wave we tested, are great options.
This feature makes it perfect for use in kitchens andgarages where trash accumulatesbetween garbage days.
Fresh Wave Gel also works particularly well with pet odor.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Room Spray has an even spray with a lockable trigger.The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Its available in a variety of scents.
It comes in a two-pack, and refills are available.
The gel in a single container lasts between 30 and 60 days.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Since its in a container, you wont need an outlet or batteries.
And these gel containers can be used around anyone, pets included.
They do not contain harsh chemicals or phthalates.
You can adjust the top of the Renuzit Gel Air Freshener Cone for more or less fragrance.PHOTO: The Spruce
To effectively use this spray, it’s important to apply it before using the toilet.
Multiple scents are available for Poo-Pourri, but we found the lavender vanilla scent specifically attractive.
It was effective in trapping odors but not overwhelming insmall bathrooms.
Thats where this Febreze optionwhich has more odor-fighting ingredients than regular Febreze sprayscan come in handy.
We originally used it in bathrooms, where it effectively covers odors without being too strong.
All in all, we recommend using this air-neutralizing spray to eliminate undesirable food-related odors.
Youll want to do more than cover up these sometimes atrocious odors.
Like the Febreze kitchen spray, this spray geared toward pet smells is twice as powerful as regular Febreze.
Using 100 percent natural propellant, the Febreze spray is incredibly effective at removing unpleasant odors.
Air fresheners have a scent, whether they’re made in a lab or from plants.
It’s important to note that all scents are free from parabens and phthalates.
Thats not the case with thisreed diffuserwe tested from Nest, which is available in various fragrance options.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau
The more reeds you add, the stronger and farther the scent will spread.
The scent remained strong, confirming that this is a very long-lasting option.
Just be sure to choose a scent you don’t mind enjoying for weeks or even months.
Just remove the seal on the Fresh Wave Odor Removing Gel and put the top back on to set it up.PHOTO: The Spruce
The Nest diffuser is also long-lasting, offering fragrance for 90 days.
All Nest fragrances are free from parabens and phthalates.
For each, we evaluated the air freshener’s effectiveness, quickness, lasting power, and scent.
Some kick in quickly, while others last for weeks or even months.
Also, with several air fresheners, the scent can be overpowering, especially in small rooms.
Only products that performed well and we thought were worth buying made this list.
Some air fresheners even require power, such as batteries or electricity.
How Far It’ll Reach
The air freshener you opt for might depend on your space.
Plug-ins tend to cover a large area, Kreydin says.
Choose a Smell You Love
Fragrance is another huge consideration.
What Are You Covering Up?
Some odors are particularly stubborn (think: food and pet odors, says Kreydin).
The small but mighty Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray won’t be an eyesore in your bathroom.PHOTO: The Spruce
For these, you may want to have a particular air freshener thats targeted at managing these smells.
Not only do these sprays smell nice, but they also neutralize the bad odor.
Look for Scents That Last
Some air fresheners linger, while others fade away quickly.
The small but mighty Poo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray won’t be an eyesore in your bathroom.PHOTO: The Spruce
How often you use the air freshener matters.
If you spray frequently, itll go faster.
Other optionslike our favorite spray,Mrs.
Meyer’s Room, and Air Freshener Sprayare more short-lived.
Why Trust The Spruce?
For this story, she considered testing insights from multiple products we real-world tested.
Fields has personally tested thePoo-Pourri Before-You-Go Toilet Spray, thePura Smart Fragrance Diffuser, and theNest Reed Diffuser.
PHOTO: The Spruce
We love the even spray and clean scent of the Febreze Fresh Lemon Scent Aerosol Air Freshener.The Spruce
PHOTO: Amazon
The Pura Smart Diffuser plugs right into the wall, so takes up zero space in your home.The Spruce
The Pura Smart Diffuser plugs right into the wall, so takes up zero space in your home.The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
The Nest Reed Diffuser’s striped frosted vessel was one of the most beautiful we tested.PHOTO: The Spruce
We like that you can add or remove reeds in the Nest New York Reed Diffuser to adjust the intensity.The Spruce
