Febreze is an American brand of household odor eliminators manufactured by

Procter & Gamble The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/consumer hea ...

. It is sold in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. First introduced in test markets in March 1996, the fabric refresher product has been sold in the United States since June 1998, and the line has since branched out to include

air freshener Air fresheners are consumer products that typically emit fragrance and are used in homes or commercial interiors such as restrooms, foyers, hallways, vestibules and other smaller indoor areas, as well as larger areas such as hotel lobbies, auto d ...

s (Air Effects), plug-in oil (Noticeables), scented disks (Scentstories), odor-eliminating candles, and automotive air fresheners. The name ''Febreze'' is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsMandela effect In psychology, a false memory is a phenomenon where someone recalls something that did not happen or recalls it differently from the way it actually happened. Suggestibility, activation of associated information, the incorporation of misinforma ...

, with many people claiming to remember the name being previously spelled "Febreeze", despite there being no indication or evidence of the product name having actually been changed. In many non-English speaking countries such as Nepal, the products are sold as Ambi pur.

Ingredients

The active ingredient in several Febreze products is hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPβCD). The molecule traps and binds volatilized

hydrocarbon In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ex ...

s within its structural ring, retaining malodorous molecules, which reduces their volatility and thus the perception of their scent. The active ingredient is produced from

corn Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...

cobs. The use of cyclodextrin as a sprayable odor absorber was patented by Procter & Gamble. The products include additional ingredients such as emulsifiers, preservatives, and perfumes.

Benzisothiazolinone Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) is an organic compound with the formula C6H4SN(H)CO. A white solid, it is structurally related to isothiazole, and is part of a class of molecules called isothiazolinones. BIT is widely used as a preservative and antimic ...

is a preservative included in some of the products.

Lines

There 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

The 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

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

s 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. The Veterinary toxicology experts working for the

ASPCA The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing animal cruelty. Based in New York City since its inception in 1866, the organization's mission is "to provide effective mea ...

Animal Poison Control Center consider Febreze fabric freshener products to be safe for use in homes with pet dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, and rodents. However, the package labeling indicates that the product is considered not safe around

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

s, and results from testing with other animals are not indicated.

References

External links

*
Material Safety Datasheet for Febreze
{{Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble brands Cleaning product brands Perfumes Products introduced in 1996

Ingredients

Lines

Marketing

See also

References

External links