The Best Plug-In Air Fresheners for Eliminating Odors Within Your Home

Keep your home smelling fresh with the continuous action of a plug-in air freshener.

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The Best Plugin Air Freshener Option

Photo: amazon.com

Spray an air freshener and it may mitigate a bad smell momentarily. Plug-in air fresheners, on the other hand, combat unpleasant odors continuously, masking or even eliminating them from a home. These products come in a number of different formats and typically work by heating oil or wax to aerosolize or vaporize fragrances. There are also air purifiers on the market which, rather than add additional scents, sanitize the air by filtering out dust, mold spores, pet dander, and more.

While choosing the best plug-inair freshenermight seem like a simple decision, there are a number of considerations to weigh. This guide explores the important features for shoppers to keep in mind and offers choices by category for some of the top products on the market.

  1. BEST OVERALL:Febreze Odor-eliminating Plug Air Freshener
  2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Air Wick Plug in Scented Oil Starter Kit
  3. BEST ECO-FRIENDLY:Botanica by Air Wick Plug in Scented Oil Starter Kit
  4. BEST DIFFUSER:Pure Daily Care Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser Set
  5. BEST AIR PURIFIER:LEVOIT Smart WiFi Air Purifier for Home
  6. BEST MINI AIR PURIFIER:Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier & Sanitizer
  7. BEST FOR BATHROOM:注意设计磨砂宝塔蜡温暖——插件
  8. BEST FOR CAR:InnoGear Car Diffuser, USB Essential Oil Diffuser
The Best Plugin Air Freshener Option

Photo: amazon.com

Types of Plug-in Air Fresheners

There are four basic types of plug-in air fresheners: heated oils and sprays, wax warmers, essential oil diffusers, and air purifiers. Each provides varying benefits and offers differing levels of convenience, longevity, and additional features.

Heated Oil and Spray

These standard plug-in air fresheners are energy efficient, emitting a fairly strongfragrancewhile using a minimal amount of electricity. They feature cartridges filled with a wide variety of scented oils, which are then aerosolized and sprayed into the room. Most models are compatible with any refill cartridge from the same brand. Each cartridge lasts between 30 and 60 days, though longevity varies from brand to brand.

Some folks find the fragrance from this type of air freshener to be overpowering, but there are products that let you control the level of scent emitted, adjusting it to room size or user preference. Be mindful of standard plug-in air fresheners when it comes to children and pets, because heated oils and sprays are dangerous if ingested.

Wax Warmers

Wax warmersact as a safer alternative to burning candles, relying on either a light bulb or a warming plate as a heat source instead of an open flame. Bulbs for plug-in wax warmers range from 25 to 40 watts, and various models may emit soft, ambient light to mimic a candle. While some models may come with wax, it can also be purchased separately.

这些产品的功能一个耐热的碗users place wax melts or pucks that come in various natural and synthetic fragrances. The wax takes several hours to cool completely and should not be accessible to children or pets. Each wax melt lasts for up to 10 hours.

Essential Oil Diffusers

Essential oils are natural, plant-derived substances said to have a number of aromatherapeutic benefits.Essential oil diffusersheat essential oils to break them down and dispense the smaller particles into the air. Most models also use water to provide both a humidifying and air- freshening effect.

While the water reservoir must be refilled daily, only a few drops of essential oil are required. Some oil diffusers are sold with essential oils while others require that you purchase them separately. Essential oil diffusers should only be used for half an hour at a time because prolonged exposure to essential oils may have negative health effects.

Air Purifiers

Air purifiersactuallyeliminate unpleasant odorsrather than simply covering them up. Not only that, but they also improve air quality by removing dust, pollen, mold, and pet dander. They are the ideal choice for reducing airborne contaminants that aggravate allergy symptoms and cause respiratory issues. They draw in air, then use filters to purify it before recirculating it into the room.

The highest-quality filters are known as HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters. They have been certified to trap 99.97 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns or larger in size. HEPA filters must be changed every 3 to 6 months.

When choosing an air purifier, consider the size of your space. Most manufacturers will stipulate the ideal room size for their product and provide an air change per hour (ACH) rate, which lets users know how many times per hour it will filter all of the air in the room.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Plug-in Air Freshener

A number of factors and product features may affect a plug-in air freshener’s scent, settings, aesthetic, convenience, and overall quality. Keep reading to learn important considerations when shopping for the best plug-in air freshener for a home.

Location

When choosing an air freshener, first consider where it will be placed. While a stronger fragrance may be a great choice for a large open space, it may be overpowering in a small bathroom. Also consider any pets or young children in the household, and be sure to place the plug-in air freshener out of their reach.

Note that your vehicle may also benefit from a plug-in product. Some are designed to be plugged into a car’s 2-volt outlet, while others use a USB cable. They’re convenient for covering up the smell of fast food or stinky sports equipment. They typically power on when the engine is running to avoid wasting the car’s battery.

Scent

One of the primary considerations when choosing an air freshener is whether to go with a scented or unscented version. Standard air fresheners, as well as essential oil diffusers and wax warmers, feature a wide variety of scents that can be swapped out seasonally or depending on your preference. Decide whether natural aromas from essential oils or synthetic scents are the better choice for your household, keeping in mind that some artificial smells may act as irritants to allergy sufferers. Also remember that air purifiers eliminate odors without emitting any additional scent.

Settings

Each type of plug-in air freshener can feature a range of settings.

  • Somestandard air freshenersallow users to control the level of fragrance emitted based on how strong they want the smell to be. Others feature night-lights that are convenient for late-night bathroom trips.
  • Essential oil diffusersmay include timers, ambient light settings, and auto-shutoff features that detect low water levels.
  • Air purifiersoften feature different fan settings, timers, and filter change indicators. They may also include smart technology, allowing users to control them remotely via a smartphone or a tablet.

Aesthetic

When choosing an air freshener that will be placed in a visible location, the product’s appearance is a key consideration.

  • Heated oil and spray air fresheners typically have a simple plastic design and display the color of the oil or liquid.
  • Wax warmers vary widely in appearance, with options to suit a number of different decor styles. They may have either a natural, a contemporary, or a bohemian aesthetic.
  • Essential oil diffusers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and feature casings made from plastic, wood, glass, and terra cotta.
  • Air purifiers often feature streamlined modern designs that help them blend in with existing decor items.

Convenience

Some shoppers may prioritize convenience when choosing a plug-in air freshener. Air purifiers offer optimal convenience since their filters only need to be changed a few times per year. Essential oil diffusers, on the other hand, need their water reservoirs filled daily.

When shopping for a standard plug-in air freshener, look for a model that is compatible with both vertical and horizontal outlets that can be plugged in upside down if necessary.

Our Top Picks

The following recommendations take into account the abovementioned factors and features for choosing the best plug-in air freshener, in addition to overall quality and value. Check out these top options in a variety of categories for eliminating unpleasant odors.