3 ms·

I never understood the point of these, and their names are misleading: the do NOT refresh your air, they spread scent! If you think you need that, you probably

by brnt 5y ago

I never understood the point of these, and their names are misleading: the do NOT refresh your air, they spread scent! If you think you need that, you probably should be cleaning or identify and eliminate a particular source of bad odours, not spraying masking scents into the air like a 17th century courtier in Paris.

dragonwriter 5y ago
> they spread scent! If you think you need that, you probably should be cleaning or identify and eliminate a particular source of bad odours What if you think you need that because you prefer pleasant scents to the neutral absence of noticeable scent, not because of “a particular source of bad odours”?
- brnt 5y ago
  Then why are they called air fresheners and not scent-generators or something like that?
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    > Then why are they called air fresheners Because “fresh" has long been considered a descriptor of particular noticeable scents, not the absence of scent (also true, though not as relevant here, of particular tastes.)
  - Kirth 5y ago
    I imagine the "healthy" connotation that the term fresh carries is good for marketing. "generator" sounds industrial, polluting.. makes one wonder if it causes adverse health effects.
    - brnt 5y ago
      You're right, and that's why I consider their name misleading: these things are thoroughly unhealthy, and may mask another source of unhealth (bad scent maybe due to hidden mold for instance).
cameronh90 5y ago
Not all odour sources are easily controllable (cooking in open plan apartments, pets, flat mates, toilets, etc.). Increasing ventilation also is not always practical, like when it's -5c outside, or you live on a main road where the air aggravates your allergies. Also many people just like the scents and aren't trying to cover up anything.
- brnt 5y ago
  Airfilters (with carbonfilters) are quite effective.
- nix23 5y ago
  You can make a bet that those "scent" are much more toxic as you think. An filtration with an active-coal-filter solves your problem much better.
  - pessimizer 5y ago
    "14,000 estimated to have died from humidifier sanitizer scandal: study" https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/07/251_293448.html https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/07/251_293448.html The manufacturer was Reckitt Benckiser, who is also the manufacturer of Airwick. https://www.reckitt.com/brands/air-wick/ https://www.reckitt.com/brands/air-wick/
    - nix23 5y ago
      When HN thinks distilled and highly concentrated scents are a good thing ;) BTW: There is ~some proof that geranium is a big allergic-igniter

by brnt 5y ago

dragonwriter 5y ago

> they spread scent! If you think you need that, you probably should be cleaning or identify and eliminate a particular source of bad odours What if you think you need that because you prefer pleasant scents to the neutral absence of noticeable scent, not because of “a particular source of bad odours”?

brnt 5y ago
Then why are they called air fresheners and not scent-generators or something like that?
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  > Then why are they called air fresheners Because “fresh" has long been considered a descriptor of particular noticeable scents, not the absence of scent (also true, though not as relevant here, of particular tastes.)
- Kirth 5y ago
  I imagine the "healthy" connotation that the term fresh carries is good for marketing. "generator" sounds industrial, polluting.. makes one wonder if it causes adverse health effects.
  - brnt 5y ago
    You're right, and that's why I consider their name misleading: these things are thoroughly unhealthy, and may mask another source of unhealth (bad scent maybe due to hidden mold for instance).

cameronh90 5y ago

Not all odour sources are easily controllable (cooking in open plan apartments, pets, flat mates, toilets, etc.). Increasing ventilation also is not always practical, like when it's -5c outside, or you live on a main road where the air aggravates your allergies. Also many people just like the scents and aren't trying to cover up anything.

brnt 5y ago
Airfilters (with carbonfilters) are quite effective.
nix23 5y ago
You can make a bet that those "scent" are much more toxic as you think. An filtration with an active-coal-filter solves your problem much better.
- pessimizer 5y ago
  "14,000 estimated to have died from humidifier sanitizer scandal: study" https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/07/251_293448.html https://koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2020/07/251_293448.html The manufacturer was Reckitt Benckiser, who is also the manufacturer of Airwick. https://www.reckitt.com/brands/air-wick/ https://www.reckitt.com/brands/air-wick/
  - nix23 5y ago
    When HN thinks distilled and highly concentrated scents are a good thing ;) BTW: There is ~some proof that geranium is a big allergic-igniter