The Science of Eliminating Odors

According to scientists, air fresheners date back to the times of the ancient Egyptians, who used musk and other natural products to scent their homes and their tombs. I suspect it goes back even further, to the cave woman who figured out that throwing a pine cone into the cooking fire made her whole cave smell better. Over the years, man (or woman) has discovered many things that eliminate odors, and made use of them all – from oils secreted by animals, to flower petals and plants to chemicals that are specially designed to eliminate odors. Today’s air freshener market is a multi-billion dollar one comprised of mechanical air fresheners, sprays, candles, wax, scented gels, liquids, potpourri, aromatic woods and more. In fact, one market periodical estimated that 80% of American adult would buy at least one home air fragrance product this year.

The first generation of modern air fresheners were marketed in 1948. Those consisted of little more than a perfumed fragrance in an aerosol mist that masked or covered odors. By the mid-50s, however, manufacturers had begun adding ingredients to air fresheners that actually destroyed objectionable odors in the air. The scientific principles in air fresheners are simple. Odors in the air are caused by microscopic molecules that hang in the air and are inhaled. Things that eliminate odors chemically bond with those molecules, changing them or neutralizing them so that they no longer have an objectionable odor.

In the early days of air fresheners, it wasn’t unusual for a housewife to pick a fragrance that she liked and stick with it. The selection was fairly limited – you could have a pine forest, a lemon grove or a rose garden. These days, there’s an entire supermarket aisle devoted to all the different flavors and scents of air fresheners, and many home owners have an entire ‘wardrobe’ of fragrances to suit their mood. In fact, psychologists say that scents are a great way to invoke moods – and aromatherapy is a growing practice.

Here are some suggested fragrance/mood combos suggested by experts in aromatherapy.

Looking for a little romance? Sweet scents like vanilla are homey and comforting. Vanilla is actually scientifically proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and put those who smell it into a relaxed frame of mind.

If you need to be energized, say scientists, then you want the scent of a fir forest .The fresh, almost spicy scent is energizing and invigorating, a great scent for when you want to get up and go!

The exotic, fresh florals of a rainforest scent are cleansing and purifying. With their undertone of spice and sweet floral overtones, they add a fresh, clean scent that invokes spring and awakening.

There are many other scents that evoke particular moods. Bayberry is inviting and fresh, rose is soft and romantic, bergamot is earthy and sensual – the list goes on and on. There’s no need to confine yourself to one particular scent any longer. Pick out a whole shelf full of delicious fragrances and use the one that suits your mood.
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