Selecting the Best Commercial Air Freshener for Your Facility
Fragrance solutions are vital for any commercial facility; after all, scent impacts how your business is perceived, so you want the building to smell fresh and professional. But which type of air freshener is ideal for your application area and scenting goals?
At State Chemical, we manufacture and distribute chemical and biological solutions for various applications, including fragrancing and odor control. Finding an air freshener can sometimes be an afterthought, but when planned strategically, your solution will be more effective.
To help you determine the best air freshener for your application area and scenting goals, we will explain solid, aerosol, and scent diffuser air fresheners as well as when to use each based on your application zone. After reading, you’ll know which type of air freshener will perform best for your facility.
What is a Commercial Solid Air Freshener?
A solid air freshener is a hard block, disc, or other object infused with fragrance. It can be placed in a room to disperse fragrance throughout the area for a window of time (usually about 30 days).
Solids usually decline in scent potency throughout the use period. Day 1 will be stronger than Day 30.
Depending on the specific product you select, solids can be used on their own or as a part of a fragrance system. On their own, they sit out and scent the space through natural airflow. As part of a fragrance system, a fan will usually propel the scent from the solids throughout the room, helping it to cover more cubic footage.
What is a Commercial Air Freshener Aerosol Spray?
Meanwhile, an aerosol air freshener is the traditional spray can you’ll often think of when you hear the term “air freshener.” It must be manually sprayed to apply scent throughout a space.
Aerosols must be reapplied frequently to maintain a consistent fragrance. One method to counteract this manual reapplication is with the use of a metered aerosol, which is an automated system used to routinely disperse fragrance in a space. This way, you don’t have to remember to constantly reapply the product yourself.
Either of these aerosol options can be effective depending on your needs. You’ll just need to apply strategically for optimal results.
What is a Commercial Scent Diffuser?
A commercial scent diffuser is an automated system that releases fragrance on a consistent basis. Scent diffusers dispense a dry vapor and provide better overall coverage.
Because scent diffusers are automated, they don’t require reapplications like aerosols, and the assurance of equally concentrated product with each application means they don’t decline in potency throughout the use period like solids. In this way, scent diffusers are the most efficient, reliable solution for consistent scenting.
Which Commercial Air Freshener to Use Based on Application Area
Depending on your scenting goals and the size of your application area, different air fresheners may work best for you.
Small Spaces
When we refer to small spaces, we’re referencing cramped areas like one-stall bathrooms or elevators. These spaces require odor control but shouldn’t have too strong of a fragrance or it might be overwhelming.
For this reason, solid or aerosol air fresheners are perfect for small spaces.
A solid on its own or in a system will usually disperse the ideal amount of fragrance for a smaller space. After all, a block the size of your palm can’t fragrance an entire hotel lobby, but chances are, it can fragrance an elevator without overpowering the space or being too subtle.
Similarly, a handheld aerosol air freshener can be effective in a small space with infrequent odors. For example, in a receiving vestibule, odors from outside will occasionally get trapped, but it won’t regularly smell foul. In this situation, an occasional treatment with a handheld aerosol is probably enough to combat malodors as needed.
However, spaces this small are usually too small for metered aerosols. Odor control is important, but fragrances should be somewhat subtle to avoid leaving a bad impression. Using a metered aerosol in an enclosed space as small as a changing room is more likely to give visitors a headache than to leave a positive impression. Use a solid or handheld aerosol in small spaces for the best results.
Mid-Sized Spaces
Mid-sized spaces can include multi-stall bathrooms, moderately sized rooms (e.g., conference rooms), or hallways. These areas require more powerful odor control than small rooms, but depending on the level of odors present, different options may be more or less effective.
Mid-sized spaces often see great success with air treatment systems built to consistently release fragrance throughout the day, such as the Fragrance Cube 2-6 or the Fragrance Cube 6-15.
A solid in a fragrance system could effectively fragrance a mid-sized room, but it will lose its fragrance quickly, so if not replaced on a consistent basis, it may not perform. This is a particularly pressing issue in a medium-sized space, where fragrance will become less concentrated than in a small space.
Ensuring consistent, welcoming fragrance can be tricky without a program to do it for you. Since the State fragrance systems are automated, they will keep the room smelling pleasant and odor-free without large performance gaps. Meanwhile, a handheld aerosol would probably be too inconsistent to offer these results.
All odor problems, mild or severe, can benefit from air treatment. The customizability allowed with a diffuser, such as the 2-6 mentioned above, can manage the wide range of issues an office or conference room may face.
Large Spaces
When it comes to large spaces, like a ballroom, a lobby, or even an entire building, it’s usually most efficient to use a scent diffuser for ambient scenting.
A scent diffuser, like a metered aerosol, regularly disperses a fragrance throughout a space. The difference is that scent diffusers usually use a method like cold air diffusion, making them more consistent and concentrated than aerosol sprays. They also come in more variable sizes, meaning that there are diffusers for singular rooms as well as entire buildings.
When you have a large space like this to consistently fragrance, scent diffusers are the most effective solution. They regularly disperse throughout the space to maintain consistent fragrance and create a desirable atmosphere. This is the purpose of ambient scenting; if you’re looking to craft a scenting persona as part of your brand, scent diffusers can accomplish this for you.
Say your building smells musty no matter what you do. If you introduced a scent diffuser capable of attaching to the HVAC system, you could consistently solve the whole building’s problem all at once—all while adding a pleasant, welcoming feel to the space through ambient scenting.
With large spaces, an aerosol spray or a solid won’t be strong enough to make a difference. Use a scent diffuser fit for your treatment area’s cubic footage and your facility will smell fresh and odor-free.
Learn Which State Chemical Scenting System is Best for You
The ideal air freshener for your facility can look different depending on your application area and scenting goals. Now that you know the right type of air freshener for you, watch the video below to learn about State Chemical’s fragrance systems.