alpha aromatics®The global air freshener market is estimated to reach $12 billion by the year 2023, registering a CAGR of 3.2% from 2017 to 2023. Interestingly, an increasing portion of that market is expected to consist of room sprays.
While this growth is great for room spray manufacturers, it also makes for an increasingly competitive marketplace, and one heavily dependent upon trending fragrance creations that will differentiate their brands from others.
But what medley of synthetic and natural fragrant ingredients will magically seduce the fickle, shifting olfactory bulbs of today’s consumers of room sprays? Our master perfumers explain.
A Brief History Of Air Fresheners And Room Sprays
Today, scenting an indoor environment is commonplace and most people assume that air fresheners and perfumes are two different entities. Historically, however, that is not the case, as perfumes were used to both freshen the human body and linens, rooms, and even sacrificial offerings.
Air fresheners of all types including: sprays, gels, oils, liquids, solids, plug-ins, hanging disks, beads, potpourri, wick diffusers and scented candles all have the same function; namely, to provide a more pleasant indoor environment.
Like many things in life, however not all things that look the same are the same.
The idea of scenting surroundings with air fresheners has been around since the age of antiquity. In 1200 BCE, a Mesopotamian woman of high esteem named Tapputi became the world’s first recorded perfume maker. She is known for developing the technique of extracting scents from various plant life.
Later in the 6th century, burgeoning Persian and Arabian cultures forged a new method of extracting perfume fragrances known as steam distillation.
As trading empires, their influences spread far and wide across the globe, which also provided them with access to the plants of different regions from which they developed new scents. Scent was so integral to their way of life that even when they were constructing mosques, fragrance extracts were blended into the concrete.
During the 11th and 12th centuries, the Crusaders brought many perfumes to the western world via trade with the Islamic empires. Soon, perfume became a massive industry that flourished during the Italian Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries).
By the 1700’s perfumes were so indispensable to western cultures that they were use instead of bathing. Louis XIV of France and Madame de Pompadour popularized perfume by applying it heavily to clothing, furniture and fans.
Until 1948, air freshening with perfume oils was the standard method to mask foul odors. Originally designed in the form of the insecticide dispensers used by the US military, the first aerosol spray air freshener served as a chlorofluorocarbon propellant. (A CFC is a non-toxic, non-flammable chemical containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine that is used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays and refrigerants to disperse aromatic compounds.)
By the 1950s, this became the standard method for releasing a burst of fresh air into a room. In response, companies began adding ester, pre-polymers and long-chain aldehydes to help neutralize odors.
What are Aldehydes and how are they used in perfumery?
A Few Relevant Air Freshener And Room Spray Statistics
As mentioned earlier, according to a recent report published by Allied Market Research entitled: Air Freshener Market by Product, Application and Type of Customer: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023, the global air freshener market is estimated to reach $12 billion by the year, 2023, registering a CAGR of 3.2% from 2017 to 2023.
Every day, the air freshener market (including room sprays) is growing, which translates into the fact that they are being used more and more frequently by a majority of the population and industries in various countries who are happy with their stated promises and effects.
Some of these environments include: offices; schools; hospitals; churches; theaters; stores; residences and care facilities; hotels; health clubs; restaurants; restrooms; airplanes, airports, vehicles of all types; homes,; homeless shelters; detention centers, elder care and child care facilities.
A recent survey of the general US population revealed that 72.8% of Americans use air fresheners and deodorizers at least once a week, and 57.9% are exposed to air fresheners and deodorizers from the use of others in their proximity at least once a week.
A European report indicated that air fresheners (spray, electric and passive) were used by 39%, 40%, and 30% (respectively) of the surveyed population at least once a week in homes, and by 94%, 92%, 89% (respectively) at least once a month in homes.
It must be noted that chemicals contained in some room sprays of the past were cited as potentially harmful to both health and the environment. Today, however, the transparency of perfume manufacturers can allay the fears of the modern consumer. Their products are safe for everyone and undergo strict governmental certification before they are released for use.
Important Room Spray Elements
The three most important elements in any effective room spray are: essential oils, water and witch hazel. Essential oils define the prevailing fragrance and any oil of preference can be utilized.
For many, uplifting, and energizing citrus essential oils, which include: orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime and mandarin, are favored choices. Witch hazel is important because it helps the water and the essential oil blend evenly, rendering a good amount of scent with each and every spritz.
The top essential oils used by perfumers in each fragrant note.
A Few Inspiring Room Spray Fragrances By Alpha Aromatics
With roots stretching back well over seven decades, we have grown to be known all over the world as both a leader and pioneer within the fragrance industry.
We provide organic, natural and designer fragrance compositions for fine perfumes, personal care products, candles and diffusers, aerosols, air fresheners, industrial cleaners, fragrances for home air freshener products and odor neutralizers for those that use the services of private label manufacturers, custom packaging companies, toll blenders and more — and of course, room spray manufacturers.
The following represent some of the more recent and popular room spray scents that were carefully crafted to appeal to predicted trends now and over the coming decade.
Calypso Pomelo Teak
A Caribbean delight featuring a top note comprised of succulent, tropical pineapple, sparkling, icy and grapefruit-infused pomelo and crisp apple. These aspects soon fade into a heart note bouquet of creamy, sugary magnolia, light and bitter neroli, musky, dreamy rose and exotic, bright lily. The scent completes with a base note characterized by sun-dried, ozonic driftwood, earthy musk and dark, rich amber.
Radiant Currant & Amber
A top note of invigorating citrus characterized by juicy, sweet mandarin, tart, bitter grapefruit and tangy, ammoniac black currant soon evaporates into a middle note brimming with shimmering, exotic lily, intense jasmine and buttery, waxy tuberose. Base notes of warm golden amber, potent and sensual patchouli, passionate musk and elegant vanilla complete this memorable fragrance.
Seawater Mist
A top note of refreshing, elegant and spicy bergamot, luscious orange, green, dewy melon and marine, ozonic ocean breeze set the stage for this fragrance so reminiscent of the endless sea. These aspects soon meld into a heart note bouquet of rich, warm and spicy ginger, sugary, rosy peony, powdery violet and fresh, earthy sea moss. The scent completes wth a base note marked by creamy sandalwood, rich, honeyed amber and sensual musk.
Vanilla Flower Musk
Candied, grape-like muscadine and slightly sweet and dense pear form the top notes of this scent. These aspects soon coalesce into a floral heart note marked by creamy, alluring gardenia, haunting jasmine and musky, romantic rose. A base note of rosy, buttery and exotic vanilla blossom, creamy sandalwood. balsamic and warm cedar and sensual, passionate musk completes the fragrance.
In Conclusion
Room sprays have not only withstood the test and scrutiny of time, they are clearly here to stay and expected to become even more commonplace.
If you’re a manufacturer, R&D technician, a product development scientist, purchasing director, formulator, brand owner or purchaser producing room sprays or looking to step into that market, call our teams today and let us create the perfect room spray fragrance line to suit your particular needs!
Photo Credits: Pixabay, iStock Photo and Jonas Neilson
