12 Best Air Fresheners for Homes, Tested and Reviewed

Plug-ins can’t be beat for non-stop freshening. In our GH Cleaning Lab tests, we found that when set to “low,” the scent was very pleasant and noticeable — even in large spaces — for a full 50 days. Febreze’s Fade Defy Plug, a GH Seal star, uses two compatible alternating scents so that once your nose begins to get used to one and you stop smelling it, the other kicks in. This way, you’re always detecting a whiff of scent to remind you that it’s working. Switching between the two oils keeps the wicks from clogging too, which is another reason some plug-ins stop working before the oil is used up.

Even more innovative, this $6 air freshener digitally monitors and controls the oil warmer for a more even and consistent release of the scent. No longer will you get a strong burst only to have it fade quickly away. Other features we liked include the adjustable scent level (though even on "low" it may be a bit strong for small spaces) and the light alert for when a new refill is needed.

Another GH Seal star, this inexpensive air freshening spray doesn’t just cover up smells, but actually neutralizes and eliminates them by encapsulating and deactivating odor molecules in the air while adding a burst of fragrance. That's a lot of bang for the buck.

We first tested Febreze many years ago in our GH Cleaning Lab and it continues to perform well in our tests. It gets rid of strong smoke and cooking odors quickly, even in our large Good Housekeeping test kitchens. Pet owners — even those with cats and litter boxes to contend with — who tested this at home reported that it eliminated the dank smell in their living areas where pets hang out. However, the scent may not last long enough for some.

The trigger spray nozzle is comfortable to hold, and it uses nitrogen to propel a fine mist from the can. Safety note: Be sure to wipe up any overspray that falls onto bare floor surfaces. It can make them slippery. If Linen & Sky, isn't for you, it's available in several other scents.

Febreze has some of the most inexpensive, hardworking air fresheners out there, and the newest entry from the brand specifically targets kitchen odors and imparts a fresh lemon scent that's long-lasting. In our GH Cleaning Lab tests, it removed the lingering smells of fish and bacon so well that even after our testers left home and returned, the offensive odors were a distant memory. “All odors, even wet dog, were successfully eliminated when using this product,” one tester said.

Its ability to obliterate garbage can odors even helped it win a past Good Housekeeping Cleaning & Organizing Award. When sprayed into a stinky trash can, odors dissipated almost instantly, thanks to its lemon scent. Plus, this product states that this air freshener contains double the amount of odor-fighting chemicals compared to the basic Febreze, such as the Febreze Air Linen & Sky spray. Like with all sprays, be aware that when the spray hits the floor, it can make it slippery. Opt for the money-saving pack of three or try it out by purchasing just one can of this air freshener spray.

Don't let its size or inexpensive price fool you — this cheap little air freshener does things we've never seen before from a plug-in, and for under $6. Glade's Plug-ins Plus saves energy and extends the life of its fragrance with its unique rest or sleep cycle. Simply set the device to stop emitting scent for eight hours when everyone is sleeping or if you'll be away for the day. It also has an indicator light when the oil level is at 30%, so you know it’ll soon be time for a refill. When it does run out, the auto shut-off feature kicks in, so there’s no wasted electricity. Why didn't someone think of this sooner?

In our Lab tests, its great performance and innovative features wowed us. The scent it emitted was pleasing and noticeable, though a bit robust at first, and the rest cycle was easy to set and change. We found the plastic refills lighter to handle than glass ones and think the auto-off feature is a very smart safety innovation. We stressed it in our testing by setting it to run continuously on the highest scent intensity and still got over 30 days of performance out of it. Dial it down and set the rest cycle and it'll last even longer. The one downside was that some reviewers said its light was too bright in a bedroom at night.

Fresh Wave’s odor eliminator comes in the form of a gel that evaporates over time as it nixes airborne odors. Simply peel off the seal on the jar and screw the vented lid back in place. Set it on a counter, tabletop or shelf to continuously deodorize spaces up to 200 square feet. Fresh Wave’s line of deodorizers have worked well in GH tests, and we’ve found this gel to be a convenient and effective way to eliminate odors in confined spaces, for instance, burned popcorn in a microwave where you wouldn’t use traditional sprays or other methods.

Fresh Wave Gel is plant-based and claims to be safe for people, pets and the planet with no synthetic perfumes, alcohol or phthalates. It is EPA Safer Choice certified too, meaning the product contains chemical ingredients that are generally recognized as safer. Multiple reviewers were wowed at its ability to eliminate odors from their house full of dogs or cats and said that it doesn’t just mask the odor, but actually gets rid of it. When the gel disappears, the jars are refillable. The gel evaporates slowly, so you won't likely notice immediate results and larger spaces may need multiple jars.

Luxurious and versatile, this spray can be used to add a rich, inviting fragrance to your home, car or linens. Caldrea is known for its creative mix of unique essential oils that produce fragrances with depth and pampering qualities. We especially like spraying it on clean bed linens when making up the bed. Trust us, you'll feel like you’re in a 5-star hotel when you slip between the sheets. It can even be sprayed on linens as you iron.

The spray is a Lab and consumer favorite and was a past Good Housekeeping Cleaning Award winner. With over 1,700 reviews on Amazon and score of 4.3 stars, shoppers praise it for its light scent that’s refreshing but not overpowering. Caldrea is more about imparting a light, fresh scent than it is tackling tough odors, so persistent smells may need a second application.

Poo-Pourri works by creating a barrier on the toilet water’s surface to trap odors and keep them from reaching the air. All you do is spritz three to five sprays onto the water in the bowl before you go. “I love that this goes directly into the toilet instead of the air,” one tester said. We were impressed by how well it kept bathroom smells from becoming airborne in our tests, plus how pleasant a scent it left behind.

Poo-Pourri is made with natural essential oils and claims to contain no alcohol or formaldehyde. To confirm that fact in our testing, we reviewed graphs of the chemical profile of the fragrance. Poo-Pourri comes in an incredibly varied array of scents with clever names (Royal Flush anyone?) and several sizes, even for travel. The mini bottles are pretty enough to leave out for guests to use, with one tester saying "the product packaging was very fancy and I put it in my guest bathroom.”

These mini devices are an ingenious and discreet way to freshen the air in your car. They attach to your car's air vent via a clip in the back and emit the fragrance as cool or warm air wafts through it. A GH Seal star, Febreze Car has a dial to adjust the scent intensity to low, medium or high, so as not to overpower the limited air space of a car. However, even on the lowest setting, it may be a bit strong at first for some.

In our tests, it lasted up to 30 days when used on the lowest setting as claimed, but the one we recently placed into a Jeep Grand Cherokee lasted well over a month. It's a fan favorite on Amazon with over 8,500 reviews and a 4.6 rating. Shoppers comment that this is their favorite car freshener as it eliminates the distracting — and admittedly, unattractive — “tree” hanging from the rearview mirror. Not to mention, when you consider the price is for a pack of four, this is a pretty inexpensive option too. For those who prefer not to have fragrance blowing on them when driving, simply clip it to a rear seat vent.

A candle is a decorative and continuous way to freshen the air and give your home a distinctive signature scent. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products are well known for its luscious, realistic, essential oil fragrances, and this garden-inspired scented candle is no exception. Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products do well in GH Lab tests and the candle comes in a wide variety of the same floral fragrances such as lavender, basil, geranium, honeysuckle and lemon verbena.

The candle is made of soy and vegetable wax and has a lead- and metal-free wick. We confirmed it lives up to its claimed to burn time of up to 25 hours, and when it runs out, the jar is recyclable or reusable. We especially like the screw-top lid that protects the wick and keeps the candle surface free of dust when it's not in use. With more than 3,600 reviews on Amazon and a 4.3 rating, multiple shoppers said they found the aroma very pleasing, though some said it was not noticeable enough and others complained that it didn't burn all the way down.

Impressively sleek, this diffuser freshens the air using a blend of water and essential oils, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms or any place you want to evoke a relaxing vibe. It runs continuously for four or eight hours and shuts off automatically once it runs dry. Its outer stone casing — unlike most plastic diffusers — gives it a sophisticated look, plus it's washable. In testing by our GH Wellness Lab, Vitruvi was rated best overall with Lab experts and consumers in our best essential oil diffusers review. While it's pricey, it can scent a space up to 500 square feet.

Get to the root of the problem and eliminate odor-causing bacteria in your home. This EPA-registered air freshener kills airborne germs, including bacteria and viruses. By removing the source of the odor, your home will smell fresher and help protect you and others from airborne viruses. And, it's available in three scents.

Its effectiveness in eliminating odors and nixing germs in open spaces earned this air sanitizer a spot in our 2023 Cleaning and Organizing Awards. The Lab found that the fine mist disperses well and testers loved the scent and "peace of mind" this product gave them. "It kills all the germs you can’t see and I’m so happy about that,” one said.

To use, close or cover all openings in the room — a.k.a., all doors, vents and windows — and shake the bottle before spraying towards the center of the room, moving your arms in a sweeping motion. The product's instructions suggest leaving the room for 4–12 minutes and then open ventilation points again.

Recommended by one of our Cleaning Lab experts, this closet dehumidifier eliminates and prevents musty odors by absorbing moisture and removing excess humidity from the air. This product is a newer version of airBOSS' Closet Dehumidifier, which our GH Cleaning Lab experts also loved. Results are not immediate, but in GH tests, airBOSS' products were especially effective in musty closets and kept winter coats smelling fresh even in storage during humid months.

To use, remove the aluminum seal and place or hang the bag on a hook in a closet, laundry room, small bathroom, basement or garage storage area. Then, enjoy the lavender aroma and your fresh-smelling clothes throughout the hot humid summer.