# Febreze- a little help here **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826 "2001-03-13T19:09:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/1 "2001-03-13T19:09:30Z")
how does that amazing product Febreze actually work? It says on the back that the scent-remover is derived from corn, but my shoes most certainly do not wind up smelling like popcorn. My only guess is a relatively weak alkaline solution. This being conjected because of how baking soda’s odor-eating properties have been explained to me. But if it’s that simple, why did it take so long to come up with? jb p.s.- how about that wrinkle-removin’ shit? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2001, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/2 "2001-03-13T23:53:38Z")
My guess would be the alkaline solution combined with a sinus-disolving scent. That, at least, was my experience when we used it to try to remove the scent of baby spit-up from our carpet. After cleaning with soap and water and spritzing with Febreze, it smelled like somewhat muted sour milk and Febreze. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/3 "2001-03-14T00:43:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Jager points to Febreze, an odor-removing spray successfully launched in 1998, as an example of the kind of technology-based product that differentiates P&G. Febreze contains cyclodextrins—ring-shaped molecules based on six, seven, or eight glucose monomers—that capture odorous compounds on carpets and textiles and keep them from floating into the air. from [This site](http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:cen.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/78/i04/html/7804soap1.html+febreze+enzymes&hl=en) but you need a way to get in. I cheated and used the _cache_ from Google. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/4 "2001-03-14T00:49:28Z")
In my experience Febreze doesn’t eliminate oders as it states. I used it in a newly purchased used car. What I got was the strong choking scent of Febreze and the cars previous oders. I would have done much better using a car pine tree. After about three weeks the Febreze stench was gone and only the cars former smells were present. ---
**Author:** ![jane\_says](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@jane\_says](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jane_says)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/5 "2001-03-14T02:41:14Z")
I was pretty disappointed with Febreeze as well, until I discovered the Extra Strength kind. We have two preschoolers, a guinea pig, and a miniature dauchshund who will pee on your shoes if he thinks you’re leaving the house. It doesn’t work forever (we go through about 2 bottles a month) but it does work. I don’t think the scent is bad either, much better than the original kind. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/6 "2001-03-14T02:44:30Z")
I tried it on my old car when a friend of mine tossed their cookies on it. Suffice it to say, my car reaked of alcohol, pizza, Fabreze and miscellaneous for a good couple of months. The car had to be detailed twice to remove most of the smell. ---
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/7 "2001-03-14T02:53:16Z")
I would also have to agree that Febreeze doesn’t eliminate a smell just masks it contrary to whatever he commercial says. I’m not sure but it smelled to me as though rose water was one of the main components in it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/8 "2001-03-14T05:13:34Z")
I think the stuff works by coating the surface and trapping the odiferous material. My wife sprayed some Febreze on the blinds in my office. Just below the blinds I had a bunch of hardware (shortwave radio, VCR, etc). The next day, I picked up one of the pieces of equipment, and it was covered with a gross, sticky film. I assume that this is Febreze. You wouldn’t notice it on clothing or upholstery, but spray it onto something smooth and see if you like the result. ---
**Author:** ![buffalogal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@buffalogal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buffalogal)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2001, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febreze-a-little-help-here/57826/9 "2001-03-14T15:20:24Z")
I like and use Febreeze or any other imitator products (Resolve spray, Bounce, etc.). I haven’t used it on really bad stuff, like puke, but mostly use it as a fabric freshener… kind of a “Plug-In” for the couch. As for the wrinkle-removing shit… Yes, that’s shit as far as I’m concerned.