# How do odor eliminators like Fabreze work? Do they work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 26, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195 "2012-12-26T16:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/1 "2012-12-26T16:53:03Z")
How do odor eliminators like Fabreze work? Do they work? How long? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/2 "2012-12-26T17:04:41Z")
Need answer fast? I don’t know how they work but I find it to be very effective in eliminating, not just covering, odors. A spray or two into an old pair of sneakers will do wonders. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/3 "2012-12-26T17:10:11Z")
According to Wikipedia, > [@](#): > > The active ingredient in Febreze is Hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin or HPβCD. Procter & Gamble claims that these molecules bind hydrocarbons within the doughnut shape, retaining malodorous molecules, which reduces their release into the air and thus the perception of their scent. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/4 "2012-12-26T17:13:50Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > According to Wikipedia, In other words, it masks the odor just like any other deodorizer, until it dissipates. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/5 "2012-12-26T17:30:36Z")
From a Toxicology report; “HP-beta-CD has been shown to be well tolerated in humans, with the main adverse event being diarrhoea and there have been no adverse events on kidney function, documented to date.” ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/6 "2012-12-26T18:50:59Z")
> [@](#): > > the main adverse event being diarrhoea Well at least the smell will be covered! ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/7 "2012-12-26T20:22:03Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > From a Toxicology report; > > “HP-beta-CD has been shown to be well tolerated in humans, with the main adverse event being diarrhoea and there have been no adverse events on kidney function, documented to date.” So the stuff that eliminates odors can cause more odors, which causes you to need more stuff to eliminate the odors, which causes more odors? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/8 "2012-12-26T20:59:05Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > In other words, it masks the odor just like any other deodorizer, until it dissipates. I wouldn’t describe that as ‘just masking’ - \*masking \*a smell consists of providing a stronger stimulus (such as a strong floral aroma) to overwhelm the sense of smell - so the original aroma is still there. Chemically binding an aroma so that it is no longer volatile, is not the same thing as masking it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/9 "2012-12-26T21:06:02Z")
> [@sahirrnee](#): > > So the stuff that eliminates odors can cause more odors, which causes you to need more stuff to eliminate the odors, which causes more odors? It’s odors all the way down. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/10 "2012-12-26T21:28:23Z")
i wouldn’t necessarily say the odor is no longer volatile, though that may be true because its association with the destinker molecule. the odor molecule can no longer trigger a nerve sensation because of its association with the destinker molecule. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/11 "2012-12-26T21:58:08Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > i wouldn’t necessarily say the odor is no longer volatile, though that may be true because its association with the destinker molecule. That is what **hajaro** ’s cite claims. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/12 "2012-12-26T22:22:16Z")
[Cecil answered this question](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/173/do-air-fresheners-work-by-numbing-out-your-nose), but 32 years ago (!), so it might be a bit out of date. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/13 "2012-12-26T22:42:24Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > i wouldn’t necessarily say the odor is no longer volatile, though that may be true because its association with the destinker molecule. > > the odor molecule can no longer trigger a nerve sensation because of its association with the destinker molecule. > [@Mangetout](#): > > That is what **hajaro** ’s cite claims. i was responding to your statement about it no longer being volatile. it could still be as volatile but be sterically hindered. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/14 "2012-12-26T23:48:58Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > i was responding to your statement about it no longer being volatile. it could still be as volatile but be sterically hindered. My statement about it no longer being volatile was in reference to the Wikipedia citation saying so. But sure, there are other ways to tackle a bad smell, including what you said. Also - not yet mentioned, but a technique utilised by some air fresheners; leave the odour molecules completely alone and just chemically disable the human sense of smell. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/15 "2012-12-27T07:32:53Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Also - not yet mentioned, but a technique utilised by some air fresheners; leave the odour molecules completely alone and just chemically disable the human sense of smell. It was mentioned, and in fact was the focus of Cecil’s article, which I linked to. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-odor-eliminators-like-fabreze-work-do-they-work/645195/16 "2012-12-27T08:41:42Z")
Fair enough - didn’t check out that link before posting #14.