Wonder of the Day #1060

How Do You Freshen the Air?

Previous wonder Next wonder

Listen Print 28 Comments

SCIENCE — Physical Science

Have You Ever Wondered...

How do you freshen the air?
Do air fresheners kill odors or simply cover them up?
Can you make your own homemade air fresheners?

Tags:

See All Tags

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by WonderTeam. WonderTeam Wonders, “How do you freshen the air?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, WonderTeam!

We were jogging through the Wonderopolis woods the other day when we overheard the following conversation between a skunk and a platypus:

Platypus: Whew! What died in here?

Skunk: Hey! It wasn't me! The smeller's the feller.

Platypus: No, no! It's not you I smell.

Skunk: Wow! Now I smell it. What is that foul odor?

Platypus: Here it is. I think I found the culprit!

Skunk: What are those?

Platypus: They're the badger's dirty socks he wore yesterday when he was playing soccer.

Skunk: *Gag!* Get those out of here. I'm going to be sick!

Luckily, we happened to have an air freshener with us. We gave it to the skunk and he tied it under his nose until the platypus was able to dig a hole and bury the badger's socks.

Of course, if you play sports, you probably know that smell the platypus and skunk encountered. Soccer cleats, sweaty socks, and shin guards left in a closed bag overnight can generate a stunning stench that can almost knock you over the next time you open the bag.

Thanks to air fresheners, though, we can battle foul odors and return our environment to its normal, sweet-smelling state. Have you ever stopped to WONDER just how they work, though? Let's find out!

A trip to your local store will reveal a wide variety of air freshening products. There are candles you can light. Aerosol spray cans are also popular. You might have an air freshener that heats wax to emit a fragrance. There are even plug-in units that regularly release fragrances from essential oils into the air.

Different types of air fresheners work in different ways. There are three basic ways air fresheners fight bad odors, though. Some air fresheners mask the odor with stronger aromas. Other air fresheners fight to remove the particles in the air causing bad odors. Still others work within the nose to prevent you from smelling the odors in the first place.

Masking air fresheners are the most common. Most aerosol can air fresheners fall into this category. When you spray an air freshener into the air, the new fragrance overwhelms the senses and hides the offending scents.

Other types of air fresheners that use charcoal, silica gel, or an oxidizing agent work to remove the particles in the air causing bad odors. Some odors are caused by bacteria or other organic particles that can be cleaned out of the air by these types of air fresheners. Once the particles are gone, so is the bad smell!

Many cleaning products and waxes contain receptor blockers. When you smell these products, the special chemicals in them block your scent receptors from perceiving certain odors. Some people avoid these types of air fresheners, because they worry they may be unhealthy.

Wonder Contributors

We’d like to thank:

Ella, sierra from FL, and Dakota from OH
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

What are you wondering?

Wonder Words (21)

Take the Wonder Word Challenge

Did you get it?

Test your knowledge

Wonder What's Next?

We hope you're GAME to read tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day?

Try It Out

Sniff. Sniff. We hope you thought today's Wonder of the Day smelled WONDERful! Find a friend or family member to help you check out one or more of the following activities:

Do a sniff test all around your house. Get your smeller ready to sniff out any bad odors that might be hanging around. Check all the rooms in your house. Don't forget to check inside of closets and underneath sinks. You might also want to check the refrigerator and the garage. Make a list of areas that don't smell as good as they could. Discuss with your friends and family members what your options are for freshening the air in the areas you identified. Can you turn those stinky areas into an aromatic delight?
What are your favorite smells? Take some time today to pay attention to what your nose tells you. Keep a list of the best smells you come across during the day. How about bacon frying? Or fresh laundry? Maybe the flowers blooming in the yard smell fantastic this time of year? Whatever they are, keep track of the best smells your nose identifies. When you're finished, discuss these smells with a friend or family member. Do they agree with your list? What other smells would they add?
Ready to have fun making a craft that will make the whole house smell good? Grab a friend or family member and jump online to check out the instructions below to make your own homemade air fresheners. There are various recipes and ways to make them, so choose one that sounds like fun and get to it! You may need a few supplies from the store, so check out the list of supplies you'll need before you get started. Have fun making something practical that your parents will love!
- Homemade Gel Air Fresheners
- 10 Recipes for Natural, Homemade Air Fresheners

Did you get it?

Test your knowledge

Wonder Contributors

We’d like to thank:

Ella, sierra from FL and Dakota from OH
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

What are you wondering?

Wonder Words

Take the Wonder Word Challenge

Join the Discussion

Smell can come from anywhere the most vital smells are common.

There should be a quiz on this question. Wait. Is it possible to have a quiz on a question? Maybe.

Hi Jameson, we have a quiz on each Wonder to test your knowledge on the topic! You can locate it on the right side of your screen. Click 'Test Your Knowledge' and see how you do!

This is yellow like Simpson

Well That Was Weird! :D The Next Wonder Might Be How Does Your Body Shut Down For Sleep?! :D :D

Sniff, sniff, we Wonder what that lovely smell is... it must be an air freshener! Thanks for leaving a comment, Max! :)

Are there still cavemen?

Great comment, Bananatanya! We are so glad you're using your WONDERful imagination! We hope you'll do some research to find your answer! :)

how do people walk?

I liked the video very cool stuff.

WOOHOO, our Wonder Friends Kaylen, Kaleb, and Eathan are here today! We Wonder if any of you will become scientists and study scent when you're older? We think it would be super WONDERful! :) We are so glad you visited us to learn all about air freshening techniques! Have a WONDERful scent-filled day! See you soon! :)

This is one of the best wonders I've ever seen

THOUGHT:I can't believe that he couldn't guess where he was until one of the scientists put an air freshener up to his nose and then he guessed it and I can't believe that after he touched a tree he still didn't get the answer. CONNECTION:I have been in the forest before and it was really cool because there was a lot of cool animals in the forest and a lot of poison ivy in the forest to but it was still really cool in the forest. WWOTD: I generate a list of book study options. PREDICTION:

Something cool I learned: air fresheners reduce odors in the the air.

Nice work, Larry S! Thanks for telling us what you learned - now you can share what you learned with your family and friends! Thanks for visiting us today! :)

Sara wondered if a dog would still be able to smell as well if there were air fresheners being used?

Great question Sara! We are so glad you're using your imagination to Wonder with us today! Dogs can still smell an air freshener, just like humans can. Some companies make air fresheners just for dogs! :)

how do rainbows appear?

Hey there, BananaTanya! Have we got a Wonder for you: https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-rainbows-appear/ :)

THOUGHT: that smells like a forest. CONNECTION: I've got those. WWOTD: I generated a list of book study options. PREDICTION: snoring.

We learned all about scents with you today, Tairyn, Andrea, and Chett, and we couldn't be happier! Thanks for telling us your favorite parts and your connections, too! It's cool how scents that we smell travel to our brain - sometimes our mouths water when we smell something delicious! Science rocks! :)

THOUGHT: I thought the video was very funy CONNECTION: My connection is that it is just like taste challenge. WWOTD: generate bring into existance PREDICTION I think it is going to be about related wonders

THOUGHT-I thought that today we was going to talk about how to make snow cones. WWOTD-I generated a list of book study options.

THOUGHT:What does a forest smell like? CONNECTION:I use air freshener in my car. PREDICTION:I think tomorrow will be about sleeping or naps. WWOTD:Every day I have to regenerate my brain and body.

We Wonder what kinds of scents you would create if you were scent scientists, Destiny, Katrina, and Jeremiah? We think we'll have to dream up a special scent for Wonderopolis... perhaps we'll include raspberries and strawberries! YUM! :)

Thought:thing that help the air

THOUGHT: I thought that the people who made the freshener stuff created their own scents. CONNECTION: I LOVE the smell of coconut one. WWOTD: I generated a list of book study options. PREDICTION: I predict tomorrow's wonder will be about sleeping. Wish I could sleep right now.

Thought: That video was short. Connection: I have air freshener . Prediction: Long naps??

Thanks for telling us all about what you learned Bryce, Erik, and Christopher! You even connected your comments to other Wonders! NICE WORK! :)

I thought that it was interesting that there were different kinds of air freshner. And that they looked for air freshner.

I learned that food that has a second on the ground that is not safe to eat.

THOUGHT: I really didn't get the video and that was very weird. CONNECTION:I went hiking with my dad in the forest. PREDICTION:I predict that tomorrow's wonder is about sleeping. EXAMPLE:I generated a list of book study options. WWOTD:generated

Hey there Joe, Jenna, and Keith! It's so great to Wonder with you today! We love your connections - we have learned so much from your comments! It's so much fun to use our imaginations together! :)

THOUGHT: I liked the video. CONNECTION: I use air fresheners some times. PREDICTION: I predict that tomorrow's wonder will be about dreams. EXAMPLE: I generated a list of book study options. WWOTD: Generate means'' bring into existence''.

I think that this article was very interesting and I didn't know that some air fresheners messed with your nose so you can't smell the bad odors. I think that is pretty cool and I am wondering if in the future they will come up with some sort of air fresheners that you can put in your nose that make you smell nice things or maybe make a giant air fresheners that can make an entire city smell good.

THOUGHT:The video was cool. CONNECTION:The video is what we were working on for science. WWOTD:I generated a list of book study options. PREDICTION:I think tomorrow's wonder is going to be about why you sleep

It's not great to spray an entire bottle of air freshener in once place at one time, but a spritz here and there is okay! Thanks for telling us all about what you learned today - we hope you'll tell all your Wonder Friends about the cool new things you know! :)

THOUGHT: I thought the people were playing. CONNECTION: my mom has that smell in her car. PREDICITION: the man was helping. WWOTD:

THOUGHT: But if you spray chemical in the air it just makes the air smell good and the air unsafe. CONNECTION: I used that thing in my mom's car. How does it work? WWOTD: I generated a list of books. PREDICTION: I think tomorrow's Wonder is about sleep.

I can't believe that some air fresheners and made of charcoal that was really unexpected. Did you guys know that?

We sure have learned a lot of WONDERful things about air fresheners with you today. We will remember all the cool things we learned when we smell a nice scent in the air! We can't wait to Wonder with you tomorrow! :)

THOUGHT: I think it really don't make any sense. CONNECTION: I have one of those tree things in my car. WWOTD: GENERATE-bring in to existence. EX: I GENERATED a list of book study options. PREDICTION: If you snore you don't sleep good.

comment: that was a funny video thought: I thought he would run into a tree. wwotd: I generate my games prediton: I predict that they will keep making those small trees

thought I think it looked cool Connection: I have been in a forest before WWOTD: generate Prediction; I bet tomorrow's wonder will be about sleep

Hey Jeremiah, Tiffany, Alex! Thanks for telling us all about your favorite parts of today's Wonder! We learned so much about scents! We can close our eyes and imagine a tropical place with the smell of coconut, or pretend we're hiking in a forest with a tree scent! Pretty cool! :)

THOUGHT:I liked the passage and the video. CONNECTION:I have smelled a very very bad smell too. PREDICTION: I think tomorrow's wonder will be about sleep. WWOTD:Cars generate a nasty smell.

THOUGHT;They don't smell that good do they CONNECTION;My dad has one of them in his car but it does not smell that good WWOTD;The chicken generate my food PREDICTION;It might be how you sleep

comment: it is obvious you're touching a tree q: why do we need air fresheners? p: are we going to fall asleep?

Hey Wonder Friends Xavion, Elijah, and Aidan! It sounds like you've all had great sniffing experience when it comes to air fresheners! What's your favorite scent? We hope you don't hit the snooze button for tomorrow's Wonder! :)

I have used one of those before

I think the next wonder is going to be about sleeping.

I do not get the video

Hey Korean, Byancah, and Celeste! We like your predictions for tomorrow's fantastic Wonder! Get ready... you might be yawning! :)

I think that tomorrow's video is going to be about shoes and feet

question= can you die from air freshener predictions = may talk about ............ how do you know when your tired

this video shows how people can smell things used around them.

We're glad you've "gone WONDERing" with us today, Amelia, Mikayla, and Rebecca! Did your nose lead the way? We hope to see you again soon - keep using your imaginations! :)

why did they do that? was it important for them to do that? was it good to do that?

The man knew it was the forest because the other guy put a forest air freshener in his face to smell it. My thinking for tomorrow's wonder is to sleep a lot or all about bees. GO WONDER???...

Related Wonders for You to Explore

#2959

Do All Sharks Live In Saltwater?

#2958

What Type of Shark Is the Slowest?

#2957

Why Do Sharks Have Nostrils?

#2946

Who Was Kalpana Chawla?

#2944

How Do You Clean Up an Oil Spill?

Select a Word

Drag a word to its definition

WordMatch

Select a Wonder Word:

stunning

conversation

odor

air

skunk

bag

essential

nose

generate

stench

Match its definition:

commanding attention

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled

a flexible container with a single opening

anything indispensable

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

bring into existence

a distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant

WordMatch

Congratulations!

You’ve matched all of the definitions correctly.

Play Again

Have You Ever Wondered...

Tags:

Wonder What's Next?

Try It Out

Did you get it?

Wonder Contributors

Wonder Words

Shakiahya

Jameson

George

Max!!!

Wonderopolis

bananatanya

Wonderopolis

bananatanya

Eathan Strifler mrs.garnder

Wonderopolis

Kaleb

kaylen mrs.liles class

Larry S. - Ms. Kenny's Class

Wonderopolis

Mrs. Stewart

Wonderopolis

bananatanya

Wonderopolis

chett- Mrs. Liles' Class

Wonderopolis

Andrea

tairyn

Jeremiah - Mrs. Liles' Class

Wonderopolis

Katrina - Mrs. Liles' Class

destiny - Mrs.liles

christopher mrsliles class

Wonderopolis

Erik

Bryce

keith mrs.liles class

Wonderopolis

jenna Mrs. Liles class

Joe

Elizabeth mrs.liles class

Wonderopolis

Timothy

Tam Mrs.Liles' class

Justin

Wonderopolis

kylee-mrs.liles class

deven mrs.liles class

Alex Mrs.Liles class

Wonderopolis

Tiffany Mrs .Liles class

jeremiahmrs.liles class

aidan lyons

Wonderopolis

Elijah Bentson

Xavion.G

Celeste E.

Wonderopolis

Byancah-LaN'aye Thomas

korean thomas

Rebecca

Wonderopolis

Mikayla Coe

amelia

Related Wonders for You to Explore