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Buying guide

The Best Air Fresheners

We compared seven air fresheners based on owner ratings, expert reviews, and video verdicts. The Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener is our top pick for its effectiveness and long-lasting scent.

Updated

The bottom line

The Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener is our top pick for its effectiveness in eliminating odors and providing a long-lasting, pleasant scent. It uses Fade Defy Technology to combat household odors and has a high customer satisfaction rating of 4.7/5 from 97,422 ratings. The closest alternative is the Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Refills Lavender and Chamomile, which provides a calming fragrance and customizable scent strength. For a budget option, the Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator (fragrance-free) is a good choice, though it lacks a scent.

Top pick
Febreze Plug-In Air FreshenerFebreze Plug-In Air Freshener $12.94

Best overall air freshener

The Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener is our top pick due to its effectiveness in eliminating odors and providing a long-lasting scent. It uses Fade Defy Technology and has a high customer satisfaction rating of 4.7/5 from 97,422 ratings. Priced at $12.94, it offers great value for its performance. The tradeoff is that it requires an outlet for operation.

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Runner-up
Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Refills Lavender and ChamomileAir Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Refills Lavender and Chamomile $11.88

Best plug-in air freshener

The Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Refills Lavender and Chamomile provide a calming fragrance and customizable scent strength. They offer up to 70 days of fragrance on the low setting and have a high user satisfaction rating of 4.7/5 from 44,421 ratings. Priced at $11.88, they are a close alternative to the Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener. The tradeoff is that they require an Air Wick Plug-In warmer for operation.

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Budget pick
Amazon Basics Gel Odor EliminatorAmazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator $4.58

Best budget air freshener

The Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator (fragrance-free) is a good budget option. It uses unscented activated charcoal to eliminate odors and is suitable for various spaces. With a high customer rating of 4.1/5 from 9,968 ratings, it offers effective odor elimination at a price of $4.58. The tradeoff is that it lacks a scent, which may not be suitable for those looking for a scented air freshener.

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The field, ranked

  1. Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener Best at eliminating odors and providing a long-lasting scent. 9.0/10 $12.94 Amazon
  2. Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Refills Lavender and Chamomile Excellent plug-in air freshener with customizable scent strength. 8.0/10 $11.88 Amazon
  3. Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator Good budget option for odor elimination without a scent. 7.0/10 $4.58 Amazon
  4. Febreze Odor Fighter Air Freshener Effective trash can deodorizer with a fresh scent. 6.0/10 $9.99 Amazon
  5. Febreze Air Mist, Air Freshener Spray, Odor Fighting Room Spray Light mist room spray with clean and fresh fragrances. 6.0/10 $5.94 Amazon
  6. Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator, Activated Charcoal, Lavender Scent Gel odor eliminator with a continuous lavender scent. 5.0/10 $4.58 Amazon
  7. Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator, Activated Charcoal, Lavender Scent Gel odor eliminator with a continuous lavender scent (4-pack). 5.0/10 $18.33 Amazon

What owners say

Owners of the Febreze Plug-In Air Freshener consistently praise its effectiveness in eliminating odors and providing a long-lasting scent. Many mention the pleasant atmosphere it creates and the variety of scents available. On the other hand, some owners of the Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator (fragrance-free) appreciate its odor elimination capabilities but miss the presence of a scent.

Also-rans

The Febreze Air Mist, Air Freshener Spray, and the Amazon Basics Gel Odor Eliminator with Lavender Scent did not make our top picks due to either lower effectiveness or less positive owner feedback compared to the top picks. The Febreze Odor Fighter Air Freshener, while effective for trash cans, is not as versatile for general room use.

How this was put together

This guide is based on owner ratings, expert reviews, and video verdicts. We compared seven air fresheners and evaluated them on effectiveness, scent, ease of use, and value. No products were tested hands-on, and the evidence for some products was thinner than others.