Short answer: an odor neutralizer doesn't cover up a bad smell with perfume: it acts on the molecules that cause it. Since every odor comes from a different chemical family, you choose one based on what you smell. BENDIS has three: Cotton Fresh for smoke, burnt smells, toilet odor and sweat; Aloe Vera for pets, cigarettes, damp and fish; and Jazmín (Jasmine) for frying, food and garbage.
What an odor neutralizer is (and how it differs from an air freshener)
An air freshener adds a scent on top of the one that's already there. For a few minutes you smell both, and once the perfume fades, the problem comes back. An odor neutralizer works the other way around: it acts chemically on the bad odor molecules so you stop noticing them, leaving only a soft note behind. We explain it in more detail in odor neutralizer or air freshener: when you need each one.
Why there's no one odor neutralizer for everything
"Bad smell" isn't just one thing. Behind it there are three main groups of compounds, and each formula is designed for one of them:
- Hydrocarbons and mercaptans. Mercaptans are sulfur compounds: they smell like a toilet, rotten eggs or a drain. Hydrocarbons are what you find in smoke, burnt smells, fuel and solvents. This is where Cotton Fresh (Blue) works.
- Fatty acids and amines. Amines give off the smell of fish, urine and animals; fatty acids create rancid, musty and stale cigarette smells. This is where Aloe Vera (Green) works.
- A mix of mercaptans, fatty acids and amines. This is what happens with garbage, in the kitchen and with organic waste. This is where Jazmín (Red) works.
If you're curious about the chemistry: mercaptans and sulfur compounds and fatty acids and amines.
Chart: which odor neutralizer to use for each smell
| Odor | Family | Best option | Also works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke and burnt | Hydrocarbons and mercaptans | Cotton Fresh (Blue) | - |
| Toilet (fecal) | Hydrocarbons and mercaptans | Cotton Fresh (Blue) | - |
| Fuel and solvents | Hydrocarbons and mercaptans | Cotton Fresh (Blue) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Sweat | Hydrocarbons and mercaptans | Cotton Fresh (Blue) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Toilet (urine) | Fatty acids and amines | Jazmín (Red) | - |
| Pets | Fatty acids and amines | Aloe Vera (Green) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Fish | Fatty acids and amines | Aloe Vera (Green) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Damp | Fatty acids and amines | Aloe Vera (Green) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Cigarettes | Fatty acids and amines | Aloe Vera (Green) | Jazmín (Red) |
| Garbage | Mix | Jazmín (Red) | - |
| Food | Mix | Jazmín (Red) | Aloe Vera (Green) |
| Frying | Mix | Jazmín (Red) | Aloe Vera (Green) |
| Organic decomposition | Mix | Jazmín (Red) | - |
Odor neutralizer for the home: the most common problems
- Smoke or burnt smell in the house: Cotton Fresh. Step-by-step guide in how to get rid of smoke and burnt smell in your house.
- Cigarette smell or musty smell at home: Aloe Vera. Guide in how to remove cigarette and musty smells from your house.
- Dog or cat smell: Aloe Vera. Guide in how to get rid of pet odor in your house.
- Frying, food or garbage smell: Jazmín. Guide in how to get rid of frying, food and garbage smells.
- Bathroom odor: if it smells like a toilet, Cotton Fresh; if it's urine, Jazmín.
Odor neutralizer for businesses
In a commercial space odors are more noticeable, because customers walk in from outside with a "clean" nose. Typical cases are restrooms in bars and restaurants (Cotton Fresh or Jazmín depending on the odor), kitchens and garbage rooms (Jazmín), gym locker rooms (Cotton Fresh), and veterinary clinics or dog grooming salons (Aloe Vera). If you run a business, see how we handle odor neutralization for businesses.
How to use an odor neutralizer in 3 steps
- Remove the source. A dry drain trap, a bin that hasn't been emptied or a urine stain will keep giving off odor. Clean first, then neutralize.
- Choose the neutralizer using the chart and put it in a nebulizing diffuser in the area where the odor starts. If there are two odors from different families, start with the one that bothers you most. If in doubt, Jazmín covers the most cases.
- Adjust intensity and schedule. Stronger for the first few days and gentler afterwards, only during the hours you need it.
How long a neutralizer lasts and how much it costs
All three neutralizers cost the same: €29.99 for 150 ml and €34.99 for 250 ml. You'll always find up-to-date prices in the fragrances and neutralizers collection.
| How you use it | Approximate duration of 250 ml |
|---|---|
| Intense, with the device running 24 hours | 1 month |
| At home, normal use | 2 months |
| Gentle and only a few hours a day | 3 to 4 months |
The actual duration also depends on the size of the space and the diffuser. The 150 ml size lasts proportionally less.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best odor neutralizer for the home?
The one that matches your odor. For cigarettes, damp or pets, Aloe Vera; for smoke, burnt smells or the bathroom, Cotton Fresh; for the kitchen, frying and garbage, Jazmín. If you're not sure what the odor is, Jazmín is the most versatile.
Does an odor neutralizer replace cleaning?
No. It acts on the molecules left in the air, but if there's an active source the odor comes back. Remove the source first, then neutralize.
Can I mix two neutralizers in the same diffuser?
No. Each refill goes on its own in its own device. If you have two different sources, use one device per area with the right neutralizer.
Can I use a neutralizer and a fragrance at the same time?
Yes, but in different places: the neutralizer where the odor starts and the fragrance where you want it to smell good. Never both in the same device.
What diffuser do I need for an odor neutralizer?
Any BENDIS nebulizing diffuser. For a home or a bathroom, a compact device from the home collection is enough; for kitchens, garbage rooms or large commercial spaces, check out the professional diffusers.
Source: BENDIS neutralizer effectiveness chart by type of odor (hydrocarbons and mercaptans; fatty acids and amines; mercaptans, fatty acids and amines).
