Although we have over 70 scents to choose from, sometimes our customers have their own fragrances they’d like to use on our custom air fresheners. While we can’t use your own creations in our factory, you can do it on your own with just a little trial and error. Below is our guide to scenting your own air fresheners.
What We Provide
- Air Freshener – Our world-renowned, fully custom die-cut air fresheners. These will be unscented.
- Strings – We have 15 different string colors to choose from. You can choose to have our team string them for you or you can have them shipped with your air fresheners so you can string them yourself.
- Poly-Bag – Our heavy-duty poly bags are also separately included. With a 3-side seal, these quality bags will hold your scent inside for at least 2 years (likely more) if appropriately sealed.
- Retail Packaging (optional) – If included in your order, you’ll receive your header or backer cards printed on high-quality cardstock. Just fold and staple to the bag after sealing.
What You Need
- Your Fragrance
- Impulse Sealer – These start at around $30 on Amazon and other stores. They are used to create an airtight seal on the bags so your air freshener retains its scent.
What Type of Fragrance Should I Use?
Most oil or water-based fragrances that paper can absorb will work in scenting our air fresheners. The concern with any fragrance being added is how it will react to the ink printed on the air fresheners. Some solutions can cause a slight color shift or staining. While this is rare, we recommend ordering an unscented sample pack and testing your fragrances out before placing a larger order.
How Do I Apply My Fragrance?
This question depends on how concentrated your fragrance is and how strong you’d like your air fresheners to smell. There are three methods we recommend:
Dip and Dry
We use this method and feel it provides the most consistent results and the most efficient method for scenting large quantities. You’ll want to use a resealable plastic tub and place your solution inside. Since you’ll be submerging the entire air freshener, diluting your fragrance with a carrier oil or one of the other many options is recommended. The ratio for which you dilute your fragrance depends on how strong it is and how strong you’d like your air fresheners to be. Different strengths can affect the ink in different ways, so keeping your solution consistent is important once you find what works.
Slide several air fresheners onto a pole (or modified clothes hanger) and submerge them in the fragrance. We recommend 5-10 seconds so the fragrance can penetrate the absorbent paper in the middle. Lift and allow excess liquid to drip for several minutes.
Drying time is recommended after scenting in this manner. The time depends on how strong you’d like your air fresheners to be. Shorter drying times will mean stronger air fresheners, although may leave an oily residue in the packaging if presentation is a concern. Since your fragrance is unique, this will require some trial and error till you find the right amount of time for the air fresheners to dry before sealing them in the polybags.
Dripping
Using a dropper bottle or eye dropper, take your concentrated fragrance and gently drip on to the air freshener. Drops on the edges where the absorbent paper is exposed works best, but you can also use either printed side if necessary. This method works great when using a concentrated formula as it requires no drying time and air fresheners can be sealed immediately. Since the fragrance is not diluted, you should keep an eye on color shifts, staining, or bleaching from where the fragrance touches the ink and paper.
Spraying
Similar to the “Dip and Dry” method, you’ll want to dilute your fragrance with a carrier oil to a level that can be spread using a spray bottle or aerosol container. Spread your air fresheners on a flat surface and spray one or both sides. Any excess fragrance that misses the air freshener can be soaked up by the next batch to minimize waste. This method requires less drying time and can be sealed fairly quickly after applying.
Brushing
While more time-consuming, this method can work well when using a highly concentrated fragrance. Dip a brush or makeup applicator in your fragrance oil and wipe on the air fresheners. Utilizing the edges of the air freshener where the absorbent paper is exposed will provide the best results and avoid any potential issues with the ink. Since this method doesn’t moisten the product much, there is no need for extended drying after application. You can seal your air fresheners immediately to capture the scent at its peak.
Trial and Error
Fragrance oils vary in concentration and each customer has a different idea of how strong they’d like their air fresheners to be out of the package. That’s why it’s impossible to provide exact ratios of fragrance oil to carrier oil. The best way to determine what works for you is through trial and error.
Beyond the strength of your air freshener, you’ll also want to take note of how your fragrance solutions interact with the ink and paper. Some may cause slight color shifts and require different application techniques. It’s important to seal your air fresheners for at least 24 hours to see the results as well.
Once you’ve found a method that works for you and creates what you’re looking for, it’s important to maintain consistency with that process. With that, you’ll have a product all to your own with a fragrance exclusive to you and your business.
Sealing
Once you’ve scented your air fresheners, it’s time to seal them up to preserve the fragrance. With your order, we include our high-quality 3-sided polybags that are designed to fit your air fresheners unique shape and size.. These bags are three times thicker than our competitors and are designed to keep your air freshener sealed fresh for many years. Fragrance oils are not cheap and preventing that scent from slowly escaping is the goal.
All you’ll need for this process is an impulse sealer. These can be purchased through sites like Amazon for as low as $30. Simply place the scented air freshener in the bag and seal the open end. Your air freshener will now retain its scent for at least two years.
If you have ordered our fully customized retail packaging from us (header or backer cards), they can now be folded and stapled to the bag. You’ve now got a product that can be sold at any retail store.
Tips and Tricks
- Our air fresheners use paper that is designed to absorb fragrance. That makes them susceptible to retaining any moisture in the air. We recommend scenting and sealing your air fresheners as soon as possible to avoid any unwanted contamination. If that is not possible, we recommend opening your package and airing out your air fresheners upon arrival. Store them in a dry environment and utilize silica gel packs for added protection.
- Please use proper protection when scenting your air fresheners. We recommend both gloves and facial protection (especially if spraying). While your fragrances may be safe, excess exposure to skin or airways may cause unwanted irritation. Be sure to wash thoroughly after scenting.
Try Before You Buy
Before embarking on this new journey, we recommend testing your process and fragrances on actual air fresheners. This allows you to ensure your oils will work without wasting your money. That’s why we offer an unscented sample pack.
The unscented sample pack can be ordered from us and comes complete with 10 unscented air fresheners (of our spaceship design) along with bags. These ship within 48 hours and allow you to get started on testing your process. When you’ve finished testing and are ready to place an order for your custom air fresheners, we’ll credit that cost back to you on your invoice.
