Exploring the science, safety, and benefits of air care products: perspectives from the inaugural air care summit

Abstract

Seventy-one percent of US households purchase air care products. Air care products span a diverse range of forms, including scented aerosol sprays, pump sprays, diffusers, gels, candles, and plug-ins. These products are used to eliminate indoor malodors and to provide pleasant scent experiences. The use of air care products can lead to significant benefits as studies have shown that indoor malodor can cause adverse effects, negatively impacting quality of life, hygiene, and the monetary value of homes and cars, while disproportionately affecting lower income populations. Additionally, studies have also shown that scent can have positive benefits related to mood, stress reduction, and memory enhancement among others. Despite the positive benefits associated with air care products, negative consumer perceptions regarding the safety of air care products can be a barrier to their use. During the inaugural Air Care Summit, held on 18 May 2018 in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, multidisciplinary experts including industry stakeholders, academics, and scientific and medical experts were invited to share and assess the existing data related to air care products, focusing on ingredient and product safety and the benefits of malodor removal and scent. At the Summit’s completion, a panel of independent experts representing the fields of pulmonary medicine, medical and clinical toxicology, pediatric toxicology, basic science toxicology, occupational dermatology and experimental psychology convened to review the data presented, identify potential knowledge gaps, and suggest future research directions to further assess the safety and benefits of air care products.

Keywords:

• Air freshener
• air care
• VOCs
• malodor
• asthma
• respiratory health
• fragrance

Disclosure statement

Mary B. Johnson is an employee of The Procter & Gamble Company. Dr Kingston is a product safety consultant to industry, NGOs and governmental entities and has provided safety consultation to companies in the air care industry including the Procter & Gamble company. He is also a Partner at SafetyCall International, a healthcare firm that provides safety consultation including post market safety surveillance and adverse event reporting support for companies that manufacture air care and other consumer products. Dr Utell has served as a member of the respiratory advisory board to the Research Institute of Fragrance Materials (RIFM), as a consultant to Firmenich, and as a consultant to SC Johnson. He has been the recipient of a research grant from RIFM. He received an honorarium from the HCPA to attend the Air Care Summit as a speaker and expert panel member. J. R. Wells’ travel expenses were partially sponsored by HCPA for the Air Care Summit. Madhuri Singal was an employee of Reckitt Benckiser Group while participating in the Air Care Summit. Dr Troy is currently working as a consultant for the International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades on the subject of Natural Complex Substances. He was employed for 25 years in the cosmetics industry (Revlon and Avon Products) and 17 years in the fragrance manufacturing industry (Firmenich Inc.). Dr Troy received an honorarium from HCPA for his participation in the Air Care Summit. Steve Horenziak is an employee of The Procter & Gamble Company. Pamela Dalton is a consultant/grantee or speaker for the following companies: American Chemistry Council, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Altria Group, Campbell Soup Company, Church & Dwight, The Coca-Cola Company, Diageo, plc, Diana Ingredients, Estée Lauder Inc., Firmenich Incorporated, Fragrance Creators Association, Givaudan SA, GlaxoSmithKline, Intelligent Sensor Technology, Inc., Japan Tobacco Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products, Kao Corporation, Kellogg, Kerry, Mars, McCormick & Company, Inc., Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Mondelēz International, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer, Inc., Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser Group, Roquette, Royal DSM, Sensonics International, Suntory Holdings Ltd., Symrise, Takasago International Corporation, Tate & Lyle, Unilever Research & Development, Wm. Wrigley Jr Company, Young Living Essential Oils and Zensho Holdings Co. Ltd. Dr. Dalton received an honorarium from HCPA for her participation in the Air Care Summit. Farah K. Ahmed is President & CEO of the Fragrance Creators Association (FCA), a non-profit organization whose members may be indirectly affected by the information reported in the enclosed paper. Dr Herz has worked as an expert witness involving ambient product odor for the following companies: Grain Processing Corporation, Cedar Grove Composting and Mars Foods. She has received a grant from The Fragrance Foundation. She also has acted as a consultant and speaker for the following fragrance/flavor companies: Givaudan, Unilever, International Flavors & Fragrances, Proctor & Gamble, SC Johnson, KAO Corporation, Firmenich, Haarman & Reimer, McCormick, Southern Wine & Spirits, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Coty, Inc., Dial/Henkel, Elizabeth Arden, AromaSys, Advent, HPCA, World Candle Congress and Droga5. Dr Herz received an honorarium from HCPA for his participation in the Air Care Summit. Dr Osimitz primarily consults with companies and organizations in the chemical and pesticide area. He also works as a consultant for Takasago (a fragrance supplier). Dr Osimitz received an honorarium from the HCPA to participate in the Air Care Summit. Dr Prawer received an honorarium from HCPA to attend May 2018 Air Care Summit. Dr Yin consults for Procter & Gamble and McNeil. He has also received an honorarium from HCPA to attend May 2018 Air Care Summit.