How to Refill Glade, Airwick, and Febreze Air Fresheners to Save Money

Air fresheners create an enjoyable atmosphere but while some units may be a delight to own, they are anything but a delight to refill. With the cost of some refill packages higher than $8.00 each in retail stores, there has to be a better way.

By choosing an air freshener which uses refillable scented oil containers you can enjoy long-lasting freshness and fragrance varieties at an unbeatable price. This article will teach you how to refill your air fresheners and choose the best refillable air freshener products.

In this article...

Buying fragrance oil • How to refill your air freshener • Recommended refillable air fresheners • Deals and coupons for manufacturer refills • Reader comments

It is possible to save money, as much as 90%, by refilling your scented oil warmer while reducing waste from empty refills. Fragrance oils can be purchased for $1 per ounce or less and most air fresheners can be refilled simply by removing a plastic cap.

Where to Buy Scented Oil for Refilling an Air Freshener

Fragrance oils are sold at craft stores, on the Internet, and in some supermarkets, such as Walmart. While most high quality oils are sold in 1/2oz to 2oz sizes, you may be able to find larger quantities of oil at a lower price, but consider first whether you would rather spend that money on a wider variety of scents.

Low-end fragrance oil is sold at Walmart near the reed diffusers for around $1 per ounce, and unless you are a fragrance connoisseur this will make a suitable, inexpensive refill for your air freshener. Each 2oz bottle will refill your favorite air freshener several times since most scented oil refill canisters contain less than an ounce of oil.

Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils

Fragrance and Essential Oils are the primary competitors for air freshening. Fragrance oils are artificially produced and may include hundreds of artificial ingredients, resulting in a nearly limitless variety of fragrances. Essential oils are derived from natural sources and have been shown to carry the positive properties of some of the plant sources.

Most important to this topic is the fact that essential oils are generally much more expensive than essential oils. However, it is also possible to make your own essential oil. It is also important to know that both natural and artificial oils as well as the original air freshener oil may cause allergic reactions or other complications due to over-sensitivity.

Many scented oil warmers and diffusers use glass or plastic refill media which is very simple to refill. Before you begin, you will need a fragrance canister for your air freshener - to stock up on refill canisters before refilling them yourself, check the air freshener coupons and deals list for your product.

1. Remove the empty oil refill from the device, allowing time for the wick to cool if it is hot.
2. Cover your work surface with a paper towel or cloth to absorb any spilled oil. Wear latex gloves while refilling to avoid contact with the strong fragrances (optional but recommended).
   
3. Use your fingers or a small screwdriver to remove the plastic cap, you will need to apply force to pry off the plastic cap. Do not pull on the wick.
   
4. Carefully remove the plastic cap, do not damage the wick. Some wicks will expand and break when rinsed under water. To avoid mixing oil and water which might damage the wick, do not rinse it.
   
5. Insert a small funnel (usually less than 1/2" in diameter) into the refill canister (optional).
6. Pour fragrance oil, be careful to not overfill - leave enough free volume for the wick.
7. Carefully re-insert the wick and plastic cap.
8. Write the name of the fragrance oil scent on a piece of masking tape and adhere it to the refill canister so that you won't forget which scent it is.
   

If your air freshener refill does not have a removable cap, do not attempt to refill it. While it may be possible to use a needle and syringe to rejuvenate a gel air freshener or add oil through a wick, this is not recommended. Never attempt to refill a metal canister. Puncturing the refill canister, using the wrong type of refill liquid, and incorrectly positioning the air freshener are all potential safety hazards. These types of air freshener refills must be purchased from the manufacturer.

The following air fresheners are recommended for the ease of refilling and refill value compared to purchasing manufacturer refills.

Glade Wisp

The battery-operated Glade Wisp diffuses scented oil at a customizable rate and works very well with inexpensive fragrance oil. The 0.26oz plastic refill canisters ($3 to $4 each) have a tight-fitting white cap which holds the wick firmly. A mini screwdriver is recommended for removing the cap.

Refill your Glade Wisp air freshener with fragrance oil to save as much as 93% off the cost of manufacturer refills. A full canister can last several months and will be noticeably stronger than oil warmers without the tapering-off that is common in gel air fresheners. Be sure to clean the metal disc weekly with a cotton swab to avoid dust accumulation.

Febreze Noticeables

Febreze Noticeables alternates between two fragrances at either a low or high intensity setting, dispensing the scent by warming one of two wicks. For up to $8 for each refill which lasts only a month, Febreze Noticeables are expensive to own. Use fingers or a small screwdriver to remove the plastic ring that holds each wick. The 1.42oz glass canister can be filled with two separate fragrance oils at a savings of up to 82%.

Over time the warming device will become stained, regardless of whether the manufacturer refills are used or a fragrance oil refill. The wicks are sturdy and will stand up to many refills. Febreze Noticeables excel over most other air fresheners by alternating scents to keep the air smelling fresh.

Air Wick Scented Oil

Air Wick scented oil is very easy to refill, but the construction of the wick is less sturdy than the other models. A simple adjustable warmer, Air Wick Scented Oil delivers one scent, stronger than the Febreze Noticeables. Manufacturer refills are much less expensive, so by refilling an Air Wick Scented Oil yourself you will save up to 70%. Use fingers or a screwdriver to remove the thin plastic ring holding the wick, but be very careful not to damage the wick.

Over time, the thin coating on the wick will split apart, causing the fibrous material inside to expand to nearly the size of the canister. Once this occurs, it is too messy and difficult to bother refilling the canister.

If you don't want to refill your air freshener or need to stock up on refill canisters, check out the links to these great deals and printable coupons for air freshener refills in the list below. Keep an eye on the deals, they're always being updated! Sometimes you can find manufacturer refills for less than the cost of a manual fragrance oil refill!