Re: Air Freshener Jars

[Guest guest]

Air Freshener Jars

Maybe someone here can help me.

I was in a shop where you have things made for you, shampoos etc..and

the lady makes air freshener jars.

She puts in scented oil, color and then beads to about 1/4 full in the

jar. Then she adds water, the beads swell up and she puts a lid on

with holes for the scent to permiate through the room...

What are the beads? I want to make it. I use Essential oils alot and

want to make my own for gifts.

, those are probably polymer crystals. Lots of suppliers used to sell

them for making what were called " smelly jellies " ... the room fresheners like

you described. But they seem to have fallen out of favor for some reason, and

are now near impossible to find at such suppliers.

However, you can probably still find them at gardening supply stores or

websites, under the name " Soil Moist " . They are used to help keep the soil of

potted plants from drying out (you hydrate them first, then mix them with the

soil... actually they're a lifesaver if you live in a desert climate where you

have to water potted plants twice a day in the summer!)

Hope that helps!

Sue

_._,_.___ .

[Guest guest]

> " " <d5enzo@...> wrote:

> I was in a shop where you have things made for you, shampoos etc..and

> the lady makes air freshener jars. She puts in scented oil, color

and then beads to about 1/4 full in the jar. Then she adds water, the

beads swell up and she puts a lid on with holes for the scent to

permiate through the room...What are the beads?>

Those beads are a Super absorbent polymer, chemically " Cationic

Polyacrylamide Powder " . They're the same thing as is used in diapers,

and they are also used in plant soil mixes and as an additive that you

can mix into container plants so that they do not need to be watered

as often.

Chemically, they are supposedly inert and safe, and composed of

non-toxic ingredients, although no website I found selling them would

say what the ingredients are. Here's the MSDS for one site's version

of the crystals:

http://www.aquadiamonds.com/msds.htm

When I worked at an organic & natural garden store, we did carry

these, although we were advised by OMRI (the organic certification

organization here in Oregon) that they aren't approved for use in

certified Organic agriculture, and it was also my understanding from

research at the time that using them in food plant growing might be a

bad idea.

Anyway, as far as for scent jars, I don't know, the gel is not organic

or natural, but it is considered chemically inert. Those scent jars

are so popular, it would be nice to see them reworked with essential

oils. I was at a trade show with my herbal company a few years back,

and we were 4-5 booths away from a scent jar booth, and we had to

clean all our shelves twice a day to get rid of the still-scented

sticky residue that drifted over the whole weekend. It was nasty, I

don't know if it was the polymer or the scent chemicals, but if you

come up with a less-toxic version of the jars, that would be great!

Strength & Wisdom,

leavesofjoy / Micah

www.al-kemi.com

[Guest guest]

I have those and used to carry them when I also made and sold candles. My

supplier at the time was Bittercreek Candle and I think most of the candle

suppliers still carry them as " aroma beads " . Look under the " air

fresheners " section. Some people use Morton's rock salt also, but works a

little differently.

HTH's.

Ann

annrn@...

Wingsets Aromatherapy (www.wingsets.com)

....and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

II Cor. 2:14