芳香剤(ほうこうざい)

芳香剤(ほうこうざい) is an air freshener — a product that adds a pleasant smell to a room, a car or a toilet. Formation: 芳香(ほうこう) 'fragrance' + 剤(ざい) 'agent'.

Forms

• 置(お)き型(がた): the standing gel or liquid pot, left on a shelf or cistern
• スプレー式(しき): spray
• 吊(つ)り下(さ)げ型(がた): the hanging kind, typical in cars

Collocations

• 芳香剤(ほうこうざい)を置(お)く: to put out an air freshener
• 芳香剤(ほうこうざい)の香(かお)り: the scent of an air freshener

The distinction Japanese products insist on is between adding a scent and removing a smell. A 消臭剤(しょうしゅうざい) neutralises odours and may be unscented; a 芳香剤(ほうこうざい) covers them with a fragrance. Many products now claim to do both.