There are a few automatic air fresheners on the market that release fragrance either continuously or at timed intervals, but Glade Sense & Spray is different. It comes equipped with a smart motion sensor and only sprays when it senses movement in the room. So if no one is in the room moving around, the unit goes on lock mode and will not spray for another 30 minutes. This helps conserve the spray because it only releases fragrance when it’s needed. There is a boost button on the front of the unit if you need a quick burst of scent, and the button can be pushed at any time.
There is an LED on the front that signals different settings. 3 flashes of the light means the unit has sensed motion and is about to spray. A solid light means the unit is in lockout mode. If the light flashes every 5 seconds that means the unit is trying to detect motion.
The initial Glade Sense & Spray kit comes with one motion sensor unit, one can of scent, and 2 AA batteries. The retail cost of the kit is about $8.99. The refill scent canisters cost around $3.95. The refills last an average of 30 days if the unit sprays 10 times a day. So your mileage may vary depending on traffic and use.
The available scents are Clean Linen, Apple Cinnamon, Country Garden, and Powder Fresh. The kit I received had the Clean Linen scent and I found the smell to be quite refreshing.
This product works great in a bathroom area, especially in a guest bath, because the unit will spray when they walk in the room and fill the area with a fresh scent. By having the Glade Sense & Spray automatically freshen the area, your guests will not have to be embarrassed if their stay in the bathroom generates an odor which would require them to use a loud aerosol spray room freshener.
Based on the results of my having used this product for 30 days, these are my pros and cons.
Pros for Glade Sense & Spray
$8.99 for a started kit is a little steep, but it comes with everything needed to get started right away, it even comes with the 2 necessary AA batteries.
Initial set-up is easy. Just open up the holder, pop in the batteries, snap the freshening spray canister in place and snap the lid closed.
The sensor detects motion up to 5 feet away.
Once motion is detected, there is a slight delay before the unit releases fragrance. This is good because the person walking by is not in direct range of the spray when it’s released. Note, I’ve also listed this in the “con” area for a different reason.
The batteries lasted for an entire month. I’ve had other air freshener units such as the Glade Wisp and the batteries quit long before the fragrance was used up.
Canister of scent lasted about 23 days, which was longer than I expected it to last.
The $3.95 price tag for a can of spray isn’t overly pricey if your usage allows it to last about a month. If you put the unit in a high traffic area then the price could be a detriment.
The “lock-out” mode helps conserve the air freshener, making it last longer.
If there is an “odor emergency”, the boost button on the front of the unit will release fragrance at any time.
The sound the unit makes when it squirts is loud and obvious when there isn’t much noise in the room. If a person wants a “hidden” air freshener this could be a drawback.
The unit is not very attractive and is slightly big and bulky. It’s plain white and is a bit heavy, and has an awkward shape when trying to place it in a small space.
The sensor detects motion up to 5 feet away, but that “motion” can be a cloud covering the sunlight, causing a shadow and the unit will spray. So don’t place it near a window.
If the dispenser is located in a low spot, there is the potential for someone to get an eye or mouth full of mist if it squirts and someone is standing directly underneath or beside it.
The mist from the spray will coat walls or countertops depending on where the unit is located.
If you put the unit in a high traffic area then the $3.95 price of a scented refill could get quite expensive.
It runs off of batteries, which have to be replaced about as often as the fragrance canister.
BOTTOM LINE
I like the Glade Sense & Spray Motion Activated Automatic Spray Room Freshener and will keep using it. It fits in well with our household needs and usage. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.
