Fragrance Canister
Masking odors or introducing pleasant fragrances since antiquity.
Air fresheners are products designed to reduce unwanted odors in indoor spaces, to introduce pleasant fragrances, or both. They typically emit fragrance to mask odors but may use other methods of action such as absorbing, bonding to, or chemically altering compounds in the air that produce smells. These items have evolved significantly since consumer products first gained wider popularity in the 1940s. Today, they are found in domestic and commercial settings across both small and large spaces, ranging from automatic timed metered aerosol dispensers to simple reed diffusers.
- Used By
- Porters, Heartman, Bridges Network Staff
- Origin
- Naturally occurring scents collected or extracted from individuals who have passed to the Beach
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Fragrances have been used to mask odors since antiquity, often linked with spiritual or religious practices like the use of incense. Over the past two millennia, various methods and compounds were developed to create pleasant aromas or eliminate unpleasant odors in indoor spaces. Consumer products for air freshening began to emerge in the late 1800s, coinciding with the arrival of the first synthetically produced fragrances. In 1939, Air Wick launched in the United States, initially producing liquid air fresheners that worked by evaporation with a wick. These early products claimed to kill odors using chlorophyll, though scientists began questioning this efficacy as early as 1953. From 1947 to 1951, the company sold $7 million worth of these and other air fresheners.
In Their Own Story
In 1946, the first fan-operated air freshener product was invented, released by the company Surco under the brand Air-Scent in 1948. Shortly after, in 1948, commercial aerosol sprays were introduced in the United States based on military technology for dispensing insecticides. These delivered a fine mist of aroma compounds suspended in the air. By the 1950s, companies began adding chemicals like unsaturated esters, pre-polymers, and long-chain aldehydes to their formulas to neutralize or destroy odors rather than just mask them. However, by the 1980s, the market shifted away from aerosols due to concerns over chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) destroying the ozone layer. This shift led to the popularity of alternative delivery methods such as under-seat wafer air fresheners, scented candles, and heat release products.
Reader's Guide
Air fresheners introduce fragrance into interior spaces either as droplets that transition to vapor or as molecules evaporating directly from a source. Mechanisms for odor control include masking, adsorption using materials like zeolite or activated charcoal, oxidation via ozone, and disinfection to inactivate microorganisms. Delivery systems are categorized as continuous action, such as scented candles, wall plug-ins using heat or piezoelectric technology, and fragrance impregnated gels, or instant action, primarily aerosol sprays and atomizers. Aerosol sprays use a propellant to force fragrance through a nozzle, creating droplets 30 to 50 micrometres in diameter, while atomizers create larger droplets of 50 to 150 micrometres. Current propellants include hydrocarbon blends, dimethyl ether, and hydrofluorocarbons like 1,1-difluoroethane.
Did You Know?
- Air fresheners have been used since antiquity, often linked to spiritual practices like burning incense.
- The first fan-operated air freshener was invented in 1946 and released by Surco as Air-Scent in 1948.
- Commercial aerosol sprays were introduced in the US in 1948, adapted from military insecticide dispensing technology.
- In the 1950s, manufacturers added unsaturated esters and long-chain aldehydes to formulas to chemically neutralize odors.
- Aerosol usage declined in the 1980s due to bans on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which damaged the ozone layer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a Fragrance Canister in Death Stranding?
It is a containment device holding scent samples derived from deceased individuals found on the Beach. These canisters allow users to manipulate olfactory signatures in dangerous areas.
How do Fragrance Canisters protect Porters during deliveries?
They emit specific scents that mask the user's natural odor from Beached Things. This prevents detection and avoids triggering aggressive encounters while transporting cargo.
Where does the scent inside these canisters originate?
The fragrances are extracted directly from the Beaches where souls reside after death. Each sample represents the unique olfactory identity of a specific person who has passed on.
Who else uses Fragrance Canisters besides standard Porters?
Members of the Bridges Network and Heartman also employ these tools for various operations. They use them to manage BT activity in controlled environments or during critical missions.
Why is carrying a Fragrance Canister essential for survival?
Without this masking agent, Porters become visible targets for hostile entities in the Chiral Network zones. Proper usage significantly reduces the risk of fatal encounters while traversing the wasteland.
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