Preservatives for Air Freshener Gel

For a water-based gel like an air freshener gel, you need a water-soluble, broad-spectrum preservative. The best choice will depend on the pH of your final gel formulation.

Here are some options that could work:

• Mild Preserved™ COS (pH 2-8, Broad Spectrum, No-Odor): This is a broad-spectrum, water-soluble preservative that works well in a wide pH range (2-8) and is odorless, which is beneficial for a fragranced product like an air freshener.
• Global Guard™ 221 (pH 2-7, Natural): This is another water-soluble, broad-spectrum preservative effective in the pH range of 2-7. It is also noted as being inexpensive and globally approved.
• NaturePreserve™ LB2: This natural origin preservative is highly effective against bacteria and fungi, particularly at lower pH values (2.0-6.5).
• Preserve-BSB™ (eq. Optiphen BSB-W): This preservative is effective up to pH 5.5 and is suitable for formulations within that range.

Recommendation:

Consider the pH of your air freshener gel formulation when choosing. If your gel has a pH between 2 and 7, Global Guard™ 221 or Mild Preserved™ COS would be good general-purpose options, with Mild Preserved™ COS being odorless. If your pH is lower (2-6.5), NaturePreserve™ LB2 or Preserve-BSB™ could also be suitable, depending on the specific pH.

Always perform a challenge test on your final formulation to ensure the chosen preservative is effective.