smell of disinfectants

You wonder where the biting one came from smell of disinfectants is coming and why some disinfectants smell strangely fermented? We explain why many hygiene products smell unpleasantly, which ingredients are responsible for this - and why the disinfectant from WIESENBERG is a welcome exception.

● Where does the unpleasant smell of hand sanitizer come from?

Sure, hygiene is important, but it has to smell of disinfectants always be so biting and uncomfortable? Spoilers: he doesn't have to. But more on that later. In fact, the pungent scent is usually due to the ingredient alcohol. Ethanol is a popular choice for hand disinfectants - also contained in classic luxury foods such as beer and wine - or isopropanol, which is also used in industry, cleaning and medical practices.

Ethanol is mostly obtained through yeast fermentation. Especially due to Corona and the suddenly very high demand for ethanol, one or the other schnapps distillery or brewery was able to expand their business area. The drinking alcohol that was produced in these factories could also be processed into disinfectants in times of this bottleneck by distilling it into a higher-proof alcohol. The residues of the aromatic substances then produce the fermented one Odor in disinfectants, which you really don't want to have on your hands. These disinfectants are still effective. However, the ethanol shortage that came as a surprise at the beginning of the corona crisis is now a thing of the past. And most disinfectants now smell mainly like pure, clinical ethanol.

● ingredients of disinfectants

What exactly does an effective hand sanitizer contain? Here is a list:

○ Alcohol: Ethanol or isopropanol is the active ingredient for most hand sanitizers. It takes a high percentage of alcohol for a product to be effective against bacteria, viruses and/or fungi. Therefore, a high proportion of alcohol in a disinfectant is positive. You should even make sure it's there.

○ Oils: Lemon oil, tea tree oil, lavender oil and others act against bacteria and viruses in addition to alcohol. They also activate and soothe the skin and protect it from skin irritation.

○ Glycerol: Glycerol or glycerin is not necessarily a component of disinfectants. It is mainly used for disinfectant gels and moisturizes your hands.

○ Surfactants: Surfactants are particularly important in the production process. They reduce surface tension, allowing chemicals to mix that otherwise would not mix, such as water and oil.

○ Thickeners: Thickeners give sanitizing gels their texture, making the product easy to rub and distribute on all sides of the hands.

● Does high-quality disinfection really have to smell like alcohol?

To a certain extent, high-quality disinfection must actually smell like alcohol if it is an alcohol-based disinfectant. But if you absolutely cannot stand the smell of alcohol, you can also use an alternative. However, ethanol or isopropanol-based disinfectants – unless they contain fragrances – should smell of alcohol. Otherwise it can be assumed that the product is less effective.

● Is disinfectant smell harmful?

When it comes to whether disinfectant smell is harmful, quantity matters. When it comes to hand disinfectants, it is recommended to use preparations containing ethanol rather than the counterpart containing isopropanol, since isopropanol is more aggressive to the skin. Surface disinfectants with aldehyde, hydrogen peroxide or chlorine are particularly harmful to the respiratory tract. Regular exposure to these fumes carries a long-term risk of developing lung disease. Therefore, when using these disinfectants, you should ventilate well. There is no reason to panic if you use it infrequently, but you should be careful not to be exposed to these fumes too often.

● Are there disinfectants without an odor?

There is Disinfectant without odor. These products are made without alcohol, which guarantees effectiveness against viruses and a high level of protection against infections in common disinfectants. Hypochlorous acid is often used as an active ingredient in alcohol-free disinfectants, which is a good alternative for allergy sufferers. Nevertheless, we recommend an alcohol-based disinfectant for non-allergy sufferers.

● Can you get addicted to the smell of disinfectant?

Dry alcoholics in particular keep asking us if the smell of disinfectants encourage relapses or even create a new addiction. In fact, the addiction memory factor is not entirely without it. After all, the smell of alcohol is associated with a certain feeling for the addict or former addict. Experts have not yet identified an above-average risk, but mindfulness and reflection are never wrong in this matter.

That being said, just about any smell can be addictive if overdone or if you get used to it. An addiction arises when these scents are linked to certain experiences. When you get used to the scent, dopamine is released, which is then perceived as a feeling of happiness. Even perfume can be addictive through this kind of reward effect.

● Beneficial disinfectant from WIESENBERG

Wir von WIESENBERG wollen Hygiene zum Erlebnis machen und haben daher all unser Know-How in unsere einzigartige Formulierung gesteckt. Unser Produkt reinigt Ihre Hände nicht nur, sondern sorgt dank einzigartigem Pflegewirkstoff auch für ein sanftes Hautgefühl. Ein weiteres Plus ist der Duft, der den ungeliebten Alkoholgeruch abmildert und durch einen Hauch von Frische ersetzt. Teste unsere Produkte und gönne dir einen reinigenden Wohlfühlmoment.