Ornie question

[Georgia]

OK, newbies first - an ornie is an air freshener made from beads soaked in FO then baked. http://www.candlesupply.com/how2aromaornies.html

Now, to my question. A friend just called. She had gotten 2 leather ornies from me about a month ago. Her mom stole one so a few days later I made her another from the same batch of beads. One is in her car, the other in her husband's van. She said she can't smell hers, but got in the van and it was still going strong.

It's been pretty warm and sunny around here so I thought maybe the van had more windows, got more sunshine, released more scent. But her car is black leather...pretty much sucks up the heat and sunshine so I don't think that's it. I told her to switch the two and report back and that I would pose the question here for feedback. The other thing is she's a smoker and her husband isn't. So she smokes in the car, but is rarely in the van. I haven't noticed any worse feedback from smoker's on my testers. Any thoughts?

[Erin Lea]

I've had a couple of complaints (from the same person) that the ornies stopped smelling after a period of time-a short period of time. I replaced it, tested them like crazy and couldn't figure out what was going on. In fact, I still don't. I think that some people get "immune" to scents much faster and when they are around them constantly, in the same environment, they have a more difficult time smelling them. I also think that the smoking factor that you've mentioned could definitely be partially to blame...wonder if the smoke scent could be penetrating the ornie...The smell of a smoker's car overpowers every other scent possible. My husband smoked in my car a couple of times, hasn't in over 4 months, and I can only smell the lingering smoke scent in my car and not my Pink Sugar ornie...

[blazerina]

If i'm not mistaken...doesn't smoking deaden certain senses? Seems like I heard that somewhere. Not long term or anything, but when you are 'on' a cigarrette or how ever you want to put it, lol.. perhaps 'enjoying it's effects'?? If she is getting in her car after not being where she can smoke vs getting in after she has smoked= could very well make a difference. But my first and strongest instinct is to think that the smoke is clinging to the ornie and covering the surface from which it would normally 'breathe'. Or in some shape or form neutralizing the scent of it. This makes total sense to ME. But I dunno either. Perhaps you can employ her as a tester for all your smoking customers. She might be able to take a more honest look at why and when she is or isn't smelling it.

Not getting bad feedback from other smokers doesn't give a complete story. They may just not give feedback at all or don't expect as much results and are satisfied- given that they are used to those darn pine trees, lol. And maybe they aren't being entirely truthful about their smoking habits lol.

[CathyinME]

Smoking does deaden the scent of the ornies. I put the same scent in my truck & one in my Mom's car-I smoke- the scent from mine was gone in a week but my Mom's is still strong months later. Guess I better quit smokin.

[Georgia]

Thanks for your input! I was leaning towards the smoking, but I smoke too and I know mine are lasting as long as non-smokers...maybe part of it is perspective. We smokers know smells are fainter and accept that.

[Deb]

I think it's also a matter of where it's hung in the car. I believe that air circulation has a lot to do with it too, maybe more so than the heat.

[Georgia]

I think it's also a matter of where it's hung in the car. I believe that air circulation has a lot to do with it too, maybe more so than the heat.

That's interesting...the van would definately have more air flow....jeez, there are too many variables here to figure this out. I'll have to ask tomorrow if she switched them and what the result was.

[Erin Lea]

Hmm...I think air circulation is important, but not as important as heat. We're in TX so I know first hand the effects of heat on ornies...our ornies will last maybe 1 month in the heat of summer here. The scent is just basically pushed out of the ornie when it gets to be 105+ in a vehicle and they just don't last that long. Now that it's winter I can barely smell the various ornies that I stick in my car to try out the way they smell. But, air circulation is definitely an important factor because once I turn the heater on or open a window and the air starts to move around a bit I can smell whiffs of the ornies every now and then.

Basically, I think ornies are a very wierd product. I loooooove them, but the one customer I had that had problems with them was a very confusing time for me. lol...I won't be surprised the next time a customer has a problem with them b/c I think the sense of smell is very subjective and so many people are in their cars constantly and just become used to the scent.

Personally, I think the smoking is the culprit in your customer's situation. Let us know what happens!!!