Air Wick Class Action Says Room Sprays Don’t Eliminate Odors

Reckitt Benckiser faces a class action lawsuit from a consumer alleging that their Air Wick air fresheners do not actually remove odors as is stated in advertisements.

Plaintiff Donna Sims recently filed the class action lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser LLC over claims that their Air Wick air fresheners cannot eliminate odors and instead only mask them.

Sims mentions aerosol Air Wick air freshener in a variety of fragrances including Vanilla Indulgence, Lavender & Chamomile, Apple Cinnamon Medley, Fresh Waters, Magnolia & Cherry Blossom, Freesia & Jasmine, and Hawai’i Exotic Papaya & Hibiscus Flower.

Air Wick air fresheners are allegedly marketed aggressively with claims on the front of the air freshener labels stating that the product “eliminates odors.”

The Air Wick class action says these claims are very attractive to most consumers who would rather their air fresheners eliminate any odors opposed to only masking them.

Because odors are often accompanied by health hazards and allergens, the idea of eliminating odors at the source is a huge selling point, the Air Wick class action states.

However, Sims claims that Air Wick air fresheners do not actually eliminate odors contrary to Reckitt Benckiser’s aggressive marketing campaigns.

An expert chemist allegedly reviewed Air Wick air fresheners and concluded that (1) “there is no indication that the Air Wick product in this case has any deodorizing capability when used as directed as an air freshener,” (2) “any odor activity exhibited by this product appears to be limited solely to odor masking due to the presence of fragrances in the product,” (3) “we do not see any validity to Air Wick’s claim that their product eliminates odors.”

The Air Wick room freshener class action argues that Reckitt Benckiser’s deceptive representations about their products were made to intentionally deceive consumers into believing that Air Wick air fresheners eliminate odors.

Because consumers prefer air fresheners that eliminate odors opposed to masking them, the deceptive Air Wick marketing would allegedly increase the products’ success, the plaintiff alleges.

Reasonable consumers rely on Reckitt Benckiser’s representations when purchasing Air Wick products, Sims claims. They would not expect that the company is deceiving them, which Reckitt Benckiser allegedly takes advantage of.

“Plaintiff and the Class relied on Defendant’s representations because they would not have purchased its Products had they known that they could not function as promised,” Sims claims in her Air Wick class action lawsuit. “At the point of sale, Plaintiff and Class members did not know, and had no reason to know, that the Products were deceptively labeled, and would not have purchased the Products had they known they were incapable of eliminating odors.”

Sims seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased Air Wick aerosol sprays with “eliminates odors” claims on the front labels.

She also seeks to represent a Class of the same consumers in Illinois who are protected by additional state laws.

The Air Wick class action lawsuit seeks restitution, disgorgement, compensator damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Sims is represented by C.K. Lee of Lee Litigation Group PLLC.

The Air Wick Room Freshener Class Action Lawsuit is Sims v. Reckitt Benckiser LLC, Case No. 1:18-cv-06565, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.