In hospitality and healthcare alike, one of the most immediate impressions guests or patients take away from a facility comes not from décor, design, or even service — but from scent. A space that smells clean conveys care, attention, and hygiene; one that doesn’t can undermine even the most luxurious or advanced of environments.

Yet the question persists: how best can professionals manage unpleasant odours without overreliance on harsh chemicals or superficial masking agents? Are modern odor absorbers and neutralizers truly effective — and safe — solutions for long-term air quality management?

In both hotels and hospitals, these questions carry weight. For Baburaj Nair, Executive Housekeeper, Mama Shelter Dubai, and Marwa Khamis Amamari, Infection Prevention and Control Officer in Medical city for Military and Security Services- Al Qurm, odour management is not merely a comfort issue — it’s integral to health, reputation, and operational excellence.

The Invisible Factor Shaping Perception

“In the hospitality industry, ensuring a quality customer experience inevitably requires a healthy and pleasant environment,” says Baburaj Nair. “Among the factors influencing customer satisfaction, the presence of unpleasant odours is a major issue. Whether they come from humidity, pipes, textiles, food, or tobacco, these odour nuisances can compromise an establishment’s image and impact customer service.”

For hotels, scent defines memory. A faint trace of mustiness in a corridor, a lingering kitchen smell in a lobby, or tobacco odour in a non-smoking room can undo hours of meticulous housekeeping. In healthcare, the stakes are higher still. “Odours arise from many sources in healthcare: incontinence, bodily fluids, decomposition, wound exudates, chemical cleaning by-products, linen and waste,” explains Marwa Khamis Amamari. “If unaddressed they can undermine patient and visitor experience, reduce trust in the facility and distract staff from clinical tasks.”

Both professionals agree: odour control is inseparable from environmental hygiene. In hospitality, it affects guest satisfaction and brand reputation; in healthcare, it touches infection prevention and psychological well-being. Yet the path to effective, sustainable odour control differs vastly across contexts.

Where Odours Come From — and Why They Persist

As Nair points out, most unpleasant odours share a biological origin: “Unpleasant odours are generally caused by bacteria feeding on decomposing organic matter. This process releases volatile compounds responsible for odour nuisance. For effective and lasting elimination, it’s essential to act directly at the source of the problem.”

From kitchen drains to guest room carpets, bacterial colonies thrive in moisture-rich environments. In hospitals, additional factors like biological waste, wound dressings, and chemical residues complicate the picture. Simply “covering” these smells, whether through air fresheners or scented sprays, offers no more than a temporary illusion of freshness.

Amamari reinforces this point: “Traditional air fresheners mask smells with strong fragrances; however, best-practice hospital odour control focuses on neutralising odour compounds or eliminating their source rather than simply covering scent.”

Temporary Fixes vs. Sustainable Solutions

The market offers an array of odour control products — from perfumed air fresheners and enzyme sprays to ozone-based purifiers and ultraviolet lamps. But as Nair cautions, many come with limitations.

“Chemical and natural air fresheners mask odours by diffusing a pleasant scent without treating the cause. Some may contain irritating and allergenic compounds. Chemical odour neutralizers encapsulate malodorous molecules, but their effect is limited in time and their chemical composition may present health risks.”

High-tech purifiers, too, are no panacea. “Ozone air purifiers and germicidal UV lamps can destroy certain odorous particles, but they do not treat bacterial growth and can generate harmful substances,” Nair notes. The result? A cycle of recurring odours, mounting costs, and potential health risks for both guests and staff.

In hospitals, the challenge is even more complex due to the need for biocompatibility and infection-control compliance. “For hospital facilities, deployment must respect infection-prevention protocols,” says Amamari. “The odour-neutraliser must be compatible with disinfectants and not interfere with environmental cleaning protocols.”

The Probiotic Advantage

To break this cycle, Nair advocates for probiotic technologies — an emerging, nature-based solution that targets odours at their microbial root.

“Probiotic products offer an innovative, environmentally friendly approach to managing unpleasant odours,” he explains. Their mechanism is both simple and powerful:

Immediate encapsulation of malodorous molecules to neutralize perceived odours.

Colonization of the environment by beneficial micro-organisms that gradually eliminate odour-causing bacteria.

Prolonged effect, continuing for days after application.

According to Nair, these living microbe formulations not only neutralize odours but also rebalance surface microbiota, preventing regrowth of harmful bacteria. “They are biodegradable, contain no toxic substances, and reduce the recurrence of unpleasant odours by acting at the source,” he says. “Ultimately, they ensure long-lasting freshness while protecting health and reducing environmental impact.”

In Healthcare: Neutralization with Precision

While probiotics are gaining ground in hospitality and soft FM, hospital settings demand extra scrutiny. Odour neutralization here must intersect seamlessly with infection prevention, occupational safety, and patient care.

“Cleaning standards emphasise routine surface cleaning and disinfection as foundational,” says Amamari. “Odour control systems should integrate into the housekeeping and environmental services workflow — for instance: after soiled-linen removal, before cleaning of the room, or as part of waste-bin management routines.”

She adds that low-VOC (volatile organic compound) and non-irritant chemistries are vital. “Given vulnerable patients — such as those in ICUs or oncology wards — a neutraliser that simply adds fragrance may be less appropriate. Instead, choose one which targets odour-causing compounds like ammonia, volatile sulphur compounds, or bile acids, and is safe around patients and staff.”

For healthcare facilities, the ideal solution is one that balances efficacy, safety, and integration. Whether through dry-vapour systems, enzymatic neutralizers, or absorbent filters, technologies must fit within a holistic Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) framework rather than function as standalone air-care accessories.

Cost, Consistency, and Compliance

Beyond chemistry, both experts underline the importance of operational feasibility. “These solutions must be used frequently, resulting in high expenditure on consumables and manpower,” Nair points out, referring to traditional air fresheners and neutralizers. In hospitality, where cleaning cycles run daily, cost per use quickly adds up.

Amamari agrees that hospitals must assess the cost-effectiveness of odor control solutions carefully. “Systems vary widely in price and lifecycle maintenance — vapour machines, refills, sprays. Facilities should pilot in high-risk zones and monitor feedback from patients and staff as well as key hygiene indicators,” she recommends.

The takeaway? Odour management must be data-driven. Whether in guest rooms or patient wards, success lies in measuring both perception and hygiene outcomes — not just pleasant scent levels.

Environmental and Human Health Impact

Modern consumers — and regulators — are increasingly concerned about the chemical footprint of indoor air-care products. Overuse of synthetic fragrances, volatile solvents, and ozone generators contributes not only to indoor pollution but also to long-term respiratory issues.

For Nair, this is a turning point. “Some chemicals contribute to air pollution and can affect the health of customers and staff. Probiotic solutions, in contrast, are non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally positive.”

Amamari echoes this caution, particularly in clinical contexts. “Odour neutralisation products in hospitals must not interfere with infection-control agents or emit irritants that could trigger respiratory issues in sensitive patients. Selecting low-VOC, CFC-free and non-toxic formulations is essential.”

In short: what smells good must also be good — for people and the planet.

Cross-Sector Lessons: Shared Goals, Different Pathways

Though their industries differ, both Nair and Amamari describe a similar journey: from masking to management, from cosmetic fixes to cause-based control.

Hotels are increasingly adopting the science of microbial balance once confined to healthcare, while hospitals are borrowing customer-experience sensibilities from hospitality. The intersection is a shared ethos — clean air as a foundation for well-being.

Nair sees probiotic technology as a game changer not only for odour control but also for brand differentiation. “The adoption of probiotic solutions enables hotels to benefit from several strategic advantages: improved guest satisfaction, reduced maintenance costs, and a visibly healthier environment.”

Amamari, meanwhile, envisions integration through smart systems. “Looking forward, innovations like smart air quality monitors and IoT-enabled odour control systems are poised to provide real-time insights and adjustments, further elevating hospital hygiene standards.”

Together, their perspectives reveal that effective odour management is both an art and a science — one that merges technology, microbiology, and environmental responsibility.

The Verdict: Yay, But with Caution

So — Odor absorbers and neutralizers: Yay or Nay?

Both experts land firmly on the “Yay” side — but only if used intelligently, sustainably, and safely. Odour control is indispensable in environments that promise care, comfort, or cleanliness. Yet it demands evidence-based choices: targeting source causes, aligning with health and safety standards, and reducing chemical dependency.

As Nair summarizes, “Faced with the limitations of traditional solutions, probiotic-based air fresheners are the ideal solution for the hotel industry. They guarantee effective, eco-responsible management of olfactory nuisances while protecting the health of occupants and reducing environmental impact.”

And as Amamari concludes, “Effective odour neutralisation improves patient satisfaction, supports staff morale, and contributes to perception of safety and cleanliness.”

From hotel lobbies to hospital wards, odour management has evolved from an afterthought to a measurable component of quality. Whether through living probiotics or smart vapour systems, the message is clear: a clean environment should not only look clean — it should smell clean, naturally and safely.