SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20260205-15AD1-2147323838. Severity: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional. Product: Febreze Febreze Plug-In Scented Oil Warmer (The product is a Febreze Plug-In Scented Oil Warmer, an electrically powered plug-in air freshener designed for continuous use in a standard household wall outlet. The device consists of a plastic plug-in warmer unit with an internal heating element and a removable scented oil refill bottle that attaches to the front of the unit. The warmer is approximately 45 inches tall, made of hard plastic, and plugs directly into a standard 120-volt household outlet. The oil refill bottle is a clear plastic container that allows the remaining liquid to be visible during use. The units were sold as Febreze Plug-Ins and manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Multiple fragrance refills were used with the same type of warmer. The devices were marketed to operate continuously for 3050 days per refill. The products intended purpose is to heat scented oil over time to release fragrance into indoor living spaces.). Incident: I used multiple Febreze Plug-In Scented Oil warmers in my home as directed by the manufacturer. During normal use, several units overheated and caused household electrical breakers to trip. At least one device showed visible melting and heat damage at the plug while liquid oil remained inside the refill container. The devices continued operating despite overheating and visible damage. The refill oil did not fully evaporate, contradicting the products advertised lifespan, while the plug itself appeared to burn internally. These incidents occurred repeatedly across more than twenty units and multiple refill packs. The overheating, melting, and electrical disruption present a serious fire and electrical hazard to my household. I am concerned about the risk of ignition, property damage, and injury due to the device continuing to draw power while damaged.