At the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we take water bottles seriously. Over the years, we've rigorously assessed countless options for performance, durability, and ease of use. But when the Air Up water bottle entered our testing lineup, it was clear that this was no ordinary examination.

Our 11-person testing panel, featuring consumers, dietitians, kitchen equipment experts, engineers, and chemists, embarked on a thorough evaluation journey. The result? A wealth of data, comprising over a hundred data points and invaluable feedback. This feedback ranged from taste assessments to comfort during usage and observations on shifts in hydration habits.

Inside our Lab, no detail was overlooked. We conducted drop and leak tests on both plastic and stainless steel Air Up models. We meticulously scrutinized nine distinct flavor pods, rating them for flavor quality, longevity, and strength. Additionally, we assessed the water bottle's user-friendliness, covering aspects like filling, carrying, drinking, and cleaning.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

What is Air Up?

Lena Jüngst and Tim Jäger, two visionary German university students, founded Air Up after their exploration of Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters, a book authored by neuroscientist Gordon M. Shepherd. Shepherd's book challenges traditional notions by underscoring the critical role of the sense of smell in flavor perception. Inspired by these insights, Jüngst and Jäger embarked on a mission to create the first Air Up prototype, guided by the motto "Neuroscience meets design." Their overarching goal is to enhance global health by addressing poor nutrition, particularly inadequate hydration. This innovative water bottle is designed to accommodate 15 distinctive flavor pods and is available in both plastic and stainless steel versions, offering personalization options with a variety of colorful accessories.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

How Air Up works

Air Up revolutionizes the way we experience taste by tapping into our olfactory receptors. These tiny sensors, capable of detecting over 1 trillion scents, play a pivotal role in our sense of taste. Air Up explains:

"Retronasal smelling is the key to our innovation, enabling us to infuse plain water with flavor. Our bottles allow you to consume 'flavored' air from our pods with every sip. Your nasal receptors translate this 'flavored' air into taste, enhancing your water without actually adding any flavor. It's like tasting with your sense of smell."

With Air Up, you can savor scents as flavors through the magic of retronasal olfaction.

To elevate your hydration experience, follow these simple steps: Fill your water bottle to the capacity line, then attach the mouthpiece with the straw. Place the circular pod over the mouthpiece, push it into place, and ensure it's activated. When you take a sip, scented air bubbles travel through the straw, producing a delightful bubbling sound, and voilà—your senses perceive it as taste.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

What is in the flavor pods?

According to Air Up, their flavor pods are crafted using natural extracts from plants, fruits, and spices. While they keep specific details related to their intellectual property under wraps, their commitment to natural ingredients is evident.

Air Up offers a diverse range of 15 flavors, from classic apple to intriguing basil-lemon and refreshing orange-vanilla. You can explore these scents through variety packs or opt for three-packs of your favorite flavor. Each water bottle starter set also includes a selection of flavor pods.

During our testing, personal preferences played a significant role, with no single scent emerging as a unanimous favorite. Testers shared their insights, highlighting varying scent strengths and flavor profiles.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

How long do Air Up pods last?

According to Air Up, each of its pods is engineered to enrich approximately 1.3 gallons of water with captivating scents. The company also highlights the importance of checking the "best before" date on each pod, as the scent's potency may decrease over time, providing the most satisfying experience when the pod is freshly opened. It is crucial to store the pods in their original packaging, as they are not washable and should only be unsealed just before attaching them to your water bottle.

Our observations revealed that if the pods remained attached to the water bottle for an extended duration without use, the fragrance gradually dissipated, leading to a less pronounced "flavor" for the water. Our experts, considering the per-pod cost and the current online-only purchasing option, expressed a desire for pods with an extended lifespan.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

Does the Air Up water bottle work?

Do Air Up water bottles truly deliver on their promise? Our extensive testing journey revealed that they do indeed succeed in transforming water into flavorful experiences with their pods. The mango-passionfruit pod, in particular, stood out with its juicy and delightful "flavor." However, opinions on the orange-vanilla pod were mixed, with some finding it somewhat artificial.

As we delved into the data and the feedback from our testers, it became evident that personal preferences and scent perception played a significant role. Scent perception is a highly individual matter, influenced by personal associations and the nuances of each person's olfactory sensitivity. Some testers did not envision incorporating the Air Up water bottle into their daily routine after testing, while others regarded it as an innovative addition.

One tester noted, "Inhaling the scent didn't enhance the flavor for me," while another commented, "This is no mere gimmick. On days when plain water doesn't appeal to me, the Air Up bottle adds a layer of enjoyment to hydration." Ultimately, your interaction with Air Up is intimately tied to your sensory perceptions.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

Additional Lab and tester notes

Explore the world of the Air Up water bottle through our extensive examination of its durability, weight, and ease of use. We'll provide insights into the lightweight plastic version's characteristics and compare them with the heftier stainless steel iteration.

Our rigorous drop testing subjected both materials to repeated falls onto hard concrete, revealing their resilience and potential vulnerabilities. This real-world testing sheds light on how well these bottles can withstand everyday challenges.

In our leak testing, we assessed the bottles' ability to remain watertight when laid horizontally with tightly sealed lids. Uncover the differences in leak resistance between the plastic and stainless steel variants.

Furthermore, we delved into the comfort aspect of the Air Up water bottle, with a focus on the mouthpiece and sipping experience. Cleaning and maintenance considerations, including the advantages of the stainless steel model, are also discussed.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

So, is the Air Up water bottle worth it?

Is the Air Up water bottle a worthwhile investment? This innovative bottle is designed for those who enjoy the taste of flavored water and find it easier to stay hydrated with a hint of flavor.

According to Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT, the Nutrition Lab Director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, "People who struggle with staying hydrated might appreciate this bottle, especially those who find plain water unappealing." If you lead a busy life and don't have the time to infuse your water with fresh ingredients, Air Up could be a game-changer.

However, it's crucial to consider that the Air Up water bottle may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those who consume substantial quantities of water and need a larger bottle capacity (the plastic version holds 22 ounces, while the stainless steel version holds 28 ounces). As one tester mentioned, "I wish it came in different sizes to reduce the need for frequent refills."

Additionally, budget considerations come into play, as regularly purchasing flavor pods can impact your finances. A three-pack of pods, which flavors approximately 3.9 gallons of water, may become an ongoing expense. Nevertheless, with seven out of 11 testers endorsing Air Up, it seems to have garnered widespread approval.

Air Up Compatible Food Grade Flavor Pods and Bottles: Sipperment

ref: Air Up Water Bottle Review: We Tested the Water Bottle That "Flavors" Water Via Scent