Are there any chemicals in Air Up pods?

December 22, 2025 •

3 min read

According to Air Up's official website, their flavor pods contain only natural aromas extracted from fruits, spices, and herbs, and no sugar or artificial additives are mixed into the water itself. The perceived flavor comes from scent, not from substances added to the liquid, meaning the pods contain natural compounds responsible for their aroma.

Quick Summary

Air Up pods rely on scent to create the illusion of flavor in plain water. The pods contain natural, food-grade aromatic compounds, but no sugar or calories. Safety concerns exist regarding potential chemical leaching from the plastic carrier material, though the company states it's food-safe. The effectiveness of the flavor experience can also vary among users.

Key Points

Natural Aromas: Air Up pods contain natural aromas derived from fruits, herbs, and spices, not artificial sweeteners or additives in the water.
Scent, Not Taste: The flavor is an illusion created by scent reaching your brain through retronasal olfaction, leaving the water itself chemically unaltered.
Material Safety: The pods' inner fleece is made of polyester, and some experts have raised concerns about potential acetaldehyde leaching when exposed to heat, a risk the company mitigates with storage recommendations.
Plastic Components: The outer casing is made of polypropylene (PP), and the company is working on bio-based plastics to reduce environmental impact.
User Experience Varies: The perceived flavor intensity can be inconsistent and subjective, with some users reporting a weak or artificial taste.
Hydration Focus: The primary goal is to encourage plain water consumption by making it more enjoyable through scent, providing a zero-calorie, sugar-free alternative.

What are Air Up Pods Made Of?

Air Up flavor pods use a combination of materials to deliver the scent-based flavor experience. The main components are the pod's natural aroma and the carrier materials that hold and release this scent.

Natural Flavors: The scents are derived from natural ingredients such as fruits, spices, and herbs. These are a proprietary blend formulated by Air Up's flavor team.
Carrier Material: A fibrous fleece, made of polyester (PE), holds the concentrated, natural flavors inside the pod. As you sip, air passes over this fleece and carries the scent to your olfactory receptors.
Outer Casing: The exterior of the pod is made from polypropylene (PP), a common, recyclable plastic.

How the Flavor-by-Scent Mechanism Works

Air Up's core technology is called "retronasal olfaction". The human tongue can only distinguish five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. The rich, nuanced flavors of food and drink are primarily perceived through our sense of smell. Air Up leverages this by providing scent rather than a water-soluble flavoring agent.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

Sip and Suck: As you drink from the straw, your suction pulls both water from the bottle and scented air through the pod's air gap.
Aroma Transport: The aromatic air travels along with the water and passes through the back of your throat, to your olfactory bulb.
Brain Perception: The brain interprets the aroma as flavor, creating the illusion that the water itself is flavored, even though it remains 99.99% pure.

Addressing Safety Concerns and Potential Issues

While Air Up pods avoid the sugar and artificial additives found in many flavored drinks, some customers and reviewers have raised questions about safety and product quality.

Potential Chemical Leaching

According to Consumer Reports, one potential concern is the polyester fleece inside the pod, which, when exposed to heat, can potentially leach acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen. Air Up recommends storing pods in a cool, dry place to prevent this.

Inconsistent Flavor and User Experience

Numerous user reviews on platforms like Thingtesting and Reddit describe inconsistent flavor intensity or a weak, artificial, or chemical-like taste. This experience seems to be subjective, with some users enjoying the effect while others find it underwhelming. Weak suction caused by leaks or poorly fitted parts can also impact the scent delivery, further diminishing the taste perception.

Air Up vs. Traditional Flavored Drinks

To better understand the differences, here's a comparison of Air Up and traditional flavored beverages.


Feature	Air Up Pods	Traditional Flavored Drinks (e.g., Sodas, Juices)
Ingredients	Natural aroma compounds only. No sugar, calories, or artificial additives in the water.	Sugars, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and various chemical flavorings are added directly to the liquid.
Flavor Delivery	Through scent (retronasal olfaction), tricking the brain into perceiving flavor. The water remains pure.	Through direct taste buds, with flavoring agents mixing into the liquid.
Calorie Count	Zero calories in the water you drink.	High in calories, especially from sugar or syrups.
Safety Concerns	Potential chemical leaching from plastics (polyester fleece); safety of aroma inhalation not fully regulated.	Well-researched food additives and safety regulations apply to ingested ingredients.
Effectiveness	Highly dependent on individual sense of smell and subjective perception. Can be inconsistent for some users.	Consistent flavor experience because the flavoring is directly in the liquid.
Waste	Creates plastic waste from the pods, though the company has stated plans to transition to bio-based plastics.	Contributes to bottle and can waste, depending on packaging.

Conclusion

Air Up pods do contain natural aromas, which are chemical compounds, and they are held within a food-grade plastic structure. However, the key takeaway is that these chemicals do not enter your drinking water. The 'flavor' is created through scent, not via added substances in the water itself. While the concept is innovative and can aid hydration for many, concerns exist regarding potential chemical leaching from the pod's materials under certain conditions and inconsistencies in the user-perceived flavor experience. As with any new product, consumers must weigh the benefits against these considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Air Up states that its flavor pods contain only natural aromas extracted from ingredients like fruits, spices, and herbs. No artificial flavors are added.

No. The flavor is perceived through scent, not taste. Your water remains 99.99% pure, with no sugar, calories, or additives mixed into the liquid.

Air Up states the aroma pods are safe, and the small amount of natural aroma that might be swallowed is comparable to what you would inhale in a bakery. However, some regulatory grey areas exist regarding the safety of inhaling food-grade additives, and independent food safety experts have called for more transparency.

Yes, but it's important to clarify the context. The company is in a transition period for some plastics. The material of the reusable bottle itself is a food-grade, BPA-free material. The flavor pod casing is polypropylene (PP). According to Consumer Reports, Air Up is moving toward using bio-based plastics for the pods.

The perception of flavor is highly individual. While the pods contain natural aromas, some users describe the scent-based flavor as weak or artificial, especially compared to drinks with actual dissolved flavorings. Factors like how the scent delivery works and personal sensitivity to aromas can affect this perception.

The flavor doesn't enter the water. Instead, as you drink, air bubbles travel through the pod and are scented with natural aromas. These bubbles carry the scent to your nose via the back of your throat, where your brain interprets the smell as flavor.

The fibrous material inside the pod that holds the scent is made of polyester (PE). A potential concern exists that this material could leach acetaldehyde when exposed to heat, which is why Air Up advises storing pods in a cool place.