I Tried Kim Kardashian’s Scented Water Bottle: It’s a Tasteful Mess

Experts recommend that the average person should drink about half a gallon of water per day. Despite all the health benefits water has, I can’t drink as much as I should for one simple reason – I really don’t like the bland taste of water. That’s what makes the Air Up bottle so appealing. With no added sugar and calories, the bottle can make the water taste good. It really sounds too good to be true.

Here’s the process: You fill the bottle with water, drop one of the pineapples on top of the bottle, and drink from there as usual. Simple, right?

You might be wondering why I don’t give the Air Up a perfect 10 out of 10. In short, there were some annoying design flaws during testing (or drinking), especially at one Price $40 and costs $7.99 to $12.99 for a pack of three pods. To find out if this system is worth the investment, read on.

The science behind the Air Up

I’ll start by explaining the flavorful magic trick of the bottle. From the scented pod you put on the snout of the bottle, the flavor is transported through your olfactory receptors and into your brain, so you perceive the scent as a taste when you’re actually just drinking water. The concept of tasting what you smell is known as “the smell behind the nose”. Have you ever been suffocated and unable to enjoy the taste of your food? It’s the same concept here but reversed. As the name suggests, air is required for this system to work. Flavored air is combined with water and released to give you the flavor you’re looking for.

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Taste test: Which to get and which to avoid

I’ve found that the effectiveness of the flavoring pods depends entirely on the flavor I add. The first peel I tested in the bottle was the Cucumber flavor and I was very disappointed when I took the first sip. The water tasted like… water and nothing more. Even when I sniffed the peel before I put it in the bottle, it barely smelled – let alone the cucumber. However, when I put the Orangeade pod in, I had a completely different experience.

The Orangeade pod has such a strong scent that, after applying it to the bottle, my hands smell like I’ve just peeled an orange. With this peel, the water has a citrusy and refreshing taste, similar to the taste of water soaked with actual fruit.

My recommendation when choosing pod flavors is to choose those with a stronger, sweeter scent so that the flavor is more recognizable when drinking. Otherwise, you’ll run into the same problem you had before embarking on your Air Up journey: bland hydration. For what it’s worth, Air Up has a ton of flavors to choose from on its website.

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Another important factor when discussing flavor is how long the pods can be used. Unsurprisingly, you’ll get the most intense flavor when you first put the peel in and it will fade over time. According to Air Up, each fruit is designed to hold about 1.3 gallons of water. If you drink a gallon of water a week, you’ll probably savor most of the flavor of the pods by the end. In my experience, the company’s estimates are correct. One week is the ideal time for you to get the optimal flavor for each fruit.

The bottle design leaves much to be desired

This is where the problem with Air Up begins. Plastic water bottles do not keep water cold and most importantly, it leaks when tilted beyond a certain degree. Of course, if you don’t mind drinking flavored water at room temperature, you can skip the first call.

Again, the Air Up bottle works by letting air into the water so you can experience the aroma of the pineapple. It does this through a hole in the intake manifold and a pressure equalization valve. This means that the mouthpiece’s fit will never overlap with the bottle, as shown below. Notice how the rubber seal lifts up slightly.

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This also means that every time the bottle is cap, water will leak out of the bottle. Thankfully, it’s just water, right? Air Up acknowledges this in a video explaining why the bottle design contributes to the leak. The only real solution is to use a removable bottle cap and screw it tight.

Although this method prevents leaks, it is not the most effective solution because every time you want to take a sip of water you will need to do the complicated procedure of removing the cap and then screwing it on. it back safely. Another problem with this system is that if you don’t screw the cap on enough, the bottle will continue to leak, especially if it rolls around in your pocket.

In recognition of Air Up’s credit, it warns on its website, “Please note that water may leak through the pressure equalization valve, so always place the Pod on the mouthpiece and close the cap tightly. .”

In the end, there’s only one way you can drink the entire bottle of Air Up and make sure it doesn’t spill over you: hold the bottle upright and sip from the straw. You’ll look like you’re playing an instrument (see picture below), but trust me, it’s the only and best way to drain it.

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Key point

In the end, yes, the Air Up pushed me to drink more water, even if I had to remove and re-cap each time or risk spilling here and there.

If you’re looking for a flavored alternative to water without added sugar or calories, the Air Up system could be a great option for you. However, if you live on the go, find yourself dropping more things than necessary, or simply don’t have the patience to twist and unscrew a water bottle cap, then I recommend looking elsewhere.

Alternatives to consider

If you’re having a hard time drinking enough water each day, the Opard Sports bottle will help. It has a timestamp and encouraging message on the bottle to make sure you’re getting the ideal amount of water and, in addition, a fruit sprayer to give your water extra flavor. The best part is that it’s almost a quarter of the cost of the Air Up system.

This $25 stainless steel bottle will keep the water at your desired temperature for hours, and you can still get the perks of delicious taste thanks to the fruit soak kit.

HidrateSpark Tap is a smart water bottle that lights up every time you should drink water. It works in conjunction with an app that tracks how much water you’re drinking and sets daily hydration goals.