Odorite International, Inc. (OII) was founded by Jack Kohler of Chicago, Illinois in 1934. Initially called Monarch Laboratories, the company sold an air fragrance dispensing unit called the Lav A Dor, which forced air over a paradichlorobenzene based fragrance as the door opened and closed. Kohler installed his Lav A Dor deodorizers in commercial and retail businesses with public restrooms and serviced these customers on a monthly bases by replacing the deodorizing chemical.
Earl Lewis joined Kohler in 1944 at Monarch Laboratories with the intent of growing the business and began selling distributorships across the United States. In early 1950’s Monarch Laboratories designed a new electric deodorizer called the Fan O Matic, which used liquid deodorizing chemicals or a ceramic disc impregnated with aromatic oils. In the late 1960’s a battery powered deodorizer, the Bat O matic, was developed. About this same time, the company improved the formulation and production process to a gel-based product, which was the predecessor to the gel technology that is currently in use today. The two fragrance products, which are still the ones marketed today, are called Perma Fresh and Dura Fresh.
In 1965. Kohler died and Robert Demming purchased Kohler’s share and became Earl Lewis’ partner. In 1970, the business name was changed to Odorite of America and relocated to Kansas City, Missouri.
In 1986, Jim Summers, an Odorite distributor in Kansas City for ten years, purchased Odorite of America from Bob Demming and Earl Lewis.
In March 1991, Dan Bunch with a partner purchased the company from Jim Summers. Late in 1994, the partnership was dissolved and is currently owned by Dan Bunch. In 1991, the current battery powered Bat-O-Matic model was redesigned and trademarked with the name of Odorizer. The Odorizer unit itself is a D-Cell battery powered unit. This unit is made of rugged ABS plastic that is used to withstand the rigors of bathroom application for many years of service. The motor used in the Odorite unit was exclusively designed by and for the Odorizer and is used exclusively by Odorite. The motor is manufactured to the company’s specific specifications to minimize the drag on the battery. This way, our customers get the maximum benefit out of each battery installed. The company has consistently found that US made Carbon Zinc batteries will last up to 60 days and Alkaline will last up to 100 days.
Shortly thereafter, the Fragrance Master private label program evolved and began its evolution to become the world leader of gel fragrance technology.