Cologne In Cars: A Fire Risk?

A video has been circulating on social media that shows a car and its passengers engulfed in flames. The video is accompanied by a caption warning people not to open any perfume bottles in a car with the air conditioner on, as it can cause an explosion. However, this claim is false. While perfumes are flammable and can catch fire if exposed to an ignition source like a lighter or a match, simply opening a bottle of perfume with the air conditioner on will not cause an explosion.

Viral videos claim cologne in a car can cause fires

A viral video has been making the rounds on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, claiming that using perfume or cologne in a car can cause fires. The video in question shows a car and its passengers engulfed in flames, with a caption warning others about the dangers of using perfume in a car. While the video is shocking and has sparked concerns among viewers, it's important to fact-check the claim.

Firstly, it's important to note that the video is not new. It first emerged in 2015 and has resurfaced several times since then, often with different interpretations and explanations. In the video, the car occupants are seen lighting a cigarette or a lighter, which causes a fire outbreak. The claim that the fire was caused by perfume being sprayed in the car is misleading and inaccurate.

According to experts, perfumes or colognes are typically made with a base of alcohol or water, which evaporates quickly. While most perfumes are flammable due to their high alcohol content, the amount present in a car would need to be very large to cause a fire. An experienced fire investigator stated that "there is absolutely no way that perfume fumes contributed to or caused the fire," referring to the viral video.

So, what really happened in the video? Well, it turns out that the fire was likely caused by a combination of factors. In their statement, the men involved in the accident clarified that they had smelled something funny, which turned out to be a leak from a bottle of clothes spray. When one of the occupants used a lighter, it ignited the gas from the spray, causing the fire. Therefore, the fire was not due to the use of perfume or cologne alone but rather the combination of a gas leak and an ignition source.

While it's important to be cautious when using any flammable substances, it's clear that the viral videos exaggerate the dangers of spraying cologne in a car. Unless a large volume of perfume is sprayed and an ignition source is introduced simultaneously, the chances of a fire occurring are slim. However, it's always better to be safe than sorry, so it's recommended to avoid spraying perfumes or colognes in enclosed spaces, especially when an ignition source is present.

Fire investigators say cologne cannot cause a fire

A video has been circulating on social media that shows a car and its passengers engulfed in flames. The video is accompanied by a warning that using perfume in a car can have dangerous consequences. However, this claim is false. The video, which first emerged in 2015, is being shared on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit with a caption warning people not to open a perfume bottle when the air conditioner is on in the car.

The incident shown in the video was caused by a gas leak from a bottle of clothes spray that was ignited by a lighter. One of the men involved in the accident released a statement clarifying that the fire was not caused by perfume:

> "Me and my brother are both fine, thank God. I got 6% burns, what happened was that we were having fun in the car filming a video with the windows closed and we smelled something funny but we didn’t know it was Fidfad (a clothes spray) and we didn’t give it much attention, then my brother used the lighter which set the gas on fire, and I’m glad to say we are safe and all the rumours that got out are not true, and be careful of gas leaks anywhere."

Fire investigators have confirmed that perfume cannot cause a fire in a car. Bryan Maphet, a highly experienced fire investigator and executive vice president of Envista Forensics, stated that "there is absolutely no way that perfume fumes contributed to or caused the fire... The perfume would only produce a fragrance, not ignitable fumes, unless a very large volume was present, and this certainly doesn't appear to be the case."

While most perfumes are flammable due to their high alcohol content, simply opening a bottle of perfume while the air conditioner is on will not cause a fire. There needs to be an ignition source for a fire to start. Therefore, fire investigators say that cologne cannot cause a fire in a car unless it is sprayed and a match or lighter is lit simultaneously.

The viral videos show the dangers of inhalant abuse

Inhalant abuse is a serious issue, and a series of viral videos have brought this issue to light. The videos, which first emerged in 2015 and were recirculated in 2019, show a disturbing scene: a car and its passengers engulfed in flames. The videos have been shared widely on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit, often accompanied by a "cautionary note" about the dangers of using perfume or air freshener in a car.

While the precise cause of the fire in the video remains unclear, one theory is that it was the result of inhalant abuse. The young men in the video may have been "huffing" butane or laughing gas, which are highly flammable and can be lethal when inhaled. This theory is supported by the fact that one of the men appeared to be holding a cloth to his face before the fire started, a common practice when inhaling these substances.

The dangers of inhalant abuse are real, and the consequences can be deadly. Inhalants are chemicals found in everyday household products like perfume, air fresheners, and whipped cream from cans. People who abuse inhalants breathe in the fumes through their nose or mouth, which goes to their lungs and quickly reaches the brain, producing a short-term high. Because the high only lasts a few seconds or minutes, some people use inhalants repeatedly, increasing the risks of fire and explosion, as well as causing serious damage to their health.

The stories of those who have struggled with inhalant abuse highlight the dangers and devastating consequences. Erik, a self-described "gas buddy," started huffing for the hallucinations but became addicted to the company of his imaginary friends. Marty, another individual, was offered free glue by a friend for several days before becoming addicted and having to pay for his habit. Jamie, who started with glue sniffing and gas sniffing, progressed to harder drugs like heroin and ended up serving multiple prison sentences for burglarizing people's houses.

The viral videos and firsthand accounts of inhalant abuse serve as a stark reminder of the dangers and destructive nature of this type of substance abuse. It is important to educate oneself and others about the risks associated with inhalants and to seek help if struggling with addiction.

The viral videos first emerged in 2015

While the videos depicted a frightening incident, it was later revealed that the car fire was not caused by the use of perfume. The incident occurred in 2015, and subsequent investigations and statements from those involved clarified the circumstances. It was determined that the fire was caused by a combination of factors, including a leak from a bottle of clothing spray and the use of a lighter in a closed-window car.

The initial speculation that the fire was caused by perfume was found to be inaccurate. The statement from one of the individuals involved mentioned the presence of a clothing spray called FidFad, which leaked inside the car. This statement provided a more plausible explanation for the fire, indicating that the ignition source was not perfume but the lighter being used simultaneously with the spray in an enclosed space.

The videos and the accompanying warnings circulated on social media platforms, attracting attention and raising questions about the potential dangers of using perfume in cars. However, experts in fire investigation have refuted the claim that perfume fumes contributed to or caused the fire. They assert that perfume would only produce a fragrance and would need to be present in very large quantities to potentially ignite.

The incident highlighted the importance of accurate information dissemination and the potential for misinformation to spread on social media. While the initial claims of perfume being the cause of the fire were widely shared, further investigations and statements revealed a more complex interplay of factors leading to the unfortunate incident.

The video shows a fire caused by cologne and a cigarette lighter

A viral video from 2015 shows a car fire allegedly caused by cologne and a cigarette lighter. The video, which has been shared widely on social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, features a cautionary message about the dangers of using perfume in a car. However, the claim that the fire was caused by cologne is misleading.

The video in question shows a car rapidly filling with flames, setting fire to its passengers, who can be heard screaming. The original claim suggested that the fire was caused by perfume distributed through the car's air-conditioning system and ignited by a cigarette lighter. This theory was later dismissed by fire experts, who stated that perfume fumes could not have contributed to or caused the fire.

The actual cause of the fire was revealed in a statement from one of the individuals involved in the incident. According to the statement, the fire was caused by a leak from a bottle of clothing spray combined with the use of a lighter in a closed-window car. The statement clarified that the initial smell was from FidFad, an anti-static clothing spray, and not from perfume or laughing gas, as some sources initially speculated.

While the video does depict a frightening incident, it is important to understand the underlying causes accurately. The fire was not due to the use of cologne or perfume but rather the result of a specific combination of factors, including a gas leak and the use of a lighter in an enclosed space.

Frequently asked questions