Who invented Air Up?
Air Up is a unique idea that started in Munich, Germany. 🇩🇪
The innovative idea was launched in 2019 by five dynamic individuals: Lena Jüngst, Tim Jäger, Jannis Koppitz, Fabian Schlang, and Simon Nüesch.
Their goal was to help people drink less soft drinks while protecting the environment.
Their idea even caught the eye of some big names from the German TV show "Die Höhle der Löwen".
After a special event in 2018, investors like Frank Thelen and Ralf Dümmel took notice and decided to invest in their start-up early on.
How does the Air Up bottle work?
About 80% of your taste is related to your sense of smell. This phenomenon is called retronasal olfaction.
Certain smells travel from the back of your throat to your nose when you drink.
This method lets you trick your brain into thinking there's flavour, even when you're only drinking water.💧
Air Up uses special scent pods to impart these smells to the water, making you think you taste flavours.
Testing the Air Up flavour
We tried several Air Up fragrance capsules to understand the flavours better.
We couldn't try them all as there are more than 30 options. 😲
The Air Up pods currently contain the following flavours:
- Kola
- Cherry Kola
- Watermelon
- Cherry
- Virgin Mojito
- Raspberry-Lemon
- Apple
- Mango Passion Fruit
- Orange Passion Fruit
- Blackcurrant
- Pineapple
- Basil-Lemon
- Peach
- Orangeade
- Lemon
- Ice Tea Peach
- Lime
- Orange-Vanilla
- Strawberry-Lemongrass
- Elderflower
- Sweet Coconut
- Honeydew Melon
- Lavender Lemonade
- Strawberry-Balsamic
- Guava
- White Peach Smoothie
- Wild Berry
- Iced Coffee
Our favourite Air Up flavours
While testing the Air Up bottle, we tried different flavour pods. 😋
Of course, taste varies from person to person, and what one person likes, another may not.
Nevertheless, we would like to share our experience of the taste of Air Up with you.
Here are the flavours we liked best:
- Orange-Passion Fruit, which felt tropical
- Watermelon, that was refreshing
- And Wild Berry, which tasted just like mixed berries
Comparing the different Air Up flavours
Air Up offers various flavours, each giving you a unique water taste.
Here is our take on the tested flavour pods.
Orange Passion Fruit pod
Orange Passion Fruit was our favourite of the Air Up flavours we tried. 🍊
Even though these pods taste light, this one felt fruity and fresh.
It's like a little tropical touch in your water.
Watermelon pod
Watermelon has easily secured its place as one of our top choices. 🍉
It may not taste exactly like a watermelon, but it's close.
Plus, it feels stronger than some other pods we've tried.
Wild Berry pod
As the name suggests, the Wild Berry pod tastes like berries. 🫐
We found it delicious, one of our favourites from Air Up.
Peach pod
We liked the taste of the peach pod. 🍑
But it doesn't taste as strong as the normal peach iced tea we're used to.
It's good but not strong enough to compete with a classic iced tea.
Lime pod
When we tried the Lime Pod for the first time, it seemed a bit artificial in taste. 🍋
But as time passed, it tasted more like a real lime.
Still, it didn't quite have the strong, refreshing effect we had hoped for.
If you squeeze a fresh lime into your water, it might taste even better.
Orange Vanilla Swirl pod
We weren't big fans of the orange-vanilla swirl. 😕
It tastes a lot like the creamy sweets you find in the shops and is quite strong.
It feels like Air Up tried to capture a milkshake feeling. 🥛
But with water, we prefer a refreshing taste.
Raspberry Lemon pod
Initially, the Raspberry-Lemon flavour exuded a peculiar, somewhat artificial flavour that was difficult to determine. 🍓
Over time, the taste seemed to fade.
The unusual taste shone through every now and then, but it was difficult to describe.
Unfortunately, this taste didn't quite strike a chord with us.
How strong is the flavour from Air Up's pods?
At first, we thought Air Up might have the taste of ordinary soft drinks, but it's more like flavoured water from the shop.
However, the taste changes depending on the type of water.
Carbonated water seems to enhance the taste of the pod more than still water. 💦
How long do Air Up pod last?
How long can you expect an Air Up Pod to last? At a price of about £2 per pod, that's a fair question. 💷
Air Up claims that one pod can flavour about 5 litres of water.
That's about 4 days if you drink 1.5 litres a day.
However, our test found that the flavour wears off after about 3 litres. ☹️
It's still there, just not as strong as at the beginning.
Testing the Air Up water bottle
On the Air Up website, we found two bottle options to choose from.
One is a 650 ml plastic bottle available in five different colours.
The other option is a stainless steel bottle that comes in two sizes, 480ml and 850ml, and two colours.
Whichever you choose, you'll get a pack of three flavour pads to go with it. 😋
The Air Up bottle is essential for the system to function properly.
What material is the Air Up bottle made of?
The original Air Up bottle holds 650 ml and is made of BPA-free Tritan.
This material is known to be safe and free from harmful chemicals.
Assembling the bottle is also very easy.
The mouthpiece of the Air Up drinking bottle is made of the same safe silicone that is used in dummies for babies. 👶🏼
Its sturdy lid is made of ABS plastic.
The lid can be put on quickly thanks to the practical quick-release function.
However, to prevent spillage, you should make sure the lid is screwed on tightly. 🫗
How does the drinking bottle work? - A step-by-step guide
Using the Air Up bottle is easier than it seems at first glance.
First, fill the Air Up bottle with water.
Push the straw deep into the mouthpiece.
Then, put the mouthpiece and the straw back into the bottle.
Attach the fragrance pod to the mouthpiece.
If you want to deactivate the flavour pod, simply press the mouthpiece down.
To enjoy the flavour while drinking, slightly lift the pod up.
Now it's time to sip.
Not getting any flavour from the Air Up bottle - What should you do?
If your Air Up bottle doesn't deliver the expected taste, here's a quick troubleshooting checklist:
- Make sure you've set up the bottle with our instructions guide.
- Ensure you have activated the pod correctly,
- Double-check the straw's placement - it should touch the mouthpiece's end.
- Try a different Pod to rule out any problems.
- Take the bottle apart and reassemble it, ensuring everything is seated properly.
Reviews on Air Up from customer organisations
Air Up is a German company and was featured in a "mini test report" by Stiftung Warentest . 🇩🇪
This organisation, based in Germany, is known for its impartial reviews and comparisons of products and services.
They examined how Air Up works, which flavours are offered and whether the company keeps its advertising promises.
Here is a simple breakdown of their findings:
- The group tested different flavours like Raspberry-Lemon and Orange-Vanilla. The use of sparkling water made the taste even better.
- Although Air Up says its scents are "natural", not all come from the fruit itself. Some are made up of natural compounds that simply taste like fruit.
- Orange Vanilla Bean caused a stir because although it is advertised as a "natural flavouring", analysis revealed Piperonal, a synthetic flavouring.
- The plastic bottle passed the tests without containing any harmful substances.
- Although Air Up claims to do without additives, the test found carriers and solubilisers in the flavour pods.
Stiftung Warentest, therefore, believes that Air Up could be ideal for anyone who has difficulty drinking enough water. 👧🏼
However, not all elements in the pods are natural.
This may clash with some consumers' perceptions of the packaging and promotional material.
In addition, while the product offers a unique experience, the pods have an environmental cost due to plastic waste. 🌎
Who should buy the Air Up drinking bottle?
Air Up is an innovative product.
Let's see who this bottle is best for.
Good option for minimal water drinkers and soda lovers
Air Up might be right for you if you're not a big fan of plain water or love carbonated drinks. 🧃
It adds a touch of flavour and helps you drink more water.
And if you're a fan of carbonated drinks like Coke or Fanta, Air Up offers a healthier alternative that lets you enjoy a delicious drink without the added sugar and calories.
Great for people looking to lose weight
If you're trying to lose weight, the Air Up bottle can be a great help.
Instead of sugary drinks, you get tasty water without extra calories or sugar. 🧁
Drinking plenty of water is always good for weight loss.
And when you drink a lot of water, you feel less hungry and have more energy.
Should you buy the Air Up starter set or the Air Up flavour pods?
If you don't know the Air Up hydration system yet, start with the complete set. 📦
But if you already have the bottle, you can buy just the flavour pods.
You can get these pods individually or in a pack of three, depending on how many you need.
The starter set
The starter set we looked at contains a plain, anthracite-coloured bottle and three flavour pods. 🍊
Other flavours are also available if you want to try something different.
This set is the perfect introduction for those who don't know Air Up yet.
You get the main bottle and a few flavours to get you started.
The fragrance pods
You get them in sets of three, perfect for those who already have their favourites.
If you already have an Air Up bottle, this is a good choice.
Where can you buy Air Up?
If you're looking for Air Up products, you can find them in two main places.
The official Air Up site is always stocked with the latest items. 🛍️
If you shop on Amazon, you'll be happy to know that the Air Up range is also available there.
Is Air Up bad for your health?
You can drink plain water with a hint of flavour with Air Up. This makes it suitable for people with allergies or diabetes. 🤧
But is Air Up really safe?
A study by Stiftung Warentest found that it poses no health risks.
The Air Up bottle contained no signs of harmful chemicals such as bisphenol A or benzene.
Nevertheless, it's advisable to protect all plastic bottles, including those of Air Up, from prolonged exposure to sunlight or heat. 🌞
The capsules contain flavour carriers and solubilisers, which aren't harmful.
Even though these carriers are technically additives, they aren't of concern.
It's worth noting that the "natural flavours" in the pods don't always come directly from the fruits indicated on the packaging.
They're rather fruit-inspired flavours, not exact replicas.
Air Up can be a helpful tool for anyone with trouble drinking enough water. 💦
However, you should be aware that the fruit illustrations on the pods don't necessarily correspond to the exact taste.
If you’re looking for a natural alternative to regular water, infused water might be a better option than Air Up.
Is Air Up good for the environment?
The main goal of Air Up is to reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles, which is a step forward for our planet. 🌏
The Air Up bottle is made of Tritan plastic and is designed to last a long time.
Tritan is known for its durability, making it a better option than disposable bottles.
However, it should be noted that these bottles are made in China, which could raise concerns about the energy sources used (e.g. coal).
Plastic, including Tritan, pollutes the environment if not properly recycled.
Another factor of concern is disposable aroma pods.
They're packaged individually, which leads to more waste. 🍬
And since they're consumed frequently, more resources are used over time.
If we look at the bigger picture, Air Up could reduce plastic waste compared to single-use bottles.
But compared to using glass or other reusable bottles, Air Up's environmental footprint isn't the best. 🐾
This is especially true when you consider the plastic of the pods, their packaging, and the carbon emissions of transport.
Alternatives to Air Up
Air Up isn’t the only solution if you’re seeking water that is flavoured without any added sugars or calories.
Other brands have developed their methods, such as using flavour cubes. 🧊
Many of these companies also pay attention to sustainability in producing their products.
Let's explore some other options on the market:
Name |
Special feature |
Buy online |
Fienza Starter Set |
Works on the same principle as the Air Up Bottle is made of high-quality, BPA-free Tritan plastic Leak proof design |
Check Amazon* |
Waterdrop Starter Set |
Bottles crafted from glass or metal Flavour cubes without sugar or synthetic additives Contains natural extracts from fruits and plants, along with vitamins |
Check Amazon* |
Hydracy Bottle |
Made with organic stevia and natural berry extracts Provides all the vitamins you need for a day No sugar or calories |
Check Amazon* |
Should you buy the Air Up bottle?
If you're considering the Air Up bottle, here's our experience after trying it out.
The idea behind Air Up is spot on. 💯
With the fragrance pods, your water takes on a hint of various flavours, and there's a wide range to choose from.
Yet, while Air Up suggests it can replace fizzy drinks like cola, we felt the flavour could be stronger.
It's more similar to gently flavoured water rather than a full-on soda.
Price-wise, starting at just under £35 for the bottle and £4.99 for three pods, it's not the most economical if you compare it to plain water.
But compared to fruit juices, you might save some cash. 🤑
On the sustainability front, opinions might differ.
It's not as green as filling a reusable bottle with tap water.
Yet, when you stack it against traditional bottled soft drinks, the reduced plastic and carbon footprint make it a greener choice.
Table of Content
Air Up Bottle Review - Testing the viral water bottle (2024)
How does the Air Up bottle work?
Testing the Air Up water bottle
Reviews on Air Up from customer organisations
Who should buy the Air Up drinking bottle?
Should you buy the Air Up starter set or the Air Up flavour pods?
Is Air Up bad for your health?
Is Air Up good for the environment?