Even though 2021 may feel like the dark ages, what with the literal plague and everything, we’re far from primitive. Along with obvious tech like smartphones and drones, there are scores of great technological advancements you’re probably not even aware of. One such giant step forward is bag on valve technology. If you’re picky about your aerosol products, you’re probably already in the know about bag on valve, but you’re also one of the very few.

For the rest of us, we’ve got a lot to learn about the benefits and applications of bag on valve technology, and about aerosol products more generally. Read on for a complete primer, and once you’ve learned the basics, test your knowledge with our bag on valve pop quiz.

What does bag on valve mean?

First, some definitions. Aerosol products are any products that get dispersed in tiny droplets. A traditional aerosol spray uses some kind of propellant mixed in with the product to force it out of the can. That means you have to shake the can before use to ensure an even mix of propellant and product. It also means you can only spray traditional aerosol products at a horizontal angle.

Bag on valve is a type of aerosol in which the propellant is separated from the actual product. Inside the can is a bag, which is a few layers thick, that contains the product you want to dispense. First, manufacturers weld the empty bag to an aerosol valve. Then they place that bag inside the can. Next, they fill the bag with the product, and then fill the space between the bag and the can with the propellant of choice. Usually, they choose compressed air or nitrogen. 

Whichever propellant they choose then works to dispense the product when the actuator is squeezed. It pushes on the bag, forcing the product out. The product might come in cream, liquid, or gel form, meaning bag on valve technology is extremely versatile.

Bag on Valve Benefits

So, what does all this mean? For the average consumer, it probably seems pretty inconsequential, but there are actually some tangible benefits to products using this technology. Keep in mind that the key component is that the propellant stays separated from the product at all times. That’s really important for any product where you’re concerned about purity, like food, for example. 

As previously mentioned, you also don’t have to worry about an even mix of propellant and product because they’re purposefully separated. So no shaking before use, and you can spray from any angle. 

Another key benefit is that the product stays in an air-tight bag, which brings you a longer shelf life without preservatives. You can also use more of the product up — not only will you have a longer time to get your full use out of the can, but the separation between the propellant and the product means you don’t have to worry about running out of propellant before you run out of product. This is a frequent issue with aerosol products. Not only is it annoying that you’re not getting your full money’s worth, but it also makes them less environmentally friendly.

Don’t be fooled by other spray products.

Not all spray products are aerosol products, though. If you have to pump the spray bottle, it’s not an aerosol. 

Aerosol products are going to get you a more even coat of whatever you’re trying to spray. This is especially important with products like hairspray — if you have fine hair, a pump bottle might weigh down your strands. The droplets it releases are bigger than the ones released by aerosol products. 

The benefits to a pump dispenser are that they can be refilled, and since there’s no propellant, the container only has the product you want to use in it. This leads to them lasting longer. However, because bag on valve technology separates the product from the propellant, it’s not as much of a selling point. In neither case are you getting the contamination of the propellant in the product the way you do with traditional aerosol products.

Test Yourself

Okay, now that we’ve broken down which aerosol products are and aren’t bag on valve, let’s put that new knowledge to the test. We’ll give you six scenarios, and you can guess which ones utilize bag on valve technology and which ones don’t. We’ll also give you all the answers, so there’s no reason not to play along. Ready? Let’s dive right in.

Scenario 1: Sunscreen Stumper

You’re getting ready for a big day at the beach. Umbrella packed, swimsuit on, reading material in the bag. You’re super excited to get out there and just relax. The only thing left to do is your first application of sunscreen. The last thing you want is to ruin your beach trip with a red, peeling sunburn at the end of the day, so you’ve picked out a spray sunscreen, thinking it’ll get all the nooks and crannies better than a cream. You have to shake the can before you spray, and you cover your arms and legs in a nice coat of SPF 50. Did you just use a bag on valve product?

Answer

No! If you have to shake the can, it’s not bag on valve. Traditional aerosol products have to be shaken because the propellant needs to be evenly distributed throughout the product. On the other hand, a bag on valve can separates the product from the propellant, so no mixing required.

Scenario 2: Coffee Conundrum

You’re ready for a nice, fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning. The only issue is that your machine is on the fritz. You’ve been meaning to figure out what’s wrong with it for a while now, but somehow, that task keeps ending up at the bottom of your to do list. No matter. You’ve got a solution. Out of the cupboard you pull your handy dandy spray instant coffee. You shake it a little, not sure if that’s a requirement, but you don’t hear much of anything. You spray it into the bottom of your cup, add hot water, and boom — you’ve got coffee that will do until you can get the drip machine fixed. Did a bag on valve product save the day?

Answer

Yup! Maybe this one was a little tricky because there was shaking involved, but it’s a good trick. If you shake the can and don’t hear that signature aerosol sound, it’s bag on valve. And no, we didn’t just make up spray coffee for this example — it’s a real thing. You’re welcome.

Scenario 3: Basement Brainteaser

You’ve tried all the fixes you can think of, but that musty basement smell just isn’t going away. So you pick up a can of air freshener the next time you’re at the store. It doesn’t just mask odors, it gets rid of them, the can promises. You are skeptical, but you want to try it anyway. 

The can boldly says “100% non-aerosol” and you don’t really know what that means, either, but it sounds good. So you spray your basement judiciously, and you’re pretty pleased with the results. When you close your eyes you can almost imagine yourself in a tropical orange grove rather than in your dingy little basement. Did a bag on valve can make that transformation happen?

Answer 

Absolutely it did. Since bag on valve technology is different from traditional aerosol products, it is sometimes marketed that way. They might do that to highlight the safety perks of the technology — since it uses compressed nitrogen or air, both of which are safe at high temperatures, you don’t have to worry about the propellant’s flammability (which you do have to worry about with other air fresheners). 

Scenario 4: Pump Puzzler

You’re a hair stylist with a brand-new client sitting in your chair. She’s chatty — you’ve learned everything you could ever want to know about her kids, dogs, and multi-level marketing schemes before you’ve even started on her hair. After finally getting her to describe what kind of a look she’s going for, you decide to cut her hair wet, so you grab a spray bottle of water to wet her hair with. It has a pump top, meaning you have to squeeze the trigger for each burst of water you want to apply to her hair. Does it use bag on valve technology?

Answer

Nope! We hope this was the easiest one so far. Not only is that not bag on valve technology, that’s not even an aerosol spray. Remember that aerosol products have both a propellant and the actual product inside the can. If it has a pump top, there is no propellant. You get the product out through a pump dispenser. 

Scenario 5: Moisturizer Mystery  

You’ve just stumbled in after a big night out. All you want is to face plant into your pillow and sleep for roughly 12 hours or so. First, though, you’ve got to take off your makeup and go through your skincare routine. If you skip any of those crucial steps, your skin will be punishing you for your laziness for weeks to come. 

So, you stagger to the sink, wash your face, and reach for your spray moisturizer. It’s your favorite because you get an even, continuous spray, and you know the product is pure; there’s no contamination with any other ingredients. You spray it on, rub it in, and finally flop onto that sweet, sweet bed. Just one question remains: Is that moisturizer a bag on valve product?

Answer

It sure is! The calling card here is the lack of contamination with other ingredients. Recall that traditional aerosol products mix the propellant with the product. That’s not an issue here. This pureness of product makes bag on valve cans a great choice for skincare items.

Scenario 6: Tanner Trouble

You’ve decided you just can’t count on the sun for a tan this year. You’re busier than ever with your job at the hair salon, and you just don’t have the time to lay out. Although you’ve given up on a natural tan, you’re also sick and tired of looking paler than a vampire, and you don’t even sparkle in the sun to sweeten the deal. So you’ve decided to try out a self tanning spray.  

You’ve decided to go it alone, so you’re all set up in the bathroom, ready to turn your alabaster pale to a glowing golden tan. Your legs and arms are pretty easy to reach, but you’re a little worried about your back. To your great delight, you’re able to spray over your shoulder with the can almost completely upside down. What kind of technology let you do that?

Answer

If you said bag on valve, you’re really getting the hang of this! This technology means you can spray effectively from any angle. Traditional aerosol products can only be used horizontally.

How’d you do?

Are you bag on valve brilliant or a little aerosol inept? Either way, congrats on making it to the end. Don’t sweat it if you didn’t get 100 percent on our little quiz — bag on valve technology can be sneaky. Most people will never even stop to consider how their aerosol products work, so you’re already ahead of the curve. 

And if you did get most of the questions right, you’re truly a bag on valve expert. We don’t have a prize to give you, so we hope the satisfaction is enough of a reward. With your new-found knowledge about all things aerosol, you can go out into the world as a more confident consumer. 

Bag on valve products have plenty of advantages over the competition, including being safer and more environmentally friendly. The next time you’re in the market for any aerosol products, remember to look for all of these calling cards. Can you spray it from all angles? Is the spray continuous? Does the can encourage you to shake before using? Now that you know what to look out for, you’re a pro at discerning the best aerosol products out there.