PURPOSE: To provide a deodorizer for the refrigerator, etc., capable of efficiently oxidizing and decomposing the malodorous component without using a special adsorbent to adsorb the malodorous component.

CONSTITUTION: A catalyst 27 of platinum, etc., is provided around the glass tube 26 of a heater 24 also used as a defrosting heater, and an adsorbent 30 is arranged above and close to the heater 24. When heat is produced from the heater 24, the catalyst 27 is rapidly heated to the temp. at which the malodorous component is decomposed, before the adsorbent 30 is heated by the heater 24 to a temp. where the malodorous component is desorbed. As a result, the malodorous component desorbed from the adsorbent 30 is surely and effectively oxidized and decomposed without using a special adsorbent 30.