A modular volatile material dispensing system adapted to operate in either an active or a passive state, comprising: a supporting plate having a front side and a rear side and an opening extending therethrough; a generally square-shaped cover plate having orifices extending therethrough and having a raised peripheral flange extending around a rear side of the cover plate; wherein the cover plate is releasably attached to the front side of the supporting plate to form a compartment therebetween; and a volatile material dispenser adapted to be held within the compartment; characterized in that the supporting plate has a U-shaped protrusion circumscribing a portion of the opening, and a groove provided between the rear side of the supporting plate and portions of the U-shaped protrusion; there is provided a first modular adapter releasably attachable to the rear side of the supporting plate; wherein the first modular adapter comprises an electrical plate having electrical prongs and a heating element, and a flange extending about the periphery of a front surface of the electrical plate whereupon to attach the electrical plate to the rear side of the support plate the flange can be inserted into the groove, whereby the dispenser operates in an active state when the heater is energized; and the system further comprises: a second modular adapter releasably attachable to the rear side of the supporting plate in place of the first modular adapter by insertion into the groove in the U-shaped protrusion, the second modular adapter being selected from a group consisting of a U-shaped clip adapter, an L-shaped support adapter, a hook adapter, and an alligator clip adapter. a supporting plate having a front side and a rear side and an opening extending therethrough; a generally square-shaped cover plate having orifices extending therethrough and having a raised peripheral flange extending around a rear side of the cover plate; wherein the cover plate is releasably attached to the front side of the supporting plate to form a compartment therebetween; and a volatile material dispenser adapted to be held within the compartment; characterized in that the supporting plate has a U-shaped protrusion circumscribing a portion of the opening, and a groove provided between the rear side of the supporting plate and portions of the U-shaped protrusion; there is provided a first modular adapter releasably attachable to the rear side of the supporting plate; wherein the first modular adapter comprises an electrical plate having electrical prongs and a heating element, and a flange extending about the periphery of a front surface of the electrical plate whereupon to attach the electrical plate to the rear side of the support plate the flange can be inserted into the groove, whereby the dispenser operates in an active state when the heater is energized; and the system further comprises: a second modular adapter releasably attachable to the rear side of the supporting plate in place of the first modular adapter by insertion into the groove in the U-shaped protrusion, the second modular adapter being selected from a group consisting of a U-shaped clip adapter, an L-shaped support adapter, a hook adapter, and an alligator clip adapter. a second modular adapter releasably attachable to the rear side of the supporting plate in place of the first modular adapter by insertion into the groove in the U-shaped protrusion, the second modular adapter being selected from a group consisting of a U-shaped clip adapter, an L-shaped support adapter, a hook adapter, and an alligator clip adapter.