Aerosol dispensing apparatus comprising a housing in which a container can be located, an outlet leading from the housing, a receiving block having an inlet for receiving an outlet member of the container and a passage through which contents of the container may pass on their way to the outlet when the container is actuated. The housing contains a carriage in which the container is firmly gripped. The carriage is able to slide reciprocally within the housing as the container moves between rest and actuated positions and comprises a projection. The housing further comprises an abutment and is formed with an upper part which houses at least the container, in use, and a lower part comprising, at least, the outlet. The upper and lower parts are conjoined so that the lower part may rotate relative to the upper part between locked and unlocked positions, wherein in the locked position the abutment is aligned with the projection so as to prevent movement of the carriage into the actuated position of the container and in the unlocked position the abutment is out of alignment with the projection so as to allow movement of the carriage into the actuated position.