The 5 Best Odor Eliminators for Smokers

We love to smoke, but the lingering smell can be a real downside. This is especially true for those of us who enjoy smoking the herb. We try everything in our power to eliminate the lingering aroma and maintain some sense of discretion, but the aroma has other plans. Worst of all, conventional odor eliminators don’t seem to do anything for it. One minute the room smells like smoke, and the next it smells like someone’s been smoking in an evergreen forest. That certainly doesn’t help. Fortunately, odor eliminators just for smokers exist.

The reason why it’s so difficult to get rid of the smell is that your herb is packed with over 150 terpenes, aromatic plant oils that stick to everything and emit strong odors. They’re the same compounds that make essential oils smell so good, but they’re not always welcome. So if you need to know how to remove strong odors from clothes, we’ve got you covered so you won’t smell like Woodstock for days on end.

The good news is that there are highly effective odor eliminators for smokers. You just have to use the right solutions. If you’re struggling to find an odor killer that actually works, here are our top 5 recommendations.

5. Nag Champa Incense

This one goes at the bottom of our list of odor eliminators for smokers because you’re really just trading one smell for another. Still, when you’re in a pinch, it does the trick quickly and effectively. The reason it’s so effective is because it contains its own assortment of aromatic terpenes. It’s made from a combination of fragrant plant sources including magnolia, sandalwood, orange blossom, and tree resin. Because it’s extremely popular, you can find it almost anywhere incense is sold. Sometimes it’s marketed simply as “Champa.”

Nag Champa incense is best for those times when you need to mask a smell quickly and you don’t have time for any sort of deep cleaning. Just light the incense, and within a couple of minutes the smell will override the smell of your smoke. Again, it’s not a perfect solution, but it’s good to have on hand...just in case.

4. Essential Oils

For smokers, another odor eliminator option is to use essential oils. This is one more example of fighting terpenes with terpenes, but it’s a bit less intense and intrusive than using incense. In the long run, it can also be more successful, as certain oils are known to break down smoke odors at the enzyme level. Citrus and tea tree oil are your best bet.

If you’re applying one of these essential oils directly to clothes or fabrics that smell like smoke, you’ll only want to use a few drops. A little goes a long way. Alternately, you can find a commercial deodorizing spray that uses one of these oils as an active ingredient. For example, there are odor eliminator sprays made from tea tree oil, and these can be much more effective than conventional sprays.

If you’re wondering how to remove strong odors from clothes, you can start a wash cycle and add two or three drops of your essential oil to the tub when it fills up. Then complete the wash and dry cycles as normal. Alternately, spray the garments with your deodorizer spray, wait about 10 minutes, and then wash.

3. Vinegar

Vinegar is kind of a miracle solution. It removes stubborn stains, kills weeds, and is easily one of the best odor eliminators for smokers. Best of all, there are different ways to use it depending on the type of odor you’re trying to remove:

• How to Remove Strong Odors From Clothes: Add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to your wash cycle instead of laundry detergent.
• How to Remove Odors From Carpet and Upholstery: Mix up a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part distilled white vinegar. Apply to a cloth and scrub the affected surfaces firmly. Your home or vehicle will smell like vinegar for about a day (there’s always a downside), but once the smell dissipates, all traces of smoke aroma should be gone.
• How to Remove Odors From the Air: Pour 2 to 3 cups of distilled white vinegar into a pot and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for about half an hour. It should deodorize your entire home.

When incorporating this natural odor eliminator for smokers, make sure to use distilled white vinegar. Other types of vinegar contain higher concentrations of acetic acid and may damage certain fabrics.

2. An Air Purifier

Air purifiers are designed to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by smoke products, thereby preventing the chemicals from sticking to surfaces. When it comes to smoke, it’s very important to invest in an air purifier with an activated carbon filter. These types of filters are better able to absorb the chemicals than a typical HEPA filter. If you smoke regularly, you’ll need to replace this filter about once every 6 to 8 months.

An air purifier is arguably the best preventive odor eliminator, but keep in mind that it works best when it’s used in real time—i.e. while you’re smoking. If you’re trying to eliminate an old lingering smell, your results may vary.

1. Baking Soda

Baking soda is, quite simply, the best natural deodorizer available. When it comes to odor eliminators for smokers, you won’t do any better. It absorbs volatile organic compounds, kills odors, and dehumidifies. All you have to do is sprinkle it directly over any affected surfaces, leave it overnight, and then vacuum the next day. It’s not an immediate solution, but in most cases, it’s your most effective solution. Scented baking sodas are also available.

For a powerful one-two punch, try one of the vinegar methods above, and then finish off with the baking soda. If that doesn’t eliminate your odor once and for all, chances are nothing will!

The Best Odor Eliminators for Smokers

They say that prevention is the best cure, and that’s definitely true when it comes to unwanted smoke smells. For example, if odor is a persistent problem, consider smoking outdoors or in the garage to prevent the smoke from being absorbed into your walls and creating a frustrating cleanup situation. If you do smoke indoors, consider using an air purifier as noted above.

Also, don’t leave your smoke products out in the open. If you store your herb in an airtight, smell-proof jar like the WeJar, you’ll have convenient access to your smoking products at all times while preventing smells from lingering out in the open. This vacuum-sealed jar is made from acrylic and designed to preserve smoking materials without letting the odors out.

As you can see, there are plenty of excellent odor eliminators for smokers. Be proactive about keeping the scents under control, and you can enjoy all the sweet sensations without having to deal with the lingering after-effects.