Anisha Riggs
Whether it's a perfume that doesn't smell as good on your skin as it did in the bottle, an overzealous spritz at a perfume counter, or a hand sanitizer that doesn't agree with your senses, there are many reasons why you might want to get rid of a fragrance. Luckily, there are a variety of methods to help you do this, ranging from simple household items to more unconventional methods.
How to Get Rid of Fragrance
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| From clothes | Baking soda, vinegar, laundry stripping, washing with detergent, dry cleaning, air drying, fabric refreshers, essential oils |
| From skin | Alcohol, soap and water, olive oil, lemon juice, witch hazel, vinegar, vodka, coffee grounds, makeup remover, deodorant, Dead Sea mud mask, detox bath with Epsom salt or baking soda |
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What You'll Learn
Using baking soda
Baking soda is an effective natural cleaner that can be used to eliminate unwanted odours, brighten and whiten clothes, and remove stains. It is amphoteric, meaning it can react with both acidic and alkaline substances. The molecules in the air react to the baking soda, which then grasps the odours.
To use baking soda to eliminate odours from clothing, simply add 1/2 cup of it to a sink or bucket full of water. Allow the clothes to soak for several hours or overnight, stirring periodically. If the odour is persistent, you can also apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the affected areas before soaking the clothing. For washable items like hats, scarves, and gloves, you can soak them in a baking soda and water mixture, and then seal the bag for a day or two before washing.
Baking soda can also be used to remove odours from carpets, rugs, and mattresses. Sprinkle baking soda on the surface and let it sit for an hour before vacuuming it up. For enclosed spaces like refrigerators or closets, keep baking soda in a vented jar and allow it to sit, refreshing the powder every month.
Baking soda can also be used as an all-natural, all-purpose air freshener. Mix one cup of baking soda with 15 drops of essential oil and one teaspoon of dried herbs in a mason jar. Close the lid and shake thoroughly, then place a small dish of this mixture in any room to be deodorized. For a simple air freshener, mix a few drops of vanilla extract with baking soda in a jar and place it on a windowsill, so the sun can release the fragrance.
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Using vinegar
Vinegar is an effective natural deodorizer and can be used to get rid of unwanted fragrances on clothes and in the home.
If your clothes are smelling a little too strongly of perfume, vinegar can help neutralize the scent. First, make sure that the garment is free of moisture, as this can disrupt the reaction that will take place when vinegar is applied. Next, place the garment in the washing machine and add vinegar instead of soap. It is recommended to use around 240ml of vinegar for this purpose. No need to keep the piece of clothing separate from the rest of the load—you can wash the whole load with vinegar. After adding the vinegar, simply wash the clothes as normal. It may take several washes for the smell to disappear.
Alternatively, you can add vinegar during the rinse cycle. Add at least 1/4 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle and stop the cycle. Let the laundry soak for an hour before completing the cycle. You can also add an extra rinse cycle to ensure all the detergent is rinsed from your clothing. Dry the freshly washed clothes on a clothesline or drying rack in the fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight will help remove the odors, but it can also cause dyes to fade, so hang dark colors in the shade.
Distilled white vinegar can be used as an air freshener to remove odors from your home. It contains mild acetic acid, which inhibits odor-causing bacteria. You can use a mister bottle or a spray bottle to spritz vinegar onto soft surfaces like carpets, upholstery, or clothes. If using on clothes, test it on an inconspicuous spot first, as some dyes may bleed or change color. You can also place vinegar in a small bowl and leave it in a corner of the room to freshen the air.
If you dislike the smell of vinegar, you can dilute it with water or add essential oils or fresh ingredients like herbs, citrus peels, or flower petals.
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Using alcohol
Alcohol is an effective way to get rid of heavy perfume scents on your skin and clothes. Glen Anderson, the executive director of innovation at Avon, recommends using a cotton ball or pad soaked in rubbing alcohol to dab or sweep over areas of the skin with too much perfume. The alcohol will quickly dilute the scent.
You can also use alcohol to remove perfume from clothing. First, spot-test the fabric to ensure the alcohol won't damage or discolour it. Then, spray or dab the alcohol directly onto the affected areas. You can also try putting the garment in a sealed container with an open box or bowl of alcohol, although this may take longer. Vodka is another option for neutralizing perfume odours on clothing.
If you're looking to remove fragrance from your clothing, be aware that the type of scent and how much was sprayed will affect how long it lingers. "Eau de parfum" is more concentrated than "eau de toilette", and body sprays are the least concentrated. Fabric softeners and dryer sheets are the hardest to eliminate because they coat each fibre with a silicone formula.
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Using coffee grounds
Coffee grounds are an effective and natural deodorizer. They contain antioxidants, acids, and natural oils, as well as nitrogen, which helps to neutralize odors in the air quickly and safely.
To use coffee grounds to get rid of unwanted fragrances, start by drying out the grounds. You can do this by spreading them out on a baking tray and baking them in the oven at 250 degrees until dry. Once you have dried grounds, you can place them in a small bowl or dish to absorb odors in a particular area, such as a fridge or wardrobe. Change the grounds every two to three weeks to maintain the deodorizing effect.
You can also create makeshift sachets with the dried grounds by filling a small cloth bag, an old stocking, or a piece of cheesecloth with the grounds and tying it tightly. Place these sachets in shoes, drawers, bags, cars, or other enclosed spaces to absorb moisture and eliminate odors. For shoes, you can also try sprinkling the grounds directly into the shoe, and then placing a sock over them to keep them in place. Change the grounds in your sachets or shoes every two to three days.
In addition to absorbing odors, coffee grounds can also be used to add a pleasant fragrance to a space. To do this, combine the grounds with dried flowers or herbs, or with citrus peels, which will create a fresh scent.
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Using essential oils
If you don't want to use a diffuser, there are other ways to use essential oils to scent your home. You can create your own room spray by filling a spray bottle with distilled water, adding an emulsifier like vodka or witch hazel, and then adding 20-30 drops of your chosen essential oil. You can also add essential oils to a bowl of hot water, which will diffuse the oil into the air.
You can also target specific areas of your home with essential oils. For example, you can add a few drops of oil to a tissue box, which will release a puff of fragrance each time you pull out a tissue. You can also add essential oils to cotton balls and place them in areas that need freshening up, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or inside stinky shoes.
Essential oils can also be used in your cleaning routine to enhance the effectiveness of your cleaning products and leave your home smelling fresh. For example, you can combine water and vinegar or water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, add essential oil, and use this mixture to clean countertops and other surfaces.
In addition to scenting your home, essential oils can be used to create a relaxing atmosphere in the bath or shower. Simply mix a few drops of essential oil with a carrier oil or dispersant like milk or Epsom salts, add the mixture to your bathwater, and soak for 20-30 minutes.
Finally, essential oils can be used to create natural perfumes. Choose your favourite essential oil and add it to a lightweight, non-greasy oil like sweet almond oil or grapeseed oil. You can then apply the blend to your wrists, neck, or hair to carry the fragrance with you throughout the day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several methods to get rid of perfume smells from your skin. You can try using rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, or witch hazel on a cotton ball and then rinsing with water. You can also try using baking soda and water to make a paste and then rinsing with water.
To get rid of perfume smells from your clothes, you can try using baking soda, vinegar, or laundry detergent. Soak your clothes in a solution of baking soda and water, or hang them in an enclosed space with baking soda or newspaper, which naturally attract and neutralise scents. You can also try soaking your clothes in vinegar before washing them with laundry detergent.
Coffee grounds are a natural way to neutralise odours. Rubbing fresh coffee grounds on your skin and then washing with soap and water can help get rid of perfume smells.
To prevent perfume smells, be careful not to apply too much perfume. If you are in a space with strong-smelling perfumes, such as a perfume counter, you can ask for fragrance-free options or samples.
Common household items that can remove perfume smells include vinegar, baking soda, and alcohol. These items can be used to neutralise odours on your skin and clothes.
