The unique aroma of patchouli may bring the 60’s to mind. It is extremely strong and has been described as mossy, musty, earthy. People seem to either love it or hate it, and there is very little middle ground. If you happen to fall into the “Hate it” camp, this guide on how to remove patchouli smell is for you.
Patchouli is available as an essential oil and may even be used in some perfumes. If you have already decided that you can’t stand the stuff, you will want to make sure this particular stank doesn’t come anywhere near you. Our guide provides tips to help you deal with getting this reek out of a room, your hair and your car.
How to Get Rid of Patchouli Smell from a Room
1 Vanilla Extract Odor Killer
You can get rid of the smell from patchouli by soaking a rag in vanilla extract and placing it in the room. The vanilla will absorb the odor. Be careful where you place it though; it will stain light-colored fabric items. You may want to place it on an aluminum foil pie plate or an old plate to minimize the likelihood of ruining an object in your room.
2 White Vinegar and Essential Oil Spray
Buy an empty spray bottle. Fill it up with pure white vinegar. Add up to 10 drops of essential oils such as lemon or eucalyptus. You can also use a teaspoon of vanilla extract if you wish. Shake it up and spray it around the room as if you using an air freshener to pull the stanky particles out of the air and off of any surfaces they have decided to cling to.
3 Borax Odor Remover
Borax is a mineral substance that can be used in the same manner as baking soda to get rid of odors. You can find it in the laundry aisle at a grocery store. Sprinkle some of the product on your carpet. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Sweep up as much of the product from the surface of the floor as you can, and then vacuum the rest to avoid clogging your machine.
Remove Patchouli Smell from Hair
1 Degreaser Recipe
If your scalp stanks, mix up a batch of this homemade degreasing recipe to deal with the funk factory on your head. Start by combining a quart of white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide (if you choose peroxide, it may bleach your hair). Add 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of dish detergent. Mix together and wash your hair with the recipe. Rinse with cool water.
2 White Vinegar-Shampoo One-Two Punch
Another way to deal with smelly hair is to wash with white pure white vinegar. It will cut through the oil and help to get rid of the stank. Follow up by washing with your regular shampoo. As the hair dries, the smell from the vinegar will become much less noticeable.
3 Dish Soap Cleanser
Wash the hair with dish soap instead of your regular shampoo. These types of products are made to cut through grease and should do a good job of getting rid of the Patouchi smell. Since they will also strip the hair of its natural oils, you will want to follow up with some hair conditioner. Be generous with the stuff and leave it in place for several minutes to restore some moisture to the hair.
Get Rid of Patouchi Smell from a Car
1 Dish Detergent and Water Scrub Down
To remove the smell of patouli oil from a car, wipe down all the non-fabric surfaces with a solution of dish detergent and water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Repeat the process with a fresh batch of water and detergent.
2 Club Soda Spray
Make your own low-cost deodorizing spray out of a can of plain club soda. Put it in a spray bottle and spritz all the upholstery in the car until it is quite wet. The bubbles will penetrate the fabric and help loosen the dirt. Vacuum the seats with a wet/dry vacuum. Brush baking soda onto the fabric with a stiff brush and leave it overnight. Vacuum it up the next day. Spray the seats with a fabric refresher spray and leave the windows open until they dry.
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One option to neutralize nail polish smell is to apply a cuticle oil to the nails. You have a number of options to choose from, including products that can be applied with a pen or a stick. Some manufacturers provide an applicator that looks like a fine brush. As a bonus, these products may contain anti-fungal or antibacterial properties that will keep your nails free from diseases or disorders that can cause them to dry out.
Go to your kitchen and grab some olive oil if the smell from nail polish is getting to you. Apply it to your nails and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Wash your hands. This strategy should eliminate the smell from the acetone.
You will want to get some fresh air into the space right away when the nail polish smell is most pungent. Open a window to allow the stink molecules to dissipate. If the weather is cold, you may want to limit opening the fresh air opening to a short time (10 or 15 minutes) but this may be enough to do the trick.
Grab some air freshener and use it to neutralize the smell from the nail polish. Check the label before you press the button to make sure you will be eliminating the stank and not just covering it up with another smell. Febreze Air Effects and Lysol spray are advertised to offer this benefit, and may be a better choice than a less expensive brand.
If you have an overhead fan in the room, turn it on to get some air circulating in the room. Make sure the door is open as well to get the air flowing through the room. You don’t want the stink to stay trapped in a confined space any longer than necessary. A floor model fan will also help to get things moving along and out out the room so that you can breathe easier.
Put a bowl of fresh coffee grounds in the room to absorb the smell of nail polish from a room. Stir the coffee grounds daily until you don’t notice the smell anymore. For best results, use a glass bowl.
Put your nail polishes away as soon as you are finished painting your nails. Even if you replace the lids right away, you will still be able to smell the product in the room. A good place to store the stuff and keep the stink to a minimum is to put them in the refrigerator. This strategy also helps to keep your nail polish fresh so that it will last longer.