How To Neutralize Perfume Odor? [Easiest Fix That Works]

We often talk about making perfumes last longer, but what we don’t talk about very often is making the fragrance go away.

Yup, you read that right!

Believe it or not, getting rid of odor can sometimes be more complicated than trying to keep a scent on for longer.

After accidentally spilling a bottle of perfume on my rugs and trying to scrub the smell away for a week, I dig deep into the internet to find a solution – and as always, I found many.

So, what’s better than sharing it with all my readers so that when you find yourself in a position like this, you can get to work right away!

How Do You Neutralize Perfume Odor?

Neutralizing perfume odor can be tricky sometimes, but it is not as impossible as it may seem.

When the perfume is on your skin, simply washing and scrubbing your skin may not work.

To neutralize the smell, you need to take a cotton ball and soak it in rubbing alcohol, then rub it on the spot on your skin where the perfume was applied.

You can also use unflavoured vodka instead of rubbing alcohol, as that is effective as well.

For de-odorizing spilled perfume from rugs or clothes, first, soak it up using paper towels. Then apply white vinegar and water onto the affected area. Quickly wash it using baking soda and unscented heavy-duty detergent.

Let the soaked rug or clothes air dry, and keep coffee beans and cut lemons to absorb the unwanted smell from the surrounding area.

Also, check out our separate post on Should You Wear Perfume to a Job Interview?

How To Get Rid Of Perfume Odor From Your Skin

My job requires testing perfumes all the time. Sometimes, even when a perfume smells great in the bottle, it doesn’t smell as good when applied to the skin – and getting them off can be really tedious.

So, after many trials and errors, I have found the best ways to get rid of unwanted perfume odors that keep lingering no matter how much you try to wash them off.

• Using Cotton and Rubbing Alcohol

Take a cotton ball and dip it in rubbing alcohol so that it is soaked in the liquid. Now, dab the cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol on the area of your skin where you have applied the stubborn scent.

The rubbing alcohol will dilute the concentrated fragrance on the skin, and the scent is going to wear off much faster.

• Using Baking Soda and Warm Water

Baking soda can come in quite handy when it comes to getting rid of unwanted odor.

Take equal parts of water and baking soda, and mix them well to create a paste.

Now take a generous amount of the paste and rub it onto the areas of your skin where you have previously applied the fragrance.

Let the paste sit for 5 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water, and the smell will be barely there.

Have some time to spare? Check out our latest guide What Makes a Perfume Unique?

• Using Cotton and Unflavored Vodka

Using vodka to get rid of unwanted fragrances from the skin may seem funny, but believe me, it works.

For this, you will only need a small amount of vodka. Simply take a small cotton ball and soak it in the unflavored vodka.

Then dab the soaked cotton wool on the regions of the skin where you have applied the perfume.

The vodka will dissolve and dilute the fragrance molecules, getting rid of the unwanted odor.

• Using White Vinegar and Oil

This method is also quite simple and effective.

Take small amounts of white vinegar and oil to create a mixture. Generously dab the mixture onto the areas of the skin where you have applied the perfume.

Let the liquid sit on the skin for some time. Then, wash off the area using soap and water you will notice that the lingering smell has dissipated.

How To Get Rid Of Perfume Odor From Fabric

Getting rid of fragrances from clothes and other fabrics is not an easy job. Not when it is a few extra pumps of the perfume, and definitely not when it is an accidental perfume spill!

However, even though it may seem difficult, it is not impossible.

Below I have mentioned the way you can remove unwanted perfume odor from your clothes, bedsheets, or rugs.

• Using White Vinegar, Unscented Heavy-Duty Detergent, and Baking Soda

First things first, you need to wash your clothes or bed sheets. Use a detergent without any fragrance or odor if possible.

Make sure that you use unscented heavy-duty detergent when washing the clothes.

However, instead of a fabric conditioner or softener, use distilled white vinegar to wash the fabrics.

If it’s sunny outside, dry them outside or in a well-ventilated space after washing because sunshine will aid in scent removal.

Then, soak them in unscented vinegar overnight before washing them thoroughly with warm water and air dry them in a well-ventilated place.

Once all this is done, you will notice that the odor has significantly reduced, if not disappeared completely.

Quickly check out our post on perfume ads- Why are Fragrance Commercials so weird?

Nonetheless, be sure to keep the smelly fabrics at least 10 feet away from any freshly laundered items or items that have been cleaned with perfumed fabric softener and soap.

How To Get Rid Of Perfume Odor From The Air

Sometimes, the odor tends to linger long after the incident, whether you apply the perfume to the skin or clothes or accidentally spray or spill it somewhere else.

Well, this lingering scent can also be handled using simple tips and tricks, which I have mentioned below.

• Increase Air Ventilation In The Room

Perfume is basically droplets of liquid fragrances that get dispersed into the air and stick and bind to the surface that you spray it on.

Since the small molecules get distributed throughout the air, they travel via diffusion.

To get rid of the odor of perfume from an area, there should be adequate airflow so that the diffusion occurs faster and more efficiently.

So, to get rid of a lingering scent from a room or area, you need to increase airflow and ventilation, which will facilitate the diffusion process.

You can do this by opening up windows and drawing up the curtains.

If you have any fans in the room, you can turn them on to speed up the airflow and get rid of the odor faster.

• Using Ground Coffee or Coffee Beans

Coffee beans and ground coffee have the unique ability to absorb different types of odor.

And given that their scent is so beautiful and strong, it is a great option to get rid of lingering perfume smell from a room.

To help absorb the scent, place small pots of coffee beans or grinds nearby. In fact, in order to mask the scent of perfumes, several perfume shops offer customers containers of coffee to sniff.

Have some time to spare? Check out  How To Pack Perfume Bottles?

• Using Cut Lemon

Similarly, you can use lemons to tame the lingering smell.

Just cut a few lemons in half and leave them outside to absorb any scents that may still be there.

The lemon is going to absorb the perfume odor, and the citrusy smell of lemon will make the room smell better.

When the lemons start to shrivel, throw them away.

• Baking Soda

If your room has carpeting, then you can also use baking soda to deodorize the room.

Sprinkle some baking soda on your carpets, and after waiting a while, vacuum the carpets. The odor will be much less significant.

Many people don’t know it, but baking soda has long been used as a refrigerator deodorizer since it absorbs odors naturally, as coffee and lemons do.

Conclusion

Getting rid of fragrances from your skin and clothes can get very tedious. However, if you try the right methods, then the process can be sped up.

So, if you are struggling to get rid of a smell, then try out the methods that I have mentioned in this article, and I’m sure things will work out for you.

Follow our guide to know  Can You Leave Perfume In The Car?

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