How do you get rid of that old-lady-who-bathes-in-perfume smell?

June 9, 2008 11:37 AM

How do you get rid of perfume odors that cling to everything?

Google-fu is failing me. My brother recently sent over a package of some of my stuff (a necklace, bottle of lotion, bit of makeup), and unintentionally sent with it a small bottle of "perfume" that reeeeeks of a very unwelcoming stench - the kind that sticks to whatever touches it and makes your head spin and stomach churn. Of course, said perfume was so pervasive it leaked out of the bottle and onto my effects; washing them with dishwashing liquid didn't put a dent into the smell. I've yet to try baking soda, which may help, but I think something way more heavy-duty is necessary for this awful stench.

posted by chan.caro to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

Our secretary recently got it into her head to spray everything in our office with some kind of scented product that was making me sick. I went and bought this stuff at the food co-op called "Pure Ayre"--it's like Febreez except only scented with mint. It says it breaks up odor molecules, and sure enough it seemed to destroy them almost on contact.
posted by HotToddy at 12:00 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

Best answer: A few people in this thread recommend Ozium. Haven't used it myself, and I'm not sure if it works with perfume, but I'll be trying it in the very near future.

If the perfume's on skin, wiping the area with rubbing alcohol usually helps.
posted by Metroid Baby at 12:15 PM on June 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

try washing with baking soda and/or vinegar.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 1:03 PM on June 9, 2008

Sometimes it just takes repetition. I don't actually have any experience with non-biological odors like perfume, but I've found that using Febreeze and similar products does work, but it often requires repeated applications. I recommend cleaning, then drenching in whatever scent-killing product you choose, letting it sit outside for a day, then repeating the process 2-4 times. I've used this technique to get the cat piss smell out of a backpack and years of tobacco smoke stench out of a leather sofa.
posted by ErWenn at 5:41 PM on June 9, 2008

Ditto on washing with baking soda. And I have found leaving things on a clothes line for a day or two (bring it in at night obviously) really speeds the process along.
posted by gwenlister at 4:36 AM on June 10, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks everyone - alcohol actually helped get rid of the smell from the packaging of my toiletries, though there are still some remnants on my necklace. Round two tonight!
posted by chan.caro at 8:01 AM on June 10, 2008