ecoteam, the science of smell expert group - deodorant & aromatherapy

_The Problem of Tobacco Odor:

Smokers often underestimate just how acutely non-smokers can smell tobacco. A study at the Institute for Hygiene and Applied Physiology in Switzerland found that non-smokers can detect the odor of one cigarette diluted in 19,000 cubic meters of air. This is roughly equivalent to a smoker going into the middle of a football or soccer stadium on calm day and lighting up; even 50 meters (150 feet) away, non-smokers can smell the cigarette.

The tobacco industry is very aware that cigarettes cause odor, so they include various additives in cigarettes to mask the odor. These include aluminum (linked to Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer) in the wrapping paper and lemon, vanilla, and patchouli in the tobacco. All these chemicals have to be detoxified in the liver of anyone who inhales the smoke, whether they smoke the cigarette or not.

Various studies find that 20 to 60 per cent of people exposed to second-hand smoke develop some kind of upper respiratory condition. Symptoms include sore throat, nasal irritation, post-nasal drip, runny nose, dry throat, dry mouth, coughing, and hoarseness. The acrolein in tobacco smoke is a common trigger for asthma attacks.

What causes tobacco odor?

1. Smoking: This is the obvious cause of tobacco odor on the body. The smell of smoke clings to the body, causes bad breath, and also comes out through the skin. The tobacco mixes with your body chemistry to cause a distinct odor that comes out through the skin.  This odor can persist for weeks even after the cessation of smoking.
2. Second hand smoke: As anyone who has ever been in a smoky café or bar can tell you, smoke from other people’s cigarettes also clings to clothing, the hair on the body and some gets into your system by breathing the smoke in the air. If enough second hand smoke is breathed in, it can cause a smell that comes out through the skin just as though the individual had actually smoked cigarettes.

Treatment of Tobacco Odor

Quit Smoking: This is the obvious and most definite way to eliminate the smell caused by tobacco. Even after quitting, it may take several weeks or more for the body to rid itself of the chemicals that cause foul body odor.

Avoid Smoky Places: Again, this is a rather obvious solution. Tobacco odors can be both strong and dangerous, so the best first defense is to avoid smoke whenever possible.

Wash Regularly: If you still smoke, or have to be in areas that are exposed to smoke it is important to take care to wash the smell off your body with a strong soap. One should pay special attention to hair and hairy parts of the body which seem to absorb smoke particularly well. They must be washed with smoke and water to help eliminate the smell.

Products:

• Vinegar: Adding vinegar or vinegar baking soda to your regular laundry cycle and detergent can help remove smoke odors.
• Clorox Bleach: this is very effective in removing bacteria and smells, but is often not good for colored fabrics. Website: www.clorox.com.

Sprays for Clothes and Fabrics: There are many sprays to get rid of odors from clothing or fabrics, but most of these simply are perfumed and mask the smell.   

Products:

• Etiquette Spray: This spray created by Ecoteam stands out by chemically breaking down the molecules that cause the smoke smell and absorbing the remaining molecules, thereby eliminating the smell of smoke rather than just masking it. Website: www.ecoteamlab.com