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

Causes of Bathroom Odors:

The bathroom in your house, for a variety of reasons, is host to large numbers of germs ad bacteria. It is not just the toilet that causes germs and odor. Virtually everything you do in a bathroom releases substances which are a haven for odor causing bacteria.

• Use of toilet
• Shaving
• Brushing Hair
• Brushing Teeth
• Changing Clothes
• Showering/bathing
  

Even the constant washing heightens the risk for mold and mildew.

How to Eliminate Bathroom Odors:

• Flush the toilet after every use.
• Do not use the toilet as a garbage can. Used diapers, sanitary napkins, and plastic bags should not be flushed down the toilet.
• Clean the toilet bowl inside and out at least once a week.
• Immediately unclog the toilet when there is a clog. Do not allow the clog to stand.
• Make sure your toilet releases enough water to flush. Don't hesitate to flush twice.
• Pour bleach into the toilet bowl after you have cleaned it, but do not mix bleach with muriatic acid. This chemical combination can do serious damage to your lungs.
• If your toilet is used unusually frequently, consider a rim deodorizer. Hung from the rim of the toilet, a rim deodorizer releases a small amount of borax or bleach every time the toilet is flushed. Blue water in the toilet bowl indicates the deodorizer has been recently applied.
• Add a small amount (1/4 cup/60 ml) of vinegar to the toilet bowl and allow to stand overnight. Flush the next morning to remove toilet odors.
• Alternatively, add a small amount (1 tablespoon/15 ml) of detergent with a small amount (also 1 tablespoon/15 ml) of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. Allow to stand overnight and flush the next morning to remove toilet odors.
• If your toilet bowl needs heavy-duty cleansing, clean the bowl by your regular method and then flush to remove debris. Following label instructions, apply muriatic acid to the bowl and under the rim. Wearing gloves, scrub the toilet and under the rim with a toilet brush. Wash the exterior of the toilet bowl (but not the seat) with more muriatic acid. Then flush to remove the muriatic acid from the interior of the bowl and wash the outside of the bowl with cool water to remove all traces of the acid.
• Fix leaks. Overweight users of the toilet or improper seating of the toilet itself will result in leaks which provide moisture for molds and bacteria. Make sure your toilet is properly installed, and, if necessary, get leaks at the bottom of the bowl sealed.

_Do visitors know you have a pet dog—before Rover comes romping into the room? Are they aware of your kitty Fluffy even while she is hiding under the sofa?

With the possible exception of your pet fish (as long as they stay healthy), all pets come with a variety of odors. Some however, can be far more noticeable than others. These animals cause very distinct odors to fill your home if you are not careful about cleaning them.

Older people greatly benefit from pets—but often do not detect pet odors. People with migraines, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's have similar issues with not being aware of the odors of their pets. All pet owners, however, are more tolerant of the odors of their own pets than they are of the odors of pets belonging to other people.

Areas of Your Home that Absorb Pet Odor:

• Carpets
• Drapes and Curtains
• Furniture

Preventing Pet Odors:

• Clean all feeding areas for pets on a daily basis. Recirculating water bowls are best for cats.
• Identify areas of concentrated odor on your carpet. If you do not know where they are, use black light to find them and then clean thoroughly.
• Sprinkle a live-enzyme pet odor removal powder over areas of pet accidents until you have time to do deep cleaning. Most products also include live bacteria that can digest the proteins that cause odors and make them easier to remove from the carpet. Borax powder and baking soda also remove odor, but not as effectively as the bacteria-enzyme based powders.
• Deep clean stained areas of carpet with a carpet shampooer you fill with cool water only—no cleansers or detergents. This will help you avoid creating even worse odors that combine the odor of pet waste with the fragrances in the carpet shampoo. Never use a steam cleaner to clean up after a pet accident, since the heat will cause the odor to set in the carpet.
• Don't use cleaning chemicals, especially ammonia or vinegar. Your pet may be confused them with the odor of urine and return to urinate in the same place.
• Clean the carpet after you use an odor-neutralizing product. If you don't, the second application of the odor-neutralizing product will work on the first product, not the new urine or feces.
• Clean litter boxes and other toilet areas daily.
• Vacuum and sweep areas where the animals spend time regularly.
• Do not allow animals on the furniture.
• Clean and bathe animals on a regular basis. Get your pet accustomed to bathing as soon as possible after they become a part of your home.
• Realize that frequently soiled areas of carpet may need a new carpet pad.
• If accidents continually occur in the same areas, consider the root of the problem. Does your dog have access to the outdoors often enough? Is there a problem with the placement of your cat's litter box? Cats, in particular, tend to relieve themselves in the same place—even if someone has removed the litter box.
• When there are frequent pet accidents, it may be necessary to make the "accident zone" off limits to your pet. Sometimes your pet returns to the area where he or she smells his personal scent.
• To clean washable items, add a one-pound (450 g) box of baking soda to regular detergent. If urine or feces is still visible after washing, rewash with an enzymatic cleaner (available at pet supply stores), following the instructions on the box.
• When cleaning up fresh urine or feces, if possible, take the paper towels to the place where you wish for your pet to toilet. This gives your pet the message that defecation and urination are OK if they are done in the right place.
• Washable paints and wallpaper can be treated with enzyme-based cleaning products.

Problems with Pet Odors:

Dogs: Sometimes there is a condition where your dog may smell no matter how much you wash it. It may be necessary in this situation to see the veterinarian.

Cats: Cats may occasionally urinate outside of their litter boxes. This smell can be very difficult to remove, but if you don’t remove it, the cat will most likely continue to urinate there so it is important to take action.

Removal of Pet Odors:

Cat Urine: There are a number of products on the market to remove the smell of cat urine. However, if the urine has seeped into the carpet padding, it will be necessary to actually replace the padding. The best products on the market contain enzymes that cause a chemical reaction that breaks down the urine and neutralizes the odor.
Products:

Just for Cats made by Nature’s Miracle. Website: www.naturemakesitwork.com.

Stain & Odor Remover by Kids n’ Pets. Website: www.kidsnpetsbrand.com.

Dog Smell: If the smell has seeped into carpets, it will probably be necessary to clean the carpet commercially and replace the padding underneath. Once wet dog odor or urine has seeped into a carpet’s padding it cannot be removed without replacing the padding.

Products:

Room Shocker: This is recommended by veterinarians to remove tough pet smell. It is made by Biocide Systems. Website: www.biocidesystems.com.

• Houseplants can help remove VOC's from air. Some plants can remove 30 times their weight in VOC's over the course of their lives. These varieties are particularly good:

• Ferns
• Dragon Tree
• Golden Pothos
• English Ivy
• Orchid
• Philodendron

Surprisingly, not all houseplants reduce VOC's in indoor air. Some, such as the areca palm, peace lily, weeping fig, and snake plant, actually produce them.

There can also be a problem from pesticides growers of the plants add to the potting soil before selling the plant.

• Air cleaning systems with filters can be used to improve indoor air. They can remove VOC's although they cannot capture carbon monoxide emitted by space heaters. If you do not use kerosene or gas space heaters, however, air-cleaning systems can remove essentially all the harmful emissions in household air. For removing humidity from the air, use a dehumidifier, not an air filter.

Products:    

• Miracle Air Cleaner: These HEPA air cleaners are designed to remove air odors, pollen, tobacco smoke, dust and vapors. Website: www.purenatural.com.
• Honeywell: This consumer products company makes a wide variety of HEPA and other filters for a variety of different air cleaning possibilities. Website: www.honeywellstore.com.
• Air cleaners can be used along with improved ventilation to reduce pollutants to indoor air.

Products:

Photo catalyst Coating Spray: This spray is used to remove VOC's. It works through titanium dioxide, which neutralizes VOC to harmless CO2 H2O2. It is made by Ecoteam. Website: www.ecoteamlab.com._

What are Volatile Organic Compounds?
Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOC's, put simply, are the compounds you smell when your nose smells something in the air. They are what give the air around you a pleasant aroma or a foul odor. The technical definition of VOC's is chemical compounds which have high enough vapor pressure to vaporize and enter the atmosphere. When atmospheric pressure is lower or temperature is higher, more VOC's enter the air. For this definition, an "organic" compound is one that contains carbon, rather than one that comes from "natural" or "organic" sources.

Problems with Volatile Organic Compounds:

In high levels, VOC's can be damaging to your health and toxic to breathe. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, VOC's are a big contributing factor to ozone at ground levels. The ozone in the upper atmosphere is beneficial, but ozone at the ground level it can affect the function of the lungs, even in healthy people. Indoor air pollution levels can actually be two to three times higher than outdoor air pollution levels—and especially clean houses are the most likely to be contaminated by chemicals!

VOC's have chemicals that can cause the following health concerns:

• Dizziness
• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Headache
• Nausea
• Skin Problems
• Higher concentration can also cause damage to the liver, kidneys or central nervous system
  

Causes for Volatile Organic Compounds in the Home:

Many common household products emit volatile organic compounds:

• Aerosols
• Burning of wood, gas or kerosene
• Ethanolamines, used in silver polish and jewelry cleaners
• Fireplaces
• Floor cleaners (ammonia, however, is not volatile—only a problem if you are in direct contact with it)
• Floor varnish
• Floor waxes, especially if applied with a buffing machine
• Formaldehyde which can be found in particle board, plywood, foam insulation, and some drapes and textiles
• Fragrances, especially in bathroom cleaners applied from a spray can
• Gasoline—never siphon gasoline by mouth
• Glues
• "Green" arsenic-treated wood, especially in children's play sets
• Household cleaners, especially those sprayed on windows and mirrors, causing direct exposure of the lungs to the chemicals
• Incense sticks and candles
• Nail polish remover
• Open toner cartridges
• Paints
• Perfumes and hairspray
• Sanding sealers
• Sink cleaners, especially if the person using the cleaner is not using gloves (skin contact, and later inhalation of chemicals from the skin of the hands)
• Solvents
• Tobacco products
• Toilet bowl cleaners, especially if the bowl is then scrubbed with a short brush
• Underarm deodorant
• Well water in areas with chemical contamination
• Window cleaners
  

The amount of VOC's given off by these products tends to decrease as the products get older and dry out, but the VOC's greatly increase if they are not used at the dilution recommended on the label. Using "straight" bleach or cleaner, for instance, releases more VOC's than bleach or cleaner diluted with water.

_What causes odors in elderly people?

Hormone Changes: Humans go through rather pronounced hormone changes that can affect a host of other things in the body including sweat and other factors in body odor. Women experience both drier skin and vaginal dryness. The drying of skin and mucous membranes makes them more susceptible to infections which can cause inflammation, irritation, and odor.

Many men suffer prostate-related problems that cause dribbling of urine. The constant minute flow of urine causes urine odor, but it also inflames and irritates the skin and causes odors related to the destruction of skin and related tissues.

Bad Breath – At least 70 percent of elderly people do not produce enough saliva, so their breath becomes foul. Dental problems and gum infections are often problematic for the elderly. See section on bad breath for treatment of this condition.

"Old Man Odor" – Also known as "old lady smell," "old man smell," and "old people smell," this condition results from the accumulation of a chemical called 2-nonenal. It is also one of the aromas the human nose perceives in old books, beer, buckwheat, cucumbers, lard, and orris (iris root), orris being used in some cosmetics.

This distinctive odor of elderly persons results from the accumulation of omega-7 fatty acids in the sebum glands of the skin. Most people have heard of omega-3 or maybe omega-6 essential fatty acids, but the omega-7 fatty acids are a little more obscure.

These are the fatty acids that can be found in a few little-used health supplements, such as sea buckthorn and rosemary leaf, and in relative abundance in seafood and macadamia nuts. For some reason scientists do not yet completely understand, these fatty acids become palmitoleic acid on the skin, but only in persons aged 40 and older. Unfortunately, the human nose can detect even tiny traces of this chemical, even 3 to 4 parts per million in the air of the room of an elderly person.

Treatment of Odors Associated with Aging

Washing: As many elderly people don’t go out as often as they used to, some let their personal hygiene habits lapse a bit, but because of the increased changes in the skin, mouth and hormone levels, it is important for elderly people to remain vigilant about frequent washing and use of soap. Assistance with personal hygiene may be necessary, especially when urination and defecation become problematic.

Drinking more water: Drinking water can help with the breath problems associated with lower saliva production and can also help flush out any toxins from the skin that are causing odors. Hydrating the skin makes it more supple, so the pores containing the fats that become "old person smell" can be more easily cleansed. Drinking water also rinses food particles off the tongue and gums and in between the teeth.

Deodorant Spray: It is used by spraying the air, bed linens and clothes of an elderly person.

Products:

Silver Spray: There is only one product on the market right now specifically targeted towards the elimination of odors associated with aging. It is produced by Ecoteam. Website: www.ecoteamlab.com

_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

_Self-Treatment of Vaginal Odor:

For daily vaginal odors, good hygiene is the best weapon:
Wear lose cotton clothing: This is often referred to as clothing that “breathes," allowing air to flow and keep the vagina dryer. This stimulates the growth of healthy Lactobacillus bacteria and discourages the growth of the odor-causing Gardnerella. Avoid nylons or synthetic fabrics which trap heat, intensify sweat, and therefore allow more odor causing bacteria to grow. Cotton panties are best.
Bathe more often during menstruation: This is the simplest way to help combat extra sweat or excretions that may be caused by hormonal changes.
Change tampons or pads more frequently: This can prevent the build-up of smelly blood and bacteria byproducts. There are scented tampons and douches on the market, but these can disturb the natural flora of the vagina and actually do more harm than good.
Although it has been mentioned before, it bears mentioning again: Don't use douches to prevent vaginosis. Douches don't decrease the risk of developing vaginosis, they increase it. One study found that women who did not previously have vaginal odor, itch, or dryness but had used douches in the last two months were nearly 3 times more likely to develop vaginal odor in the next month than those who had not used douches. Once odor has developed, however, these douches are helpful on a short-term basis, never more than 2 weeks (to allow healthy bacteria to recover):

• Betadine is a form of anti-bacterial iodine that does not sting or burn, although it may stain undergarments. Use 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) in 1 pint (500 ml) of warm water, every other day for up to a week.
• Goldenseal, coptis, or barberry extract, 2 teaspoons (8 ml) in 1 pint (500 ml) of warm water kills bacteria of all sorts. Use every other day for up to two weeks.
• Lithium succinate (available from compounding pharmacists) in up to 8% solution is helpful for women who develop vaginal odor while recovering from herpes. It controls both bacteria and the herpesvirus. Use every other day for up to two weeks.
• White vinegar, 2 tablespoons (24 ml) in 1 pint (500 ml) of warm water kills odor-causing bacteria but encourages the growth of Lactobacillus.
• Borax and garlic are too harsh (and garlic is too smelly) for use in douches.
  

Remember, medication is a short-term remedy: Doctors often prescribe Flagyl (metronidazole) for vaginal odor. This antifungal drug is cheap, costing US $1 a day or less, about one-fifth the cost of the least expensive vaginal lotion, but it is not without its problems.

Flagyl leaves a metallic aftertaste when it's taken by mouth, and drinking alcohol while taking the drug can result in nausea or vomiting. And although Flagyl may control Gardnerella infection, it does nothing to reestablish the protective Lactobacillus bacteria. If these healthy bacteria are not restored, either by using probiotic yogurts or by using probiotic vaginal suppositories, the infection will return in about a month after discontinuing the drug.

_Causes of vaginal odor:

Along with vaginal dryness, vaginal itch, and vaginal discharge, vaginal odor is one the leading reasons women consult gynecologists. Even in healthy women, normal vaginal secretions can have a slightly "cheesy" or "antiseptic" smell. Contact of the vagina with semen can result in the release of a "fishy" odor. The greatest amount of vaginal discharge occurs at the midpoint of a woman's menstrual cycle, so this odor will naturally be stronger around the time of ovulation, when fertility is greatest.

Vaginal mucus (distinguished from menstrual blood) is released all the time, but the volume of discharge is about twice as great around Day 14 of a woman's period. The actual volume of discharge is normally 2 to 4 ml, about 1/2 a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon a day. Immediately after the menstrual period the mucus is "slippery" and produced in higher volume, and right around ovulation the mucus is "dry" and produced in lower volume.

The relationship of vaginal odor to vaginal infections is not easy to sort out. It is possible to have an infection without odor, and it is possible to have odor without infection. Odor can also result from excessive growth of bacteria that normally inhabit a healthy vagina, such as Gardnerella. Vaginal odor can be caused by yeast or trichomonas, but about a third of women who have issues with vaginal odor do not have infections with any common microorganism.

Vaginal odor can also be a symptom of chlamydia infection or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). If excessive vaginal odor is an issue, a trip to the doctor is in order to ensure that these two serious conditions do not exist. Looking at the vaginal mucus under the microscope usually reveals the exact source of the odor, but inflammatory processes that have nothing to do with infection can also cause odor problems.

As a general rule, however, itching with no odor is caused by yeast infection while inflammation with a strong "cheese" odor is caused by bacterial infection. Antifungals are prescribed for yeast infection, while antibiotics may be prescribed for bacterial infection—it is important to get the right treatment! Diflucan and fluconazole are more likely to be the right treatment when there is no strong odor, just vaginal itch.

Don't ignore vaginal odor. It is important to get treatment for bacterial infections of the vagina. Untreated infections with the bacterium Gardnerella can result in salpingitis, endometrial infection, pelvic inflammatory disease, and premature labor. Any kind of uterine surgery becomes much more likely to result in infection, and the woman also becomes more at risk for infection with HIV. Women at the highest risk for bacterial infections of the vagina are those who:

• Recently started sexual relations with a new male partner.
• Have lower estrogen levels as a result of perimenopause, the years of a woman's life before full menopause.
• Use douches for vaginal hygiene.
• Recently finished treatment with antibiotics (killing the friendly bacteria that keep odor-causing bacteria in check).
• Wear an IUD (intrauterine device) for contraception.

Finally, vaginal odor sometimes is the only warning sign of herpes infection. It is important to get a medical examination to be sure the cause of the odor is not a serious disease.

_Treatment for Bad Breath:

Brushing, Flossing and mouthwash: These are all critical to good oral hygiene, but they only mask the odor temporarily. Odors continue until the body eliminates the food. However, if you fail to brush daily, particles of food remain in the mouth, which breeds bacteria and can cause odor.

Products:

• Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash: One of America's favorite home remedies, this mouthwash contains extracts of eucalyptus and thyme that actually kill the germs that cause bad breath. Most mouth bacteria die after a 30-second exposure to Listerine. The product is made by Johnson & Johnson. Website: www.listerine.com.
• Cepacol is another antiseptic mouthwash that can kill germs, especially Staphylococcus bacteria. Website: www.cepacol.com.
• Colgate and Crest are among American Dental Association approved toothpastes. They do a good job cleaning your teeth and tongue, but again won’t solve bad breath entirely.
• Websites:  www.colgate.com, www.crest.com
  

Brush your tongue: Your tongue is covered in taste buds that have a small mushroom shape if you look at them under a microscope. The caps of these buds can catch microscopic bacteria that cause bad breath so it is important to brush your tongue as well as your teeth.

Change your diet: As mentioned above, toothpastes and mouthwash can only mask the smell of bad breath. The smell won’t completely go away until the food leaves your body, so you may want to change your diet to prevent breath odor.

Drink lots of water: Keeping your mouth moist stimulates the production of saliva which washes away dead cells, food particles and bacteria that contribute to bad breath.

Chew on parsley: This herb can help mask the smell of bad breath, but it won’t cure it.

Chew a breath mint: Mint can mask bad breath, but it cannot remove it. The combination of lemon and mint is best for masking garlic odor.

Avoid Smoking: Tobacco products can cause terrible breath problems among other health issues.

Visit the Dentist: If periodontal disease is the cause of your bad breath, the dentist may refer you to a specialist in treating gum problems or prescribe a special antimicrobial mouth rinse.