Smells Begone: Beyond Covering up Odor

Everyone's home has times and locations when and where unpleasant odors develop. Bathrooms are perhaps the most common locale, and understandably, many people keep an aerosol can of some brand or other readily available in their bathroom(s). Foul household smells are not limited to the bathroom, of course. They can and do develop under sinks, in garbage and waste areas, basements, attics or just about anywhere else that moisture is present. Pet-related and smoking odors can also be an issue in some homes.

For both those who have shared as well as those fortunate enough to have never experienced it, I will also mention the gruesome and long-lasting putrid smells of some animal dying and slowly decomposing either under a house or, worse yet, inside a wall. Sadly, but realistically, the possibilities and types of bad smells in your home (or business) you might want to 'erase' are nearly limitless.

There is a sub-industry of products to deal with these unpleasant aromas. Many are brands manufactured by major household product and chemical companies (Glade, Oust and Air Wick are a few that come to mind) and are supplied as either powered aerosol spray cans or wicked evaporators. Some of the newer evaporator devices plug into electrical outlets which stimulate their function by adding a low level of constant warming to the product. There are also scented candles, incense, and other types of hand-pump spray products and deodorizing 'delivery systems.'

Most of these have at least two unfortunate characteristics in common. 1) They deal with the unwanted scent by covering it up - some blatantly overpowering it - with a strong, presumable more pleasant smell of their own, and 2) The ingredients of most of these products contain at least one undesirable toxic chemical that you wind up spraying or evaporating into the air in your home. Finding acceptable options was not easy - but I am pleased to report having found one that eliminates those unwanted odors without replacing them with its own scent and contains no harmful toxins. The product is Smells Begone, manufactured by the Punati Chemical Group of Birmingham, Michigan.