April 30, 2025

13 Tips to Avoid and Get Rid of Cannabis Smell

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No matter how much we all love cannabis, few of us will admit to loving the telltale odor it leaves behind, especially if it's smoked. That all-too-familiar aroma of cannabis smoke has a way of permeating everything. Plus, many people still want to maintain some discretion around how they spend their free time. All of which means learning how to avoid or mask this odor is a valuable skill to have in your back pocket.

If you’re trying to prevent the smell of weed from seeping into all aspects of your life, this guide is for you. Here, we will explain how to not smell like weed and eliminate the odor from your clothing, hair, and home, serving up both immediate strategies and longer-term solutions.

The Immediate Aftermath: How To Get Rid of Cannabis Smell Right Now

Quick! You've just enjoyed a pleasant moment with a joint in the living room, but now you need to get rid of that lingering skunky scent and stale smoke.

You have a few immediate solutions on the table to help clear the air after an especially stinky session.

1. Air Out the Room

First and foremost, you'll want to open all the windows and doors. If the room has a ceiling fan, turn it on. If you can access a floor fan, bring it in for additional support. Get as much air moving in the room as possible to help disperse cannabis's signature aroma.

Fresh air from outside is especially beneficial here. It has a seemingly supernatural ability to not just mask the odor but clear it out after a smoke session.

2. Mask the Odor

Once the room is well-ventilated, the next step is to cover up the remaining aromatic evidence. The best way to mask weed smell is with natural aromatherapy tools like essential oil diffusers, candles, and incense.

Strong essential oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, and citrus are beneficial for covering up the smell of weed because they help neutralize other odors. You can also find these same scents in a candle format, but an essential oil diffuser is a more powerful means of distribution.

(Just remember, if you don't regularly burn incense or use diffusers, covering up the smell of cannabis with another exotic scent might not be as discreet as you'd imagined.)

3. Deploy Odor Eliminators

The better choice for hiding the smell of cannabis smoke is with odor-eliminating air fresheners and cleaning sprays. These products first help reduce the smell by changing the aromatic particles' chemical composition, then masking the rest with a strong scent. Look for products specifically formulated to target smoke.

The Long Game: Deep Cleaning for Stubborn Smells

man steam cleaning the upholstery on his couch

If time is on your side and you have a few hours to dedicate to a deep clean, it's time to bring out the heavy cleaning artillery.

These deep-cleaning tactics are longer-term solutions for the spaces in your home that get regular cannabis smoke exposure, like a living room or bedroom. While you may not smell the lingering aroma of cannabis, chances are others can. So, spend a few hours and a bit of elbow grease tackling it.

4. Do a Fabric Refresh

Most of the stale smell of cannabis that permeates indoor spaces lives in the bedding, curtains, carpets, and other fabrics.

Because smoke contains a mixture of tiny sticky particles, including tar, ash, oils, and various volatile organic compounds, it tends to get stuck here. The particles end up deeply embedded within the fabrics found throughout our homes.

First, wash as many of the fabric items as you can, including the window coverings, bedding, blankets, throw pillows, and more. Use an odor-eliminating laundry detergent, and add a scoop of sodium percarbonate (like OxiClean) to target stubborn smells.

5. Clean Carpet and Upholstery

What about all the fabric elements you can't throw in the washing machine? You better believe your carpet and upholstery have also absorbed the stale smell of smoke from your daily sessions.

First, vacuum everything, even the couch. Second, rent a carpet and upholstery cleaner. You'll find these high-powered steam cleaners available at tool rental shops, grocery stores, and even dry cleaners.

Don't have access to a carpet cleaner? Before you vacuum, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the surface and let it sit for 15–30 minutes. The baking soda will gradually absorb any odors, which you can then vacuum up.

6. Do a Surface Cleaning

While fabrics are the primary target for holding onto the smell of cannabis smoke, don't forget to wipe down the hard surfaces in the room. Remember, cannabis smoke is sticky, and those smoke particles will attach themselves anywhere they can, including walls, tables, and floors.

A multi-purpose cleaner will do the trick here, but even better if you have a strongly scented cleaner like Pine Sol. Wipe down the coffee tables, side tables, shelving, and walls to help the room stop smelling like weed.

7. Employ Activated Charcoal and Baking Soda

Another long-lasting odor-eating option is to place bowls of activated charcoal or baking soda around the room. Activated charcoal traps odor molecules in its tiny pores, while baking soda neutralizes them on contact. For stronger results, use an air purifier with a charcoal filter to pull odors right out of the air.

Personal Tactics: De-Stinking Your Wardrobe and Hair

It's time to get more specific about tackling the pervasive smell of weed. Unless you've been smoking in the great outdoors, chances are the smoke particles haven't just settled around you — they've settled on you.

Here is how to not smell like cannabis, even after a heavy session.

8. Wash and Air Out Clothing and Personal Items

The best way to refresh your clothing is simply a wash. Again, wash with an odor-free detergent and add a tablespoon of OxiClean to the load. Then, if you’re throwing your clothing in the dryer, you can hide any remaining odor with a scented dryer sheet or fabric spray.

The next best solution for removing unwanted odors is to hang clothing and personal items in a well-ventilated area. It’s even better to hang them outside, as the fresh air can cut through lingering smells.

9. A Good Shampoo

The same tactics you've applied to your clothing apply to your hair. The most effective way to eliminate the smell of smoke on your hair is with a long, hot shower. Any shampoo will work, but if you have a clarifying shampoo, it may more effectively strip adhesive smoke particles from each strand.

The next best bet is to sprinkle in some dry shampoo. Dry shampoo products tend to absorb odors and often come scented. It's a simple two-layer action against the smell of cannabis.

Prevention Is Key: Eliminating the Smell Before it Sticks

Hands down, the only real way to prevent cannabis smoke from penetrating all aspects of your home and person is to mitigate the smell in the first place.

10. Switch it Up!

Smoking isn't the only way to enjoy the uplifting and relaxing effects of cannabis. You have so many options, most of which don't involve smoke. Why not replace your after-work joint with a nice, refreshing THC-infused drink? Or, instead of a blunt before bed, try a few soothing drops of cannabis tincture.

From baked goods to gummies to syrups, Hometown Hero supplies a smorgasbord of tasty cannabis options that don't smell like cannabis at all, but still deliver the relaxing effects you know and love.

11. Pivot to Vaping

If you love the ritual of smoking a joint but want to cut down on the lingering smell, consider switching to vaping. Vaping allows you to enjoy the inhale and savor the exhale without combustion, meaning no smoke and significantly less odor. Since nothing is actually burned, the vapor is lighter, cleaner, and dissipates quickly.

When it comes to Hometown Hero's disposable vapes, whether it's our strain-specific THCA Liquid Diamond vapes or terpene-rich Live Resin Vapes, the aroma is mild and short-lived. Unless you're right in the cloud, chances are you won't smell a thing.

12. Smoke Outside

If smoking cannabis is truly the only way you wish to consume cannabis, whenever possible, step outside to do so. Wide open spaces mean the smoke dissipates quickly, with little chance to settle into your clothing or hair. And, of course, none of it will have the opportunity to saturate your home!

13. Choose Better Storage Solutions

Most of this article has focused on the lingering smell of smoke because that's usually what people are trying to eradicate. But we haven't yet touched on the often powerful scent of the fresh flower.

While typically more short-lived and less pervasive than cannabis smoke smell, the pungent aroma emanating from a skunky, gassy bud can be hard to hide.

If this is your challenge, it's time to upgrade your storage to an air-tight glass or metal container. Technically, both plastic and wood are permeable, which means they gradually let odors out. Instead, choose smell-proof containers. Not only will your flower last longer, but it'll also keep the smell contained. There are tons of options out there, from cheap mason jars to high-end stash boxes.

Getting rid of the smell of weed—and keeping it from taking over your space—is totally doable with the right strategies. Whether it's deep cleaning your space, refreshing your clothes and hair, or simply switching to odor-free cannabis formats like edibles or vapes, there are plenty of ways to stay fresh and discreet.

For the best results, combine a few of these approaches and make prevention a habit. With just a little effort, you can enjoy cannabis on your terms—without the lingering scent giving you away.

Smell-Free Sessions Are Possible

Getting rid of the smell of weed—and keeping it from taking over your home—is totally possible with the right strategies. There are plenty of ways to stay fresh, whether it’s deep cleaning your living room, steam cleaning the upholstery, or turning on the diffuser.

But, for those who really want to eliminate the harsh odors, you'll want to branch out from strictly just smoking cannabis. Instead, dabble with edibles, pivot to vaping, or try tinctures. All come with the same effects, but with a bit more discretion.

Until Next Time, Mind Your Mind.