Have you tried air fresheners, candles, or diffusers but can’t lessen persistent smells in your home? Perhaps it's time for an air purifier to bring about a fresh-smelling home and healthy indoor air quality. In addition to capturing allergens, air purifiers are capable of tackling an array of odors. Whether it's trying to get rid of the lingering scent of last night's dinner, pet smells, or the musty odor from a damp basement, the right home air purifier can make a big difference. At Alen, we’ve designed the Advanced filter for our air purifiers that targets various common household odors. Who doesn’t love that?
7 Smells You Can Get Rid of with an Air Purifier
- Smoke
- Pet Odors
- Cooking and Food Smells
- Mold and Mildew
- Garbage Odors
- Chemical Odors
- Sweat and Body Odors
7 Smells You Can Get Rid of with an Air Purifier
From wet dog smells to burned food and cigarette smoke, air purifiers can help reduce these various unpleasant odors, making your home continuously smell fresh. At Alen, we have a couple of odor mitigation options–the Advanced filters with activated carbon and our proprietary odor neutralizing Ultimate filters.
1. Smoke
Air purifiers are highly effective at reducing smoke odors from various sources, including cigarettes, cooking, and fireplaces. Alen’s Advanced filters are best for smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and common household odors. This filter has both a HEPA layer to capture particulates and a molecular filtration layer with carbon to capture gaseous contaminants–including odors. Equipping an Alen purifier with a Advanced filter absorbs harmful fumes in cigarette smoke and its residual odor, among other contaminants. You get the benefit of reducing unpleasant odors and possibly respiratory irritation caused by inhaling smoke. By investing in an air purifier like Alen and equipping it with a Advanced filter, you can enjoy a clean smelling home. Check out our smoke collections page for more information.
2. Pet Odors
Air purifiers are a game changer for pet owners affected by smells caused by dander, fur, and clumsy accidents. Whew! Alen’s Ultimate filters are the best for pet odors as they have both a HEPA layer–to capture particulates–and a molecular filtration layer with carbon to capture gaseous contaminants, including odors. Equipping an Alen purifier with an Ultimate filter will neutralize pet odors and help create a clean smell in your living space. Moreover, for potential guests in your home, reducing pet odors may also open the way for them to visit again. Check out our air purifiers for pets.
3. Cooking and Food Smells
Not every cooking smell is as pleasing as freshly baked cookies. Persistent cooking odors, such as those from spices and frying, can linger in your home long after a meal. Ready to get rid of those odors? Kitchen air purifiers can efficiently neutralize these smells. The HEPA filter captures the airborne particles from cooking, while the activated carbon filter adsorbs the odor molecules, including from burned food, grease, and spices–ensuring those odors are gone. This dual filtration system leaves your kitchen and surrounding areas smelling fresh and clean no matter the culinary creation.
4. Mold and Mildew
Air purifiers might also lessen musty odors caused by mold and mildew. These devices can capture airborne mold spores and bring down humidity levels, which are essential ingredients for mold growth. HEPA filters, such as those used in Alen purifiers in air purifiers, can capture mold* spores, preventing them from circulating in the air. By addressing both mold spores and humidity, air purifiers not only reduce the unpleasant musty smells but also prevent further mold growth. Checkout our collection of air purifiers for mold.
5. Garbage Odors
Did you enjoy your fish dinner but the next day have that fishy smell in your kitchen? No worries! If you have an Alen in your home, equip it with an Ultimate filter to diminish offensive smells from trash bins and garbage disposals. These unpleasant odors are often caused by bacteria and decomposing particles. Air purifiers can effectively capture these particles and neutralize the odors, including decaying organic matter and food waste. By not only removing the smells but also reducing the presence of bacteria in the air, you’ll get a cleaner, fresher-smelling home. Can you say relief?
6. Chemical Odors
Another category are chemical odors from household chemicals, cleaning products, and paints. These odors are often caused by VOCs and chemical fumes, which can linger and negatively impact indoor air quality. This is where activated carbon filters are especially beneficial as they are designed to adsorb VOCs and neutralize chemical fumes from cleaning products or paints. The activated carbon filter captures and holds these odor-causing molecules, preventing them from circulating in the air. You’ll have enhanced indoor air quality, making your home safer and more comfortable to live in. By equipping your Alen air purifier with an Advanced or an Ultimate filter–with a maximum amount of carbon to last longer–you can take control of reducing harsh chemical smells and improve your indoor air quality. Checkout our collection of Air Purifiers for VOCs.
7. Sweat and Body Odors
Just getting home from a run? Or maybe you have an indoor gym? Hmmm ok, you might have some body odor (aka BO!) smells wafting through your house. Air purifiers are excellent at neutralizing sweat and body odors in workout spaces and bedrooms. Activated carbon filters neutralize odor molecules including sweat or odors from perfume and cologne, ensuring a fresh space. By filtering out the particles and bacteria, air purifiers create a more comfortable and hygienic space for you to live and sleep, promoting a better sleep and exercise environment. Even after intense workouts, consistently using an air purifier can neutralize that offensive BO.
How Air Purifiers Remove Odors (The Science Behind It)
[Add Image of scientific diagram of air filter removing odor particles]
Air purifiers remove odors through a combination of particle filtration and gas adsorption. HEPA filters capture up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust and some odor-carrying particles, as noted by the EPA. However, most odors come from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gases. Activated carbon filters use adsorption, binding these odor molecules to a porous surface at a molecular level. This effectively removes smells from the air as it circulates. While highly effective for airborne odors, air purifiers do not eliminate odor sources embedded in surfaces like carpets or furniture.
Which Filters Remove Which Odors
Different odors come from different sources, so choosing the right filter type is key to removing them effectively. Understanding which filters target particles versus gases helps you match the solution to the specific smell in your home.
| Odor Type | Source | Best Filter Type | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Cigarettes, fire | HEPA + Carbon | Captures particles + VOCs |
| Pet Odors | Dander, accidents | HEPA + Carbon | Neutralizes odor molecules |
| Cooking Smells | Grease, spices | Carbon + HEPA | Removes airborne + gas particles |
| Chemical Odors | Cleaning products | Carbon | Adsorbs VOCs |
Do Air Purifiers Help With Smells FAQ’s
Do air purifiers get rid of diaper smells?
Yes, but success depends on the filter. While HEPA filters capture airborne bacteria, an activated carbon filter is essential to neutralize the ammonia and sulfur compounds found in diaper odors. For best results, place the purifier near the changing station to trap gas molecules before they migrate through the house.
Do air purifiers really get rid of smells?
They do, provided they use adsorption. While HEPA filters trap physical particles like smoke soot, activated carbon filters chemically bond with odor-causing gases (VOCs). They don't just mask smells; they physically remove the molecules from the air, effectively neutralizing odors from cooking, pets, and chemicals at a molecular level.
Do air purifiers make your room smell nice?
Air purifiers are designed to achieve a neutral smell, not a "nice" one. Unlike candles or sprays, they remove odors rather than adding fragrance. While the air will feel "crisp" and clean, it won’t smell like lavender or citrus unless the unit features a dedicated (and optional) aromatherapy tray.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/smoke-inhalation
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-reasons-your-house-stinks
https://www.lung.org/blog/volatile-organic-compounds-at-home
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/reduce-body-odor
(*Tested on Staphylococcus Aureus and A.Niger with a minimum reduction rate of 99% in 30 minutes.)
