# And Charlie!  Light a match!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-charlie-light-a-match/54025>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 11, 2001, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-charlie-light-a-match/54025 "2001-02-11T08:34:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Saysha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Saysha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saysha)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-charlie-light-a-match/54025/1 "2001-02-11T08:34:49Z")

</div>

How does a match work to cover …er…bathroom smells? It is such a little thing, but it is so effective. Way more than those icky Potpourri sprays that just mingle and warp the stench into it’s own foul cloud.  
It’s the sulphur, I assume… but HOW? Does it affect our noses or cover it or remove it all together? Anyone?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Heath\_Doolin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Heath\_Doolin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heath_Doolin)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-charlie-light-a-match/54025/2 "2001-02-11T08:47:43Z")

</div>

Burns out the stink gases I believe. Though not flammable due to it spreading out enough to not light up (hence why lighting a fart is possible- a small concentration of expelled gas can be lit much to the pain of you and the hilarity of others.) I believe it eats up the stank.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![handandahalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@handandahalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handandahalf)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-charlie-light-a-match/54025/3 "2001-02-11T09:17:03Z")

</div>

When you light a match, an enormous amount of gases are immedeatly released from the head. I you could confine them they would explode a small container quite easily (which is why match heads are a favored component of pipe bombs). Far more than just a couple of squirts from a spray can. Add in that we instinctively react more strongly, and therefore notice, “burning” odors over most others, and a match or two make a slightly better cover scent.

Although perhaps not as good as you might think…