# How do you hide the smell/taste from smoking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 28, 2002, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012 "2002-09-28T12:21:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/1 "2002-09-28T12:21:23Z")
OK, occasionally I smoke cigarettes- primarilly when drinking. What is the best way to hide the smell? I was told once that potato chips work. Regular mouthwash doesn’t seem to cover it 100%, does anything else work? -Tcat ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/2 "2002-09-28T13:19:54Z")
Pizza ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/3 "2002-09-28T22:43:49Z")
As a long-time smoker, I can tell you that nothing works. Some people like licorice or anise. But even if you can get it off your breath, it hangs in your clothes. Who are you trying to hide your breath from? If you’re old enough to drink, you’re presumably an adult. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/4 "2002-09-28T23:34:00Z")
There’s always quitting. Guaranteed to get rid of the smell of smoking. Worked for me. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/5 "2002-09-28T23:43:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cainxinth \* > \*\*There’s always quitting. Guaranteed to get rid of the smell of smoking. Worked for me. \*\* There’s also the question about who your hiding it from. If you just don’t like the taste it leaves in your mouth that’s one thing. But if your SO is gonna give you a kiss, there gonna taste well after you think it’s gone (especially if they don’t smoke). ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/6 "2002-09-29T02:59:21Z")
It definitely depends who you’re hiding it from. It’s much easier to hide the smell from a smoker than from a non smoker. The only way to dissipate the smell completely is to brush your teeth, use mouthwash, eat something else, take a shower and change your clothes. Smoke, especially cigarette smoke, lingers in hair, clothes, upholstery – everything. I know those new Listerine strips work well for masking garlic breath, but I don’t know how well it works for cig breath. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/7 "2002-09-29T03:49:25Z")
Does someone have an actual, citable response to the question which addresses counteragents to the specific components of cigarette smoke? Because otherwise everyone is just WAGging, and I’ll shoot this over to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/8 "2002-09-29T04:55:19Z")
As a former smoker, I can attest to the fact that nothing will cover the smell on your breath. (I can notice it on other people now much more than before.) The only thing you can do is refrain from smoking for several hours; then your breath will clean out. For clothes, that Febreeze stuff works pretty well, but again, it doesn’t completely kill the smell. Nowadays, when I come home from my pool league night at the lodge I belong to, I can smell the odor on myself and practically have to shower as soon as I walk in the door. If I don’t, the smell will get on my pillow, the sheets, and my wife and I will both be grossed out by it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/9 "2002-09-29T05:58:09Z")
Ex-smoker checking in… Coffin lids work exceptionally well. Don’t get pissed. It’s true. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-hide-the-smell-taste-from-smoking/130012/10 "2002-09-29T06:04:51Z")
I just saw **manhatten’s** comment, so let me clarify mine… As a smoker, when I was around around parents, non-smoking girlfriends, etc., I tried everything! They could always tell. After I quit, smoking girlfriends, cow-orkers, etc., tried to fool me. It can’t be done! Smoke, whether fresh or stale, is a nasty smell. The only way you can’t recognize it is to smoke yourself.