Şebnem Oğuz · ODORGO founder · Last updated: October 6, 2026
You walk in and the air is heavy. You grab the room spray and press twice. A few minutes of relief, then the smell creeps back.
The spray isn't faulty. Most room sprays and home fragrances are made to cover an odor, not to remove it. An odor eliminator does a different job, and that decides which one you buy.
What does a room spray or home fragrance do?
It lays a stronger, pleasant scent over the bad one. Your nose picks up the new scent for a while and the room feels fresher, but the molecules behind the bad odor are still in the air and on the surfaces.
Once the fragrance evaporates, the old odor returns. Sometimes the two blend into something heavier than what you started with.
What does an odor eliminator do?
It adds no new scent; it goes after the odor molecules already there, the volatile compounds mixed into the air. ODORGO is a water-based formula built on five plant-derived essential oils: pine needle, anise, clove, cedarwood and lime. Those oils attract the molecules, bind them and neutralize them. The technology is rooted in research at Delaware State University in the USA. The chemistry is covered at greater length in why stubborn odors don't go away.
One note: right after you spray ODORGO there is a light plant scent that soon fades. ODORGO is there to take the bad odor out, not to perfume the room.
What is the difference between masking and neutralization?
| Question | Room spray / home fragrance | ODORGO |
|---|---|---|
| What does it do? | Adds a pleasant scent on top of the bad odor | Binds the odor molecule and turns it into an odorless compound |
| What happens when the fragrance evaporates? | The old odor comes back | No fragrance to evaporate; reapply if the source is still active |
| What is left behind? | The added scent | No lasting scent |
| What is in it? | Mostly fragrance-based | Water-based, built on plant-derived oils; fragrance-free |
| When does it fit? | When you only want a pleasant scent | Set-in cigarette, pet, cooking and damp odor |
Do vinegar, baking soda and coffee work?
Up to a point. White vinegar and baking soda partly neutralize some odor compounds and help when you clean a drain or wipe a surface. Coffee beans and reed diffusers mostly mask.
Against set-in cigarette smoke, pet urine or heavy cooking odor, home remedies may not be enough on their own. For what to look for on a label, see how to choose a natural odor eliminator.
Which one should you choose, and when?
If there is no real odor problem and you only want a pleasant scent, a home fragrance does the job.
It is a different story when cigarette smoke has settled into the sofa, pet odor sits in the carpet, or a heavy smell travels from the kitchen to the living room. Masking leaves you spraying again every day. That calls for a product that removes the odor at its source. The cigarette side is covered step by step in our guide to cigarette odor in the home and car.
How do you use ODORGO at home?
- Find the source of the odor and remove it: a full trash can, a wet cloth, an ashtray.
- Open a window and let the air move.
- Shake ODORGO Odor Eliminator Spray 250 ml well, then spray it into the air or onto the surface that smells.
- Let it dry. If the odor is still there, spray once more.
- In a room where odor keeps forming, set ODORGO Odor Eliminator Gel 250 g on a flat surface. Open the lid and leave it; no power or batteries. The gel lasts up to 30 days in enclosed areas of up to 15 m²; longer in smaller spaces such as drawers and cabinets.
The spray is water-based; you can use it on any surface that water does not harm. On water-sensitive fabrics and surfaces (unfinished or untreated wood, silk, leather, electronics, etc.), test on a small hidden area first.
While you cook or have guests over, you can burn the ODORGO Odor Eliminating Soy Candle 230 g. On the first burn let the surface melt edge to edge, never burn it more than 4 hours at a time, trim the wick to 5 mm, and never leave it unattended.
The formula is mostly water and plant-derived oils.
The spray and the gel are vegan. Both show up to 98% odor elimination effectiveness. They can be used in homes with children and pets.
Let your room smell of clean air, not perfume
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a room spray remove odor?
No, most room sprays cover the odor. When the fragrance evaporates, the old odor comes back.
Are an odor eliminator and a home fragrance the same thing?
No. A home fragrance adds scent; an odor eliminator binds odor molecules and turns them into an odorless compound.
Does ODORGO leave a lasting scent in the room?
No. It is fragrance-free; the light plant scent you notice on spraying soon fades.
Can I use a home fragrance and ODORGO together?
Yes. Remove the bad odor with ODORGO first, and if you want a pleasant scent, use the fragrance afterward.
Should I buy the gel or the spray?
It depends on the odor. Spray for a sudden odor; gel where odor keeps forming, such as a closet or a room.
Are vinegar and baking soda enough for set-in odor?
They help with light odors. For cigarette and pet odor settled into a sofa or carpet, they may not be enough on their own.