The fact that cannabis use has become destigmatized is one of the best things that’s happened in the United States over the past couple of decades. That’s especially true here in Nevada, where we’ve enjoyed a long history of forward-thinking cannabis regulations beginning with the decriminalization of possession back in 2001.
Cannabis has always been one of the world’s most widely used substances – and more than ever, people are happy to discuss their weed use openly. A recent Gallup poll puts the number of cannabis users in the US at something like 15 percent of the adult population. In fact, there are now more daily weed users in the US than there are daily drinkers.
The fact that there’s no longer a stigma associated with weed use, though, doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to smell like the green stuff wherever you go. If you’re about to head to a job interview or go out on a date, for instance, you might want to keep the stoner vibes to a minimum.
The days of dousing yourself with patchouli oil when you don’t want to smell like weed are long over – and to be perfectly honest, patchouli doesn’t actually work anyway. Controlling the smell of weed means that you need to take appropriate steps both during and after use. You’ll also want to make sure that you’re storing your stash properly. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know.
What Does Weed Smell Like?
Fact: The smell of weed is one of the most potent and easily detectable of all scents. According to air testing company LCS Laboratory, people with sensitive noses can detect the smell of cannabis in concentrations as low as 0.01 parts per million. That’s why controlling the smell of weed on your person – not to mention preventing the smell of your stash from permeating your home – is such a challenge.
Cannabis is a terpene-rich plant, and it’s the terpenes that give weed its unmistakable odor. It’s amazing that weed is available in so many different strains – each having their own distinct scents and flavor profiles – and yet, each one is immediately recognizable as cannabis.
Here are some of the words that people typically use to describe the smell of weed:
- Earthy, like cloves
- Citrusy, like lemon or orange
- Piney and herbal, like pine trees or rosemary
- Spicy, like black pepper
- Skunky or sulfuric
- Diesel-like, similar to the smell of fuel
Although every cannabis strain has its own individual scent profile, a strain typically has some combination of the above aromas. After you’ve smelled weed once, you’ll never fail to recognize it in the future.
How to Control the Smell of Weed When Smoking It
If you don’t want to smell like weed after smoking it, the first step is to minimize the smell while you’re using it. Smoke is an extremely effective carrier of scents, which is why everyone who happens to be anywhere near you can tell when you’re toking. Here’s what you need to do.
- Smoke in an area that allows for maximum airflow. Going outside is always the best option. If you can’t do that, open the windows and use a fan to force the smoke out of the room.
- Consider using incense or a scented candle to mask the smell. Citrus scents work well. You can also try a candle designed for smoke odor elimination.
- Use a one-hitter or small pipe that only holds enough weed for one or two puffs. A joint will produce a constant stream of smoke until you put it out.
- Use a sploof.
What’s a sploof? We’re glad you asked! A sploof is essentially a home-made air filter that absorbs some of the smoke and neutralizes the smell when you exhale through it.
To make a sploof, you need a toilet paper or paper towel roll, some scented dryer sheets and a rubber band. Stuff the dryer sheets into the roll. Place a final dryer sheet over the end of the roll and secure it with a rubber band. When you smoke, exhale slowly into the end of the roll that’s not covered by a dryer sheet. If you’ve done it correctly, very little smoke will come out, and it’ll have almost no smell.
Looking for a personal air filter that does an even better job? That’s why we offer the Smoke Buddy, which uses activated charcoal instead of dryer sheets. Just exhale through it, and nothing comes out the other end. The Smoke Buddy works unbelievably well.
How to Not Smell Like Weed After Smoking It
If you’ve done your best to minimize the smell while enjoying your weed, half of the work is already done. Here’s what you can do to eliminate any weed smell that might still remain on your person.
- Take a shower. Since soap dissolves cannabis resin, this should take care of any smell on your skin and hair. If you’re unable to take a shower, you should at least wash your hands because that’s where the majority of the smell will be.
- Brush your teeth to take care of any cannabis smell on your breath. If you can’t brush your teeth, try gum, breath strips or a mouthwash tablet.
- Change your clothes. If you can’t do that, you can spritz yourself with cologne, perfume or body spray. Once again, citrus scents often work well for neutralizing the smell of weed. You should avoid patchouli because there are plenty of people out there who still remember the ‘70s. You may also want to avoid lavender-based scents because the smell of lavender comes from the terpene linalool, which is also present in high concentrations in many cannabis strains.
How to Control the Smell of Weed in Storage
What if that hot date wants to come home with you? Your efforts to control your own scent won’t amount to much if your entire apartment smells like ganja. There are two methods for keeping the smell of your stash under control. One is expensive and works extremely well. The other works nearly as well and costs a lot less.
- You can keep your stash in a smell-proof bag. This type of bag uses several layers of material that may include plastic, aluminum foil and charcoal-impregnated fabric to control the smell of your weed without completely preventing airflow.
- You can keep your stash in a screw-lid jar with a gasket. This controls the smell nearly as well as a smell-proof bag, but you do need to manage the humidity in the jar carefully to prevent mold growth. It’s also important to keep the jar away from light since UV radiation can degrade the potency of your weed.
Consider These Smell-Free Alternatives to Smoking
Are you tired of worrying that everyone you meet thinks you smell like a stoner? It’s the 21st century, and smoking isn’t the only way to enjoy weed anymore. Vaping can be infinitely more potent than smoking since you’re using a concentrate, and the best part is that vaping has almost no smell. If you want to go even further, edibles have no scent at all and deliver effects that can last for hours. At Oasis Cannabis, our shop includes a wide variety of concentrates, edibles, vape pens, dab pens and more in addition to traditional flower. View our selection now or visit our Las Vegas dispensary to discuss your needs with a friendly budtender.