The 10 Best Natural Odor Eliminators of 2023

Best Overall

Smelleze Reusable Home Smell Removal Deodorizer Pouch

5

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Manufactured in the United States for more than 25 years, Smelleze small reusable mineral-filled pouches are fragrance, chemical, toxin, and cruelty-free. They can pull the toughest odors right out of the air without cover-up perfumes.

You can place them near the source of the odor, directly on a return air vent, or even in an air duct. Each one covers up to 150-square-feet of odor absorption. Outlasting typical activated charcoal bags, Smelleze pouches can be recharged by placing them outside in the sun for an hour or in just two to three minutes in the microwave. Capable of being recharged thousands of times, they’ll last over three years. When you’re done with them, the spent minerals can be safely recycled back to nature in your flower bed!

Because the minerals are derived from the earth, they don’t tend to trigger those who suffer from allergies or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.

Smelleze pouches come in a range of products designed to address a range of specific odor issues, including mothballs, dead animal, books, and hunting smells. A 100% money back guarantee means you can try them worry-free on every part of your home, office, and car.

Price at time of publish: $21

Best Spray

Fresh Wave Odor Eliminator Spray

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Fresh Wave offers a range of odor-fighting products including this odor eliminator and air freshener. This all-purpose spray works well in a range of applications including on cigarette smoke, pet odors and bedding, clothing and laundry, kitchen, and bath. That power comes without added fragrances and chemicals. It has an initial fresh scent of cloves that dissipates quickly.

Those with breathing issues report that this product does not trigger allergies, asthma or chemical sensitivities — even on pillow cases — the way other sprays can. This product has also meets the criteria for EPA Safer Product Standards.

This is a pump sprayer, so you'll avoid aerosol sprays as their propellants often contain Volatile Organic Carbons (VOCs). Some of these VOCs are associated with health concerns while others can react in the atmosphere with nitrogen oxide air pollutants and sunlight to form ozone.

Price at time of publish: $16

Best for Pets

Sunny & Honey Pet Stain & Odor Miracle - Enzyme Cleaner

5

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Rather than covering pesky pet odors with fragrance, the best pet deodorizers work as enzymatic cleaners, meaning they contain a mixture (often proprietary) of natural enzymes that break down the ammonia and other organic chemicals in urine, feces, and vomit — the true source of pet odors.

Unlike some of the other popular enzymatic cleaners, Sunny & Honey has a light mint and lavender smell that will leave a fresh clean scent. It contains few chemicals, but because it’s a detergent, follow package recommendations and use no more than you need for your clean-up job.

Sunny & Honey is certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute to be safe on a range of surfaces including hardwood, laminate, tile, concrete, furniture, leather, pet beds, in cars, and even on artificial grass and turf. The product is also certified cruelty-free by Leaping bunny. Made by a family-run business in the United States, Sunny & Honey also donates 10% of its profits to shelter animals, so you can feel great about your purchase, even when you’re miffed at your fur baby for making another mess.

Best for Bathrooms

Sprayzee Natural Toilet Spray + Bathroom Deodorizer

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When used as recommended, this product gets to the root of the odor in bathrooms: the toilet. It works best when sprayed into the toilet bowl before you go. Strong essential oils make up the Citrus Haven scent, thanks to a blend of lemongrass, bergamot, and essence of lemon. Its natural oils and enzymes trap the smells in the water to be flushed away, keeping them out of the air.

This fresh spray is free of artificial fragrances, alcohol, aerosols, parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, and aluminum. Sprayzee also prides itself on being made in the United States in an FDA-approved facility that follows Good Manufacturing Practices. 

Its packaging is cardboard-based, using less plastic than other products on the market. Available in a convenient travel size, you can take it with you discretely to public bathrooms, work, camping, and boating, or anywhere else you need to control bathroom odors.

Price at time of publish: $15

Best for Laundry

Rockin' Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer

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Ammonia is produced naturally when organic matter decomposes. It’s the smell of sweaty athletic gear, dirty diapers, and cat urine. It can cling to fabrics and render many clothes unwearable. But Rockin’ Green Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer was made specifically to attack and neutralize ammonia-based odors.

Just a tablespoon of powder in the pre-wash cycle of most household washing machines will usually do the trick. Or use it as a pre-treatment before washing on the regular cycle for spot stains. For really tough odors, a more concentrated deep soak may be needed. Rockin’ Green Funk Rock is plant-based, non-toxic, cruelty-free, vegan, and biodegradable. It contains no phosphates, parabens, optical brighteners, sodium laureth sulphate, or artificial fragrances.

Interestingly, this bouncer is enhanced with natural chelating agents, organic chemicals like acetic acid (vinegar), citric acid (in lemon juice), or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). These acids neutralize ammonia (a base) and also make detergents work better.

Best Carpet and Upholstery

Good Natured Carpet & Upholstery Deodorizer

5

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Made in Maine from aluminum-free sodium bicarbonate and concentrated eucalyptus and lemon essential oils, this deodorizer has antibacterial qualities while leaving a bright clean scent. Appropriate for area rugs, carpets, upholstered chairs, couches, pet beds, car mats, and fabric seats, it even works on that chemical smell caused by VOCs in new furniture.

If you’ve used other powdered carpet deodorizers, you’ll appreciate that this product vacuums up cleanly without leaving a perfume smell or a sticky residue. Pet owners and parents can feel confident that surfaces will be safe on contact with even the most delicate skin.

The Good Natured brand was founded by a mom, Janice Johnston, who wanted to keep her home clean and safe for her family. Rated by Whole Foods Market in their highest “green tier of their Eco Scale, this carpet and upholstery deodorizer is easy to use. Simply sprinkle the pet-safe powder on your problem area, let it sit for five minutes, and then vacuum it up.

Price at time of publish: $20

Best for Shoes

Rocket Pure Foot and Shoe Deodorant Spray

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Doubling as both a deodorizer and deodorant, Rocket Pure's minty fresh spray is non-toxic and safe enough to spray directly on your feet and shoes. Made from essential oils, peppermint oil, eucalyptus, tea tree, and thyme, it’s also free of parabens and aluminum.

Based in Washington State, this small company was founded by athletes to address the odors associated with sports equipment. From boots and sneakers to gym bags, camping, hockey, and football pads, Rocket Pure is safe and effective on all surfaces. The company also makes a powder, and there are a range of other scent options including lemon, cedarwood, and eucalyptus. As a bonus, Rocket Pure offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee for the lifetime of the product and 100% refund or replacement.

Price at time of publish: $30

Best for Cars

Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag

4.8

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Simplicity at its best, these fabric bags hold 100% organic charcoal derived from sustainable bamboo. Activated charcoal is fragrance-free and chemical-free, made up of a lattice of carbon molecules, and works wonders by absorbing odor-causing particles on its extensive surface area.

Each pouch covers up to 90 square feet and multiple pouches can be used to cover larger areas. Their odor-fighting power works for up to a month before they need to be recharged. But they’ll last up to two years if you simply set them outside in the sun for an hour each month.

These hanging bags are perfect for small spaces such as cars and closets but also work well in pet areas, bathrooms, and wherever you need an unscented, chemical-free odor eliminator. Plus, if you’re conscientious about the full environmental life cycle of a product, after two years as an air purifier, the bamboo charcoal can be sprinkled into your garden or composter.

Price at time of publish: $37

Best Candle

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Scented Soy Aromatherapy Candle

4.2

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From a widely trusted brand, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, the lemon verbena soy aromatherapy candle was inspired by flowers and herbs but really stands up to tough odors. The cruelty-free Leaping Bunny-certified formulas are made from plant-derived ingredients and essential oils that are never tested on animals. Several other scents are available.

This simple candle comes in a recyclable glass candle jar. Although it won’t eliminate the source of irritating smells, the refreshing mild citrus scent will help out in a pinch when friends are on their way over. Plus, the flicker of a candle can add some coziness to your day.

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day candles are made from soy and vegetable waxes that are paraffin-free. Soy waxes are made from soybean oil and can contain other non-soy materials that are considered “cleaner-burning.”

Price at time of publish: $16