Many wonder how to get perfume smell out of clothes when a trip or two through the washing machine doesn’t work. Others don’t want to smell like a perfume counter. Still, others have perfume sensitivities and need to clear the fragrance from their apparel. If you love perfume but decide to switch products, saying goodbye to your old scent might be more demanding than you expected.
After wearing perfumed garments or being close to someone very perfumed, you’re left with the task of removing perfume smell from clothing. The preservatives and other additives in fragrances, such as alcohol and petroleum chemicals, give perfume the lingering scent and make it hang around in your clothing.
Luckily, you can find several at-home techniques for how to get fragrance out of clothes with items you already have in your kitchen or pantry. Review your clothing’s care label and the products you have, and choose the most suitable approach to remove the perfume smell.

- Removing Perfume Smell From Clothing
- Can You Get Rid of Perfume Scent on Clothes?
- How to Get Perfume Smell Out of Clothes
- How to Get Fragrance Out of Clothes With Dryer Sheets
- Remove Perfume Smell From Fabric Without Washing
- Erase Perfume Scent from Garments With Chlorine Bleach
- Coffee Grounds Remove Fragrance From Clothes
- Get Perfume Oil Out of Clothes
- Tackle Perfume or Cologne Smell With DIY Essential Oil Spray
- Eradicate a Perfume Stain and Smell With Fresh Air
- Let Your Dry Cleaner Eliminate Perfume Odor
Removing Perfume Smell From Clothing
If you use perfume or spend time around someone who does, you need to know how to get perfume smell out of clothes. Fragrances allow you to personalize your scent and ensure you always smell clean and appealing.
Picking out perfume to match your mood or outfit is fun and allows personal expression. Yet, when it comes time to remove that scent from clothing, the fragrance is less enjoyable. Because of the intense aroma, removing perfume smell from clothing takes special care. Eradicate perfume from your clothes with a simple home hack.
Can You Get Rid of Perfume Scent on Clothes?
Though perfume is not generally considered a bad odor, you sometimes need to remove the fragrance from clothing. Whether you’re changing your scent or an old perfume has penetrated your closet, it can be tough to remove this unwanted smell.
Perfume carries an intense aroma that retains its potency over long periods. This durability makes it tough to wash out and often results in the lingering scent of perfume sticking around long after you intend. Fortunately, getting rid of the smell of perfume from your clothes is uncomplicated with some knowledge and the right supplies.
How to Get Perfume Smell Out of Clothes
Activated charcoal is famed for its odor removal properties. This fine, black powder has a vast surface area, allowing it to soak up smells from its environment.
One teaspoon of activated charcoal powder has a surface area as large as a football field, using it to draw in odors like perfume. Activated charcoal is an excellent idea if you don’t want to wash, spray, or use a more time-consuming method.
Pour activated charcoal into a small bowl or mesh bag and place it in your closet or a sealed garment bag with your clothes. Leave the activated charcoal with your apparel to ensure your clothes smell clean for every wearing.
How to Get Fragrance Out of Clothes With Dryer Sheets
A dryer sheet is a disposable sheet laden with fabric softener. Dryer sheets smell amazing, and though they soften and condition the fabric of your clothes, they also help with odor eradication.
Put your clothes in the tumble dryer using settings according to their care label and add several dryer sheets. Heat activates the dryer sheets and releases fabric softener onto your clothes, relaxing the bonds holding the perfume odor to the material so the heat removes it.
The dryer sheets cover the scent to ensure your clothes have no perfume smell.
Remove Perfume Smell From Fabric Without Washing
Baking soda erases undesired odors and leaves your clothes smelling fresh. Pre-treatment with baking soda is a simple next step if a regular wash doesn’t remove the perfume odor. Fill a medium bucket or large basin with warm water, add two cups of baking soda, and stir until combined.
Place your clothes in the baking soda solution overnight to soak before washing as usual in the morning. Sprinkle about half a level cup of baking soda powder into the washer drum for particularly robust scents when you launder.
Erase Perfume Scent from Garments With Chlorine Bleach
Take care of a lingering perfume smell with a straightforward chlorine bleach soak. Chlorine bleach is a versatile cleaner that also packs an odor-removing punch. Though chlorine bleach is a powerful odor remover, it’s not suitable for every fabric. Check your item’s care label and take care when bleaching dark-colored garments as they may fade.
Mix two parts chlorine bleach with one part cold water and soak your perfume-smelling item in the solution overnight. In the morning, use gloves to wring out and transfer your clothes to the washing machine, and wash with regular laundry detergent.
Coffee Grounds Remove Fragrance From Clothes
Coffee grounds have a strong, pleasant scent. If you enjoy the smell of freshly brewed coffee, this technique may be the perfect option to remove the unwanted perfume smell from your clothes.
In addition to emitting a pleasant odor, coffee grounds soak up other scents. Put dry coffee grounds in a small mesh bag and place it inside your drawer or closet with your clothing. The grinds draw in the perfume odor and lightly fragrance your clothes with the smell of coffee.
Get Perfume Oil Out of Clothes
Distilled white vinegar is a well-known deodorizer containing no toxic chemicals. Naturally occurring acetic acid in the white vinegar neutralizes stubborn odors. Dilute distilled white vinegar with water to make a spray solution for rapid deodorizing.
Swirl the liquids in a sprayer until combined, spritz lightly over your entire outfit, and allow to dry naturally. If you don’t have time to make a spray, add a cup of distilled white vinegar directly into the washing machine drum to deodorize the next time you run a wash cycle.
Tackle Perfume or Cologne Smell With DIY Essential Oil Spray
When you don’t have time to clean away an odor, an air freshener provides a convenient solution – the same is true for clothing. Mix your own DIY clothes freshening spray using essential oils and quickly mask the undesirable perfume odor on your outfit.
Use one or a combination of essential oils to create a scent profile you love and cover the perfume smell or even a musty smell from the wash.
Shake the oil and warm water until combined and spritz lightly over the odorous outfit before allowing it to dry.
Eradicate a Perfume Stain and Smell With Fresh Air
One of the least labor-intensive ways to get a perfume aroma out of your clothing is to rely on nature. If you don’t have access to supplies for a DIY solution, or you don’t have time, deodorize your apparel with fresh air.
Put your clothes on a hanger, hang them outside, or place them on the clothesline. Choose a spot where they aren’t at risk of getting wet and are not downwind from unwanted odors like fire smoke. Leave your clothes for an hour or two, check if the perfume scent is gone, and keep them hanging until they smell clean.
Let Your Dry Cleaner Eliminate Perfume Odor
If you have dry clean only clothes or you don’t feel confident trying a DIY remedy to eliminate the perfume from your clothing, consider dry cleaning. Dry cleaners are experienced in working with many types of fabrics for high-quality results; dry cleaning solvent removes even the toughest stains and odors.
Visit your local dry cleaner and explain your goal of odor removal for the cleaning. Let them assist you in getting rid of the clinging perfume smell.
Figuring out how to get fragrance out of clothes might seem overwhelming. Perfume is a stubborn scent that retains its potency and clings to fabrics long after its initial use. If you change perfumes or want to get rid of the old fragrance, knowing where to start is challenging. A regular wash cycle is usually not enough to erase the smell of perfume from clothes.
Use a proven home remedy to eliminate the perfume smell once and for all. Trust everyday items like white vinegar, baking soda, and activated charcoal to erase the stubborn scent for good.

If you loved this article on how to get perfume smell out of clothes, please share these brilliant ideas for removing perfume smell from clothing with your friends and family on Pinterest and Facebook.