Last Updated on July 23, 2023 by Amanda P. Brown
Using lemon juice, which contains 1.44 and 1.38 g/oz of citric acid, is a great option. Alliums, such as onion and garlic, release sulfur compounds with strong odors that stick to your hands when handled raw. If these smells react with lemon juice’s citric acid, they form salts that do not evaporate into the air.
Consequently, washing your hands with lemon juice can eliminate the onion smell effectively.
Other options include rubbing alcohol, vinegar, and tomato juice. You can scrub your hands with any of these items by placing them on a wet towel and scrubbing while running water over them.
More details on How to get onion smell off hands are described below. Read on.
How Long Does Onion Smell Last on Hands
Table of Contents
After chopping or crushing most varieties of onions, the smell can remain on your skin for anywhere from an hour to 2 days. However, several variables might affect how long it takes. How long the onion odor could linger on your hands is described below.
Duration
The odor may not be as intense or long-lasting if you only handle onions briefly. However, the smell might permeate your skin and stay longer if you spend a lot of time cutting, slicing, or engaging onions.
Intensity
The time the onion smell stays on your hands depends on how strong it is. Onion handling might potentially leave you with a pungent smell depending on the kind.
Milder-smelling onions are less likely to leave a persistent stench than stronger ones.
Your Skin Type
How long the onion scent lingers on your hands depends on the type of skin you have. It could be more difficult for people with porous skin to get rid of the fragrance quickly.
Hygiene Practices
Your hygiene practices may also impact how long the onion odor persists. If you thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water shortly after contacting onions, the smell will go more quickly.
How to Get Onion Smell Off Hands
It’s typical for the pungent odor of onions to cling to one’s hands for a while after chopping them. The odor can be eliminated naturally once the body metabolizes the components. If not, there are fortunately ways to eliminate the odor.
Make a Scrub with Baking Soda, Lemon Juice, and Salt
Lemon juice has both refreshing aroma and deodorizing capabilities, while salt acts as an abrasive to assist in eliminating odorous chemicals.
Method:
- Begin with 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt, and the juice extracted from half a lemon.
- Combine the ingredients to create a scrub. Please apply a small portion of the mixture and delicately cleanse your hands, paying particular attention to areas that may have retained the scent of onions.
- Wash your hands completely with soap and wipe water to remove any remnants of the exfoliant that may still be on them.
How to Remove Onion Smell From Hands
1. Lemon
Smelly hands and want to get rid of immediately? Here a lemon does the trick.
You can use lemon juice to effectively remove odors from your hands if the case has spread across them. Spend a full minute massaging the juice into your hands. Stickiness can be remedied by rinsing with cold water.
Similar results can be achieved with vinegar if you are concerned about how to get rid of onion smell from hands. Get some vinegar and rub it into your hands for 2 minutes. Water and a piece of paper towel can be used to clean.
| Method: It’s as simple as slicing a lemon in half. Do a quick finger scrub now. |
2. Stainless Steel
Another successful method for how to get rid of onion smell on hands by using stainless steel.
Stainless steel is essential to this technique; other metals will not do the trick. A spoon is merely an illustration and not a requirement.
On the other hand, stainless steel’s inherent properties make it ideal for eliminating odors such as those produced by onions.
| Method: To eliminate the odor, rinse the spoon under cold water while gently rubbing it with your fingers. The smell will dissipate effectively. |
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda’s alkaline composition makes it ideal for neutralizing odors.
| Method: Just one spoonful of baking soda dissolved in a cup of hot water will do the trick. Apply this concoction by rubbing and wait 5 minutes. Now do a thorough hand washing with fresh water. |
4. Alcohol
Alcohol is the finest remedy for stinky hands, whether from cutting onions or anything else.
| Method: Alcohol can be used as a final step in hand hygiene after washing. After putting some on and rubbing it in, wash your hands. If the odor persists, give it another quick drench and rub it in. Use scented hand sanitizer or alcohol wipes to cover any lingering unpleasant odors. |
5. Coffee Grounds
A coffee scrub using whole beans or ground coffee can help mask the onion smell.
| Method: Spend 30 seconds scrubbing the coffee grounds with your hands. To proceed, rinse your hands thoroughly under cold running water. |
6. Mouthwash
Oils from onions and other cooking items can build up on our skin and give off a pungent odor, but the alcohol in mouthwash helps remove these oils.
| Method: After 10 minutes of soaking in mouthwash-infused warm water, your hands will be clean and ready to be washed with soap and cold water. This can quickly eliminate any lingering onion aromas on your hands. |
7. Toothpaste
Using toothpaste to mask the odor of onions is a good idea because it neutralizes the sulfur compounds they emit.
| Method: Scrub your hands with a bit of toothpaste for a minute. It’s preferable to use cold water this time around as you give it a thorough rinsing. Smell the refreshing mint on your palms. |
8. Salt Scrub
Compared to its other uses, salt is a great deodorizer and exfoliant.
| Method: Combine some water and coarse salt to form a paste. Rub where you can still smell the onion. Scrubbing it well to remove the salt should help reduce the odor. |
9. Hand Sanitizer
An effective method for masking the aftereffects of onion handling is to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
| Method: Rub some hand sanitizer into your hands and let it dry before proceeding. |
10. Mint Leaves
Mint leaves have a strong, invigorating perfume that can be used to remove the odor if you have smelly hands.
| Method: After letting the mint leaves sit on your hands for a while, you should wash them completely. |
11. Mustard Paste
Mustard possesses enzymes capable of degrading compounds responsible for generating unpleasant odors.
| Method: Spread some mustard paste on your hands and rub it well. Don’t rush it; take a few minutes to soak it before washing it with water. |
12. With Cold Water
While not the most efficient method, using this after cutting onions is the fastest. Once the onion has been peeled and sliced, run it under cold water to wash away any leftover odor.
| Method: Get some cold water and put your hands in it. Taking it off after a good amount of time will reveal that the onion odor is |
A word of caution: Always follow up using soap and water to ensure no residues of the medicines you used remain on your hands.
Read More:
What Causes Body Odor to Smell Like Onions
Bacteria
Dermatologists claim that sweat feeds the bacteria that live on the skin. This bacteria essentially causes odors to develop in your body.
Thioalcohols are sulfur-containing chemical compounds that are produced when bacteria and sweat combine. You will smell more the more bacteria you have.
Also, if you are concerned about Why do my armpits smell like onions? This is because our skin is home to a wide variety of bacteria. Some of these bacteria thrive in warm, humid environments like the armpit because they feed on the components of perspiration.
Spicy and Sticky Foods
Both garlic and onions contain sulfur and other compounds that can add to bad body odor, making them two of the worst foods to eat before going out in public.
Sulfur-containing vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale may also contribute to that noxious odor.
Sweat Glands
Our sweat glands expel a mixture of salts, water, and organic substances. Three-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, one of these substances, is also present in onions. The onion-like scent is caused by volatile sulfur compounds produced when skin microorganisms metabolize this acid.
How to Make Your Body Smell Good Naturally
1. Take a Shower Daily
Those who wonder, how do I stop smelling like onions? should just take regular showers with mild soap.
Stronger odors, such as those from garlic and onions, can be washed away using antibacterial soap. A washcloth drenched in antibacterial soap is all that’s needed for a thorough body scrub.
Drying off completely after a shower is important, giving special attention to areas with folds or creases where moisture can accumulate.
2. Wear Breathable Fabrics and Clean Clothes
Dress in freshly washed clothing each morning to avoid bringing any lingering odors into your day. Sweat causes bacteria to grow on your skin, so if your clothes feel moist, you should change into dry ones to avoid a funk.
Choose wool, silk, or cotton garments since they are breathable and will keep you at a comfortable temperature. This moisture-wicking garment keeps you dry and fresh when working out or maintaining an active lifestyle.
Pants and workout gear, in particular, need to be washed frequently to remove bacteria and sweat.
3. Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water will help keep you from feeling thirsty and can also help flush out pollutants.
If you’re wondering how to get rid of onion breath, you can chew gum or drink lemon water.
4. Herbal Remedies
Rosemary and lavender, for example, are among the plants some individuals discover to have deodorant effects. Try utilizing essential oils or all-natural deodorants in these fragrances to eliminate the onion smell.
5. Reduce Caffeine
Some people sweat a lot when they drink a lot of caffeine, which can worsen their body odor. Caffeine restriction may assist with this.
6. Stress Management
Stress can make your body smell even worse. Meditation and yoga are two good practices for relieving stress.
What Foods Make You Smell Good
What you consume can have a major effect on how you smell. The scientifically-recommended foods for a pleasant body smell are as follows:
1. Citrus Fruit
Lemons, pineapples, and oranges, among others, all have a pleasant fragrance that the body can inhale and absorb.
The acids in these fruits also assist in water washing out impurities that generate odors, so eating them frequently can improve both your health and your sense of smell.
Read More: What Does Pineapple and Cranberry Juice Do for a Woman?
2. Yogurt
An active ingredient in yogurt can help counteract sulfur compounds contributing to body odor. Yogurt’s probiotics combat gas, bloating, and the underlying causes of sweat and odor.
3. Apples
Apples’ natural antibacterial ingredient also acts as a breath refresher, so eating them is a great way to combat bad breath. Apples also aid in warding off the bacterial buildup known as plaque.
4. Green Tea
Aside from its catechin content, green tea also has a high polyphenol content. Antioxidants like polyphenols help eliminate bad breath-causing bacteria while also neutralizing odor-causing sulfur compounds in the body. Tannins, found in green and black tea, can also aid in keeping feet dry and preventing foot smell.
5. Celery
Celery’s diuretic and liver-stimulating properties help reduce body odor since it helps flush out waste products. Androstenone and androstenol, two pheromones that make male mammals more attractive to females, are found in every celery stalk.
6. Parsley
The powerful oils in parsley can mask unpleasant odors. Parsley’s alkalizing effects come from the chlorophyll it contains. This means it aids in alkalizing the blood and eliminating toxins. Toxin elimination is another benefit of parsley.
7. Rosemary
Rosemary’s antimicrobial characteristics make it a useful ingredient for deodorants. Its antibacterial properties come from the menthol and chlorophyll it contains.
8. Tomatoes
Tomatoes’ antimicrobial and antiseptic characteristics aid in reducing the number of microorganisms that cause body odor.
Tomatoes’ astringent properties also aid in reducing sweat production by closing off sweat glands and tightening pores. Tomato juice, on its own, can help reduce sweating by bringing the body’s temperature down.
9. Cranberry Juice
Cranberries may affect body odor due to their potential impact on the urinary tract and their ability to assist in eliminating toxins. The fact that cranberries aid in the elimination of waste products lends credence to this theory.
10. Fennel Seeds
The fennel seeds are an effective laxative that also neutralizes odors produced by the body.
Also, its stimulants encourage the secretion of digestive and gastric juices in the stomach, which in turn helps keep the individual healthy.
11. Coconut Oil
To avoid sweat and odor all day long, try using coconut oil as a natural deodorant. The medium-chain fatty acids included in coconut oil are antimicrobial, meaning they can kill the bacteria responsible for odor.
Read More: Heat Fruits List
FAQs
Why Do My Hands Smell Like Onions for Days?
Once the onion has been cut open, an enzyme acts as a natural pest repellent. This may be how onion juice and scent cling to your skin. Because of the long shelf life this enzyme is designed for, it will stick around on your hands for quite some time. After chopping an onion, it’s best to immediately wash your hands with soap.
Final Verdict
Though using onions in the kitchen makes for a more flavorful dish, the lingering odor they leave behind on hands can be a pain to deal with later. Hope the above information on How to get onion smell off hands will be helpful for you.
If you use the steps above, you can quickly eliminate the odor of onions, making your post-cooking rituals much more pleasant.
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