Garlic Smell
How To Get Rid Of Garlic Smell
You are probably well aware that garlic smell is one of the most difficult odors to neutralize. It seems that after cutting it, your hands cannot shake that smell, nor can your breath after eating it. Garlic is by far one of the most versatile and useful ingredients so it is nearly impossible to avoid if you do any amount of cooking at all. Of course, why would you want to stay away from something that can lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease?
That being said, it doesn't matter how many healthy qualities it has or how remarkable it tastes in all your favorite dishes, the garlic smell is unwanted and unappreciated. In fact, if you eat enough garlic, it will some how find its way into your sweats glands so you will end up smelling like when you sweat as well.
Where Does The Smell Come From?
It should come as no surprise that garlic is a member of the onion family. Really, it only makes sense, right? Nearly every single part of a garlic plant is edible however, the bulb is the most popular portion used. You may not know it but the tender and young shoots, stems, leaves and flowers are an excellent replacement for many herbs as well as chives.
Of course, the most used part, the bulb, is where that strong garlic smell comes from. When it is either prepared or digested, a chemical referred to as allyl methyl sulfide (AMS) is created. The chemical is originally released through preparation yet does not break down while it is being digested. Therefore, that obnoxious smell travels right through your bloodstream completely unaffected.
Removing The Smell From Your Skin
- How Shower – A sauna is about the best way to get rid of a garlic smell but not everyone has a sauna room in their home so a long 20 to 30 minute, hot and steamy shower works just as well. The sulfides take awhile to be released through your sweat glands so stay in there as long as you can.
- Lemon – If you have the smell of garlic on your fingers that you just cannot get rid of, soak them in a bowl of water with fresh lemon halves. Alternatively, you can use squeeze lemon juice or lemon dishwashing detergent on your hands but it isn't nearly as pampering.
- Stainless Steel – Of course this sounds like a bizarre remedy but it actually works. Rub your hands with a stainless steel utensil. It miraculously deteriorates the smell.
- Baking Soda – Of course baking soda would work! After all, it can kill a grease fire so a little smell shouldn't be a problem. Don't have baking soda handy? Rub a little salt on your hands, it works almost as well.
Cleaning Up Your Breath
Of course you love garlic but what do you do about your breath for the next several hours? Before you decide to skip garlic on your next date, try these helpful remedies to combat the lingering smell in your mouth.
- Wine – What a relief that all you have to do to get rid of that garlic smell is drink more wine, primarily the red variety! The stronger scent from the beverage can mask garlic's strong sulfides. Now, does it make sense why you're always suppose to drink red wine with pasta?
- Dessert – So, you don't have to eat dessert but you do need something ice cold in your mouth to scare the smell away. If you don't have ice-cream available, an ice cube out of your water will help as well.
- Parsley – Yes, those small trees that are used to garnish your plate actually serve a purpose. They're good for you and they will eliminate the smell from your breath.
- Breath Mints – When all else fails, surely you have breath mints or gum handy to pop in your mouth. They will assist in chemically altering the foul smell that is giving you bad breath.