The reason that people think skunk spray and tomato juice cancel each other out is due to something known as olfactory fatigue, which is just another way of saying that your nose gets accustomed to a scent after a period of time.
Then,Why is tomato juice some times used as remedy for victims of skunk spray?
Still, tomato juice is more aromatic than most other household liquids, hastening a process called olfactory fatigue. In short, the tomato juice masks the smell of skunkish thiol, and if one remains in a house redolent of tomato juice and skunk scent long enough, the scent will seem to fade.
Additionally,Can you bathe a dog in tomato juice?
Bathing your dog in tomato juice may appear to get rid of the smell, but it’s really just masking it. The smelly oil is still stuck in your dog’s fur, even after a tomato juice bath. The only way to get rid of the oil in your dog’s fur is by chemically altering or neutralizing it.
Similarly one may ask,How do you remove skunk spray smell?
The traditional remedy for removing the smell of skunk spray is a tomato juice bath. However, tomato juice, in conjunction with vinegar, only serves to reduce the stench, as it doesn’t neutralize the molecules that make skunk spray particularly pungent.
What does a skunk smell like?
A skunk itself smells pretty much like most animals, meaning not much smell at all. The defensive secretions, however, tend to range in smell, based on the type of skunk, but also over time. The smell of skunk juice after the animal has been run over by a car, and left to ferment for some time, can be described as a rotten “cabbagy” sulpherous odor.
9 Related Question Answers Found
How does tomato juice get rid of skunk smell?
Tomato juice might wash off some of the thiols and thioacetates that cause skunk odor, but it doesn’t chemically alter or neutralize those compounds and, subsequently, their smell. Changing the thiols into chemicals that have little or no odor is the key to getting rid of skunk stink.
Why do people get used to the smell of skunks?
People are very sensitive to the sulfur compounds in skunk spray, called thiols, and we can detect them at very low concentrations (10 parts per billion). Anyone who is sprayed by a skunk eventually gets used to the smell because of olfactory fatigue, which is when your nose is bombarded with a scent for so long that it stops detecting it.
What kind of spray does a skunk spray?
What is skunk spray? The spray is produced by the anal glands of the skunk to defend against predators and contains sulfurous chemicals called thiols. Since skunks can spray this liquid as far as 15 feet, it’s common for dogs to get a blast directly in the face.
Does tomato juice really work for skunk smell?
More specifically, tomato juice does not react chemically with the skunk odor to destroy it. Instead, it simply has a strong enough smell on its own to partially mask the skunk smell. But in this respect, it is no different from any other strong odor. Perfume or scented candles will do just as well as tomato juice to mask the skunk smell.
Why does skunk spray smell like rotten eggs?
The overpowering, offensive scent of skunk spray is attributed to sulfur-based organic chemicals called thiols and thioacetates, which stick to hair and other surfaces. Thiol compounds give skunk spray its blast of immediately pungent smell that’s reminiscent of rotten eggs.
Can a tomato juice Bath remove skunk spray?
If you ask most people how to rid your dog of “eau de skunk,” the most common answer is the subject of this month’s myth: A tomato juice bath removes skunk spray. The fact is, however, more effective options are available.
How does tomato juice help get rid of skunk smell?
If you ask most people how to get rid of skunk smell, the answer you’ll probably receive most often is to take a bath in tomato juice; unfortunately, it doesn’t really work. According to Chemistry of Skunk Spray by William F. Wood (Department of Chemistry, Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif.), tomato juice “seems to work because at high doses of skunk spray the human nose quits smelling the odor, and the tomato juice odor is instead detected. (olfactory fatigue).
What can I use to get rid of skunk spray on my Dog?
Changing the thiols into chemicals that have little or no odor is the key to getting rid of skunk stink. The best option for removing skunk spray from your pet is an over-the-counter skunk odor remover. These products are specifically formulated for removing skunk spray and can be bought from your veterinarian or local pet store.
What’s the best way to get rid of skunk smell?
Best Way to Get Rid of Skunk Smell: 1 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (found at any pharmacy or supermarket) 2 1/4 cup of baking soda 3 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap