Buzz
Photo: Joanna T Kaczuk/Getty ImagesYou prepare a delicious meal, savor it, clean up all the dishes, and relax for the evening. Then, out of nowhere, you catch a faint scent of lingering garlic. Naturally, you head back to the sink for a more thorough wash, but the garlic smell refuses to budge, even after using your favorite soap. What’s going on? It turns out, this fragrant and healthy allium has a way of sticking around, and the smell can linger on your hands for days unless you know the right techniques to banish that unmistakable garlic odor.
Why Does the Garlic Scent Stick Around So Long?
When you chop, crush, or slice garlic, it releases a potent, oily sulfur compound known as allicin, which isn’t water-soluble, explains Brendan Camp, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. This oily substance can bind to the proteins in your skin and even penetrate deeper layers, making it incredibly difficult to eliminate with just soap and water.
“The garlic odor can linger for hours or even days, depending on how much garlic your hands have come into contact with and how frequently you wash them,” says Dr. Camp.
Quick Ways to Eliminate Garlic Smell from Your Hands
Regular soap and water often won’t do the trick to remove garlic odor from your hands, so you’ll need to try alternative methods to break down the compound and neutralize the scent. Here are a few reliable techniques to consider.
Coffee Grounds
“I actually love the smell of garlic on my hands; it takes me back to cooking with my Italian grandmother,” says chef Danielle Walker, author of Make It Easy. “Grandma always taught me to rub a bit of coffee grounds between my palms to neutralize the scent.”
Mouthwash
Dr. Camp explains that mouthwash is an excellent solution for getting rid of the garlic smell on your hands. The alcohol and antimicrobial properties help break down the sulfur compounds that cause the lingering odor. Simply pour a little over your hands, rub them together, and rinse.
Lemon Juice and Dish Soap
Walker suggests another method for removing garlic odor from your skin: squeeze a bit of lemon juice along with some dish soap into your hands. This combination helps neutralize the scent and wash away the oily compounds.
Stainless Steel Bar
Yes, stainless steel truly works to eliminate the persistent garlic scent from your fingers. “The theory behind using stainless steel to remove garlic odor is that a chemical reaction takes place between the oxidized surface of stainless steel and allicin,” explains Dr. Camp.
You can use a product (there are stainless steel 'soap bars' available on Amazon) or any stainless steel item you already have. Simply rub it over your hands to get rid of the smell.
Baking Soda and Water
Dr. Camp also suggests using a paste made of baking soda and water to eliminate garlic odors. Mix equal parts of baking soda and water to form a paste, then apply it to your hands. Focus on the areas that smell the most, wait a few minutes, and then rinse thoroughly.
