Conquering the Lingering Durian Smell Tips and Tricks for a Fresh Experience

Combating Durian Breath:

1. Rinse Mouth with Mouthwash & Citrus Drink: To avoid the embarrassment of durian breath, gargle with mouthwash containing alcohol, such as Listerine. Follow it up by drinking or gargling with citrus flavored drinks. The citrus compounds overpower the durian smell, while the mouthwash helps eliminate bacteria causing bad breath.
2. Utilize Water from Durian Shell: Pour salt water into the durian husk and mix it well. Rinse your mouth a few times with this water. The 5-HMF compounds present in the durian husk act as a deodorizing agent, neutralizing the strong smell in your breath. If you are into TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) as well, drinking water from the durian husk is believed to neutralize the “heatiness” caused by eating durians, reducing effects like increased blood pressure and temperature. While this claim is disputed, individuals can try it for themselves to see if it works for them.

Eradicating Durian Smell in the Car:

1. Baking Powder or Pandan Leaves: Place containers filled with baking powder in different areas of your car, allowing it to absorb the durian odor over a day or two. Alternatively, pandan leaves, a commonly found plant, can be used effectively to eliminate the smell without the potential mess of baking powder.

Eliminating Durian Smell in the Fridge:

1. Bamboo Charcoal: Known for its deodorizing properties, bamboo charcoal can help remove durian smell from your fridge. Simply place a bag of bamboo charcoal inside to absorb the odor effectively.
2. Baking Soda: Fill a bowl with baking soda and place it in the refrigerator. Multiple bowls can be used in different areas to maximize effectiveness in eliminating odors.
3. Lemon: Cut up a large lemon and leave the wedges or peels in various areas of the refrigerator. The citrus compounds in lemon, lime, or orange effectively neutralize the durian smell.