Asked on May 04, 2018

How to get rid of the peppermint oil odor?

Chubby58
by Chubby58

I spilled a 4 ounce bottle of essential peppermint oil. It went all over the counter, down the dishwasher and on my hardwood floor. I have cleaned it all up, but the whole house smells of peppermint, not that it's a bad thing, we are all breathing much better, sinuses all cleared up, but it is a little overwhelming. Does anyone have any ideas how to dissipate some of the strong smell?



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  22 answers
  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on May 04, 2018

    Fresh air, time and lots of both.

  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on May 04, 2018

    Thank you Redcatcec!

  • Sharon Sharon on May 04, 2018

    Try some Frebreeze on the surfaces where you spilled it, and one of their Air Effects spray.

  • Cindy Cindy on May 04, 2018

    You could try washing those surfaces again with some Pine Sol in your water.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on May 05, 2018

    Use an ozone machine for a couple of hours when no one is going to be in the affected room (including any pets). That should cut it quickly since it is an organic compound. The ozone bonds with the particles and neutralizes them on a molecular level. It's like concentrated sunshine.

  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on May 05, 2018

    Rejoice that your breathing is better. I think the smell will probably dissipate in time. It probably ran into a place you could not reach.

  • Stinky in Chicago Stinky in Chicago on Oct 12, 2019

    I have the same issue. My niece spilled a full bottle of peppermint oil in my car, which was parked in the garage. That was six weeks ago. The whole house reeks! I even developed sores in my mouth and "burning mouth syndrome" that my doctor says are from inhaling the peppermint fumes.


    That obnoxious smell permeated EVERYTHING! i have spent thousands of dollars trying to remedy this. Had Service Master come in with an ozone machine, which didn't work. Then we tried a hydroxyl machine--also from Service Master. Had a company called BioSweep come in and do their thing. Placed bowls of vinegar, coffee grounds and baking soda throughout the house. Washing ALL clothes multiple times in everything from vinegar to Oxyclean to an additive called Odoreze that is supposed to get rid of any smell. Had my good dresses dry cleaned three times. Purchased all new bedding and a new mattress. Now the new mattress AND the new pillows reek of peppermint.


    For the past six weeks, I have opened all the windows in my house every single day for several hours per day. That does get good cross ventilation. I even placed an industrial exhaust fan in one of the windows to pull the air through the house. I also had the ducts professionally cleaned.


    I also purchased a few new clothing items and washed them. After doing so, now the new clothes have a STRONG peppermint odor. Figuring the smell was embedded in the washer and dryer, I purchased new machines. After a couple of days, now any clothes washed in THOSE machines comes out smelling of peppermint--even new cloths.


    That smell will NOT go away. It will NOT dissipate. Not with time. Not with airing out. Not with thousands of dollars in professional remediation attempts. Now I am looking at putting the house on the market just to get out of this, as it is impacting my health. The only thing I haven't tried is repainting the entire house. My guess is that the horrendous smell got into the walls.


    That crap should not be on the market! At least not in such concentrated form.

  • Kate Sinnott Kate Sinnott on Feb 03, 2020

    Hey did this smell go? If so how long did it take?!

  • Kate Sinnott Kate Sinnott on Feb 08, 2020

    Did you ever get over this!?

  • Kate Sinnott Kate Sinnott on Mar 05, 2020

    Please!! Did this ever go!? I feel like we’re living the same nightmare.. we’ve been out of our house for 5 weeks, with a 2 year old and new born as scared for their health

  • Jessica Rogers Jessica Rogers on Jan 16, 2021

    i got rid of my peppermint spill. its called moving

    • See 1 previous
    • StinkyInChicago StinkyInChicago on May 09, 2021

      Just curious: Did you discard all of your clothes and furniture in the move? When I move, I fear I will have to leave everything behind--all clothes, towels, wood/leather/cloth furniture, pillows, etc.


  • Sarah Sarah on Feb 05, 2021

    Has anyone managed to solve this problem please?? I’m desperate to find something that works? I have two young children and I’m scared for their health if we return home to our house. Spilled 50mls of pure peppermint oil, on two areas of floor boards in our house which can’t be replaced without removing the whole floor/bathroom/airing cupboard ect.... does the smell and the fumes dissipate with time???

  • StinkyInChicago StinkyInChicago on May 09, 2021

    Sorry, all, for the delayed response. I have had three deaths in my family since posting, so it's been a challenging few years--ON TOP OF this damn peppermint smell. No, it never went away. If anything, it's even STRONGER. (I have no idea how that can be.)


    It's worse at night. I suspect my mattress absorbed all of the smell. (Yes, I did buy a new mattress and,shortly after purchase and setting it up in my home, the new mattress reeks, and I mean REEKS of that peppermint/mentol smell.)


    I am unable to sleep well (peppermint is a stimulant) and I wake up multiple times throughout the night with my mouth and throat burning from the smell.


    This crap should be removed from the market!


    My sympathies to the rest of you who are also dealing with this nightmare.


  • Billy Billy on Aug 28, 2022

    Leaving this here in case anyone in a similar situation reaches this page.


    I spilled a bottle of peppermint essential oil in my bathroom today. I think I was pretty successful getting rid of the fumes. I treated it almost immediately, but took me hours.


    The first thing I did was ventilate by opening the windows and doors. I let the bathroom fan run and started by using another fragrance free oil to dissolve the essential oil (like dissolves like).

    Next, I tried to cleansed the surface using soap and water but that was not strong enough. Skip to using detergent (either dish or laundry) mixed with water. I used The Laundress fragrance free detergent and stain solution and mixed it with water. I also added The Laundress bleach alternative to the detergent-water mix, as it was suggested on the label.

    I wiped down all affected surfaces with a cloth soaked in the solution multiple times in a circular motion. I noticed the smell started to dissipate with each use. With stubborn spots I let the soapy solution soak for a while longer before wiping it off.

    My wooden window sill was the hardest part to clean as the smell persisted there the most. I spread baking soda on the surface and left it for the day. Once I cleaned it off the fragrance from the essential oil was not as prominent.

    Lastly, I continued to ventilate the area by bringing a standing fan into the room.

    Though the smell is not completely gone, it has reduced significantly and much more bearable to my sensitive nose.

    Make sure to throw out any trash used in the clean up process to make sure the smell doesn’t linger there.

    This is a really annoying mistake to make, and my nose was fed up after all that. I feel for anyone in this position and hope you guys find some helpful info through my experience. ♥️


    • See 2 previous
    • Maria Faher Maria Faher on May 13, 2023

      What fragrance free oil did you use to breakup the peppermint oil?

  • Amir Hyman Amir Hyman on Jan 03, 2023

    There are a few steps you can take to get rid of a peppermint oil odor:


    1. Open windows and doors: Increasing ventilation in the affected area can help to dissipate the peppermint oil odor. Open windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate and help remove the smell.
    2. Use an air purifier: An air purifier can help to remove the peppermint oil odor from the air. Look for an air purifier that is specifically designed to remove odors, or that has a carbon filter, which can help to absorb and neutralize odors.
    3. Use a deodorizing spray: There are several deodorizing sprays available that are specifically designed to neutralize odors. You can use one of these sprays to help remove the peppermint oil odor from the air.
    4. Use a scented candle or essential oil: A scented candle or essential oil can help to mask the peppermint oil odor. Choose a scent that you find pleasant and burn the candle or use the essential oil to help cover up the peppermint oil smell.
    5. Wash surfaces: If the peppermint oil odor is coming from a surface, such as a countertop or a piece of furniture, you can try washing the surface with a mixture of water and mild detergent. This can help to remove any residue that is contributing to the smell.


    I hope these tips help! Let me know if you have any other questions.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jan 03, 2023

    Step 1

    Open the windows wide and put a fan in the window to blow in fresh air. Open two windows, one at each end of the room, to create an air current. Place a bowl of baking soda or coffee grounds in the room affected by the scent; these household products will absorb the odor.

    Step 2

    Saturate a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol if you accidentally spill essential oil on your skin or on the floor, then rub the spot with it. The rubbing alcohol removes the oils and then evaporates in the air quickly. Let the area air dry.

    Step 3

    Use an oxidizer. Oxidizers contain an ingredient that reacts with the scent molecules in the air and weigh them down. The molecules then fall to the ground. Examples of oxidizers are Expel Odor Neutralizer, NosGuard SG, MMS, ClenAir and OdorXit. These products use chlorine dioxide gas as an oxidizer.

    Step 4

    Use deionization. Products that use deionization bond with the essential oil scent molecule and change its structure, effectively neutralizing it. X-O and Air Technologies use this technology. The results are instantaneous and permanent.

  • StinkyInChicago StinkyInChicago on Jan 10, 2023

    Yep. Tried the X-O products. Zero change.

    • Lindsay Lindsay on Mar 08, 2024

      I just read all of your posts and relate to it. I’m going through the same nightmare now. Did you ever try CLo2 treatment?

  • Denise Denise on Mar 22, 2023

    How many mls was what you guys spilled? I dropped a young living 15ml bottle and broke into my air vent. The smell is still here but not as strong as it first happened. I’m just afraid of sleeping here at night. 😭😭😭

  • Bryan Bryan on Jun 06, 2023

    I smoked weed alot and it went away. Not for everyone tho. But I spilled half thr bottle and the weed killed it somehow.

  • Mogie Mogie on Jun 07, 2023

    LOL


    Another reason to smoke weed!!!


    I spray peppermit around my house to discourage spiders and the scent seems to go away on it's own after a few days.

  • Patricia Murphy Patricia Murphy on Jun 29, 2023

    I had the same problem and the smell was gagging us. Even had to send my dog to my daughters house. Opened Peppermint oil bottle accidentally, tipped over in my kitchen and I tried everything, I finally remembered that I had a big bottle of original Odoban and I mixed half solution and half water in a spray bottle, I sprayed everything (carpets, drapes furniture, all floors etc. The next day the smell had subsided a lot and by spraying again, it was totally gone. I did not realize how strong peppermint oil is. WOW! I hope this helps someone

  • Deb K Deb K on Mar 10, 2024

    Hi Chubby58, hope this helps.

    Cover with bicarbonate of soda to absorb the oil and then either use fresh lemon, lime or vinegar to remove the smell. Leave it on for about 2 hours or so, repeat if necessary