10/08/2025
Sharing an idea inspired by listening to the book 'The Power of Habit' by Charles Duhigg today, and it pertains to Febreze, of all things.
Febreze uses Hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) to bind to scent molecules and eliminate their odors. The book recounts how Febreze literally transformed the personal life of a woman who regularly encountered skunks in her profession and was, unfortunately, frequently sprayed.
This got me reflecting on my dog's encounter with a skunk back East a few years ago and wondering... would HPβCD work on skunked dogs? And is there a product designed for use on animals? 🐕 Is there a better hack than the old hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and Dawn dish soap method?
Good news! Seems there is and it is more advisable than spraying the dog with Febreze (so put down the can and back away from the dog y'all! While I'm not here to tell you what to do, I'll gently suggest it's probably best to save the Febreze for inanimate objects 😊).
Products like Best Shot's 'One Shot Deodorizing Shampoo' use HPβCD. Keep an eye out for HPβCD as an ingredient veterinary cosmetic products too.
I've not used a HPβCD product on a dog yet but am curious, have any of you? Also HPβCD should work on other odoriferous emanations coming from a dog after it rolls in rotting salmon carcasses, or, and, you know the list goes on.
Now to find an equivalent 'porcupine quill eliminator'.
