The smell of a quickly smoked cigarette in a confined space is very apparent. As we all know non-smokers seem to have very sensitive noses and can detect the smell from a mile away. So what can you do to ‘cover your tracks’ and avoid detection? Having a handy air freshener might help but sometimes they just won’t cover the smell. This one will!

• First you will need to find an empty plastic spray bottle, or indeed buy one. They can be found in garden centres or hardware shops; looking under the kitchen sink might help also.
• Make sure it is empty and clean it out thoroughly.
• Put a quarter of a cup of baking soda into the bottle and fill the rest with cold water (leave some room for the initial fizzing of the bicarbonate of soda (that’s the baking soda in case you were confused!)
• Shake the bottle well (remember to put the bottle top back on tightly first)
• That is all. Take it with you when you sneak away for a smoke, and when you are at risk of detection, spray the mixture freely into the air and it will instantly banish the odour.

Take note that undiluted white vinegar sprayed into the air will also cover the smell of a cigarette but the one problem is that it takes a lot longer for the smell of vinegar to disappear. If using the vinegar, a good cover story is that you were using it to clean the windows (helps if there are windows in the room!)

If you are really desperate, a towel soaked in white vinegar waved through the air will also have the same effect. Of course the smell of vinegar will stay for a bit so again the excuse about the windows would be the best cover story.

Needless to say though, the best way to get rid of the odour of a cigarette in the first place is to not smoke.