No one will even guess you’ve been drinking
What’s the difference between alcohol smell and “morning breath”?
Alcohol smell and hangover breath are two different things. Often, however, they overlap, reinforcing each other and creating a particularly stubborn — and rather unpleasant — aroma.
The smell of alcohol is straightforward: it lingers as long as traces of alcohol remain in your mouth (including teeth and palate), esophagus, or stomach. Sometimes brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth thoroughly is enough to get rid of it.
Hangover breath is trickier. It’s caused by ethanol breakdown products that appear after the liver starts processing alcohol in the bloodstream — usually 60–90 minutes after drinking. Some of these byproducts, such as acetic acid, have a distinctly unpleasant odor. The body eliminates them in three ways: through the lungs with breathing, through the skin with sweat, and through urine.
That’s why mouthwash or chewing gum alone rarely works against hangover breath — the smell comes from the whole body, not just the mouth.
Hangover breath disappears completely only after the body fully breaks down and removes all alcohol. Depending on the amount and strength of the drinks, this can take anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day.
Still, don’t give up — there are ways to restore freshness fairly quickly. Let’s start with the “light artillery.”
How to Get Rid of Alcohol Smell
Use these methods if you drank recently and just need to make sure no one notices the smell.
Keep in mind: none of these tricks will fool a police breathalyzer. They don’t remove alcohol vapors from your breath — they only mask the smell for about 15–40 minutes.
- Brush your teeth
Use a strong mint-flavored toothpaste. This removes alcohol residue from teeth, gums, and tongue and helps overpower odors from areas a toothbrush can’t reach.
- Rinse your mouth and throat thoroughly
Do it in two stages: first with water, then with a mouthwash. Mouth rinses usually have strong aromas that can mask alcohol smell.
- Drink black coffee
Coffee contains aromatic oils that can temporarily overpower alcohol vapors. Drink it without sugar or milk, and hold it in your mouth for a few seconds before swallowing.
- Use chewing gum
A popular but controversial option. Gum can mask alcohol smell, but since it’s commonly used for this purpose, it may actually draw attention to the fact you’re trying to hide something.
- Chew natural aromatics
Herbs and spices often contain essential oils that fight unpleasant odors. Parsley, cilantro, nutmeg, roasted sunflower seeds, or even coffee beans work well.
A heavy-duty option is onion or garlic. They contain sulfur, which transforms into sulfur compounds during digestion and creates a strong, lasting aroma. Effective — but risky.
- Use pharmacy products for odor control
Most of these work similarly to gum or coffee: they mask the smell temporarily rather than eliminate it.
How to Get Rid of Hangover Breath
If more than an hour has passed since drinking, add some “heavy artillery” to the methods above. These steps speed up the removal of alcohol breakdown products from your body.
- Drink more fluids
Coffee, black tea, and green tea work well. Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, helping the kidneys flush out odor-causing compounds faster.
- Take a warm shower
Warm water opens pores and helps toxins exit through the skin. A contrast shower is even more effective but only recommended for people with a healthy cardiovascular system.
- Eat a proper breakfast
Eggs or lean meat are great choices. They’re rich in protein and amino acids, which help the liver process alcohol faster.
- Add spicy foods
Chili pepper or mustard can temporarily boost metabolism, helping the body eliminate alcohol byproducts more quickly.
- Move your body
Exercise, take a walk, or at least ventilate the room and breathe deeply. Oxygen is essential for alcohol oxidation in the liver, and deep breathing helps clear the lungs.
- Use hangover remedies
Medications containing unithiol or succinic acid are especially effective, as they support metabolism and accelerate detoxification.
Important Note: If a smell similar to alcohol or nail polish appears on the breath without drinking, see a doctor immediately. This may indicate serious metabolic disorders, including developing diabetes.
