In today’s hunting industry, scent control products are a big-time player and rightfully so. They are important when hunting up close and personal from a ground blind, tree stand, or tripod. A white-tailed deer has 297 million olfactory receptors so using any product that can help you go undetected is smart. So, which scent control product should you use? There are many options nowadays and it can get confusing. Scent Killer, Scent-A-Way, and Dead Down Wind are probably the top sprays on the market as they have been around for a long time. However, there are other products that offer alternative methods of scent control. Here are five that you may or may not have heard of, but should try.
Developed from the medical industry, ElimiShield is the only FDA registered and compliant scent control product on the market. The formula kills odor-causing bacteria before it develops. I have spoken to people that started using ElimiShield as part of their hunting regiment, and it worked so well that they now us it in their daily life. They quit using deodorant… From head to toe, the Core Body Foam gives you 24 hours of protection by killing bacteria that grows on your skin which produces odor. Rub it over your body before getting dressed for the hunt and you’re good to go. ElimiShield also offers spray, laundry detergent, and hair/body wash.
Scent Control Gets Personal
Produced by Illusion Hunting Systems, PhaZe is their scent control system. Like all the other brands on the market, they have deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, and like ElimiShield, a field foam. PhaZe utilizes Z-Technology, but does not say exactly what that is. However, what they do say is the PhaZe system is the best on the market just like they say the Extinguisher and Black Rack are the best in their respective categories. Now, it may work great, but I don’t believe in companies constantly pushing marketing ploys. Nevertheless, it’s worth a try as PhaZe has good reviews.
A High-Tech Solution
Per AllergyClean.com, “Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule — the oxygen we breathe that is essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby altering their chemical composition.” The Ozonics generator creates an ozone concentration to alter the chemical composition of your scent molecules to reduce or eliminate your odors. The science is proven, but much like scent eliminating sprays, it’s not 100%. The wind still has to be in your favor unless you have multiple units facing each direction. While I think these units are awesome, the downfall is the price which range from $300-$550.
Just like Ozonics, Scent Crusher utilizes ozone generators to alter/eliminate odors, leaving gear scent-free. They offer a variety of products such as gear bags, totes, backpacks, closets, and more to eliminate scents on your pack, clothes, boots, or any other gear you have. Mark Drury of Drury Outdoors doesn’t go afield without “crushing” his scent. Again, the technology is proven, but the price tags are high.
Nose Jammer is a scent that “jams” and overloads the olfactory system of a white-tailed deer. High concentrated levels of Vanillin is the main compound, and according to Nose Jammer, is found in lignin which is in trees, grasses, and shrubs. Because of that, it is not alarming to deer. You may have guessed it, but Nose Jammer smells like vanilla. Don’t let that worry you. I used this product all of last year and did not get busted one time. It truly works. I watched a buck curiously follow my scent trail directly to me until he stood ten yards away. It was amazing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Are you even more confused now? Don’t be! It is proven that scent control products can work. No matter what shampoo, deodorant, spray, or system you choose, it will aid in your attempt to go undetected from a whitetail. While all these products are great, nothing will keep us 100% untraceable. There are too many factors that can affect how human scent distributes throughout the woods such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, thermals, etc. However, as hunters, we invest a ton of time and money into our sport that only lasts a few months, so why not spend a little more in order to succeed?
Don’t stink it up this season. Be smart, play the wind, and use scent control products.
Hunt.Fish.Love.Texas.
