"smell proof" gets printed on a lot of things. some of them hold smell in properly. some just slow it down. the difference comes down to two things: a proper seal, and whether there's anything inside to trap odour.
- carbon lined bags trap odour in activated carbon. they only work zipped shut.
- a jar is only as good as its lid. the seal matters more than the glass.
- pop tops are smell resistant, not smell proof. good for organising, not for hiding smell.
the options
carbon lined bags
activated carbon has tiny pores that catch odour molecules. a sealed bag with a carbon lining is the most reliable way to carry something without it smelling.
sealed jars
a jar with a gasket in the lid keeps air, and smell, where it is. dark or UV glass is about keeping light out, not smell.
pop tops
cheap, stackable and quick to open. they cut smell down but won't hold it in on their own.
keeping a carbon bag working
- zip it fully every time. the carbon can't help if air is moving through the opening.
- keep it dry. damp carbon traps less.
- don't overfill it. a zip under strain won't seal.
- replace it when it stops working. carbon fills up over time. if you can smell it through the bag, it's done.
doubling up works. a pop top or a smell proof cone case inside a carbon bag is better than either on its own.
the short of it
out and about: a carbon lined bag. at home: a jar with a proper seal. for sorting and small amounts: pop tops, ideally inside one of the other two.
