To deodorize means to remove or neutralize bad smells from something. When you deodorize your gym shoes, you're getting rid of that stinky odor that builds up after weeks of soccer practice. A deodorizer is any substance or device that eliminates unwanted smells rather than just covering them up.

This is different from using perfume or air freshener, which just masks bad smells by adding stronger, pleasant ones on top. True deodorizing actually neutralizes the molecules causing the stink.

Baking soda is a common household deodorizer. People put open boxes of it in refrigerators to absorb food odors, or sprinkle it in trash cans to keep them from smelling rank. Special sprays can deodorize carpets after a pet accident. Some fabrics are treated with chemicals that help deodorize them, which is why workout clothes often claim to be “odor-resistant.”

The word can apply to anything from deodorizing a room after painting to deodorizing a car that's gotten musty. Anything that removes unwanted smells instead of just hiding them is doing the work of deodorizing.