Can Plasma Make Things Smell Better? It's a Trick Question

Chat with Greg Fridman · Jun 25, 2026 · 3m

Next in the "Can Plasma?" series: can plasma make things smell better? Short answer: depends on what "better" means. Plasma is incredible at destroying smells. There are two reasons that's not always what you want.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 The question — and why it's a trick question

00:04 Quick intro — Greg Friedman, plasma bioengineer

00:13 What "smell better" actually means

00:22 Plasma destroys volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

00:27 Use case: residual smell control in the laundry dryer

00:37 How VOCs get oxidized to CO₂ + water

00:52 Gym locker rooms, stinky bathrooms, industrial VOC sources…