How to Make a DIY Smoke Buddy at Home

How a Real Smoke Buddy Works

A commercial smoke buddy uses an activated carbon filter inside a plastic housing. As you exhale through it, the carbon traps odor causing particles, cutting down both visible smoke and smell before it hits the air. Carbon is used because it’s highly porous, which gives it a large surface area to absorb odor compounds as air passes through.

Building a Simple DIY Version

The most common DIY approach uses a plastic bottle or cardboard tube with an opening on one end to exhale into and a stack of dryer sheets secured tightly over the other end as a makeshift filter. This is essentially a homemade version of what’s often called a doob tube or sploof. We cover the full build in detail in How to Reduce the Smell of Marijuana Smoke, including exact tube sizing and packing density.

Materials Commonly Used

A plastic bottle with the bottom cut off, dryer sheets, a rubber band or tape to secure them, and sometimes an added layer of cotton batting or an old sock stretched over the opening are the typical household items involved.

How to Use It

Exhale slowly and steadily through the filtered end rather than forcefully, giving the material more time to absorb odor as the air passes through. A slower exhale generally produces a noticeably better result than a quick, forceful one.

How Well Does It Actually Work

A homemade version reduces odor noticeably, but it doesn’t eliminate it the way a real carbon filter can, and it doesn’t reduce the actual smoke you’re exposed to. Dryer sheets mask and absorb some odor compounds, but they aren’t nearly as effective as activated carbon at trapping the full range of particles.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

DIY filters wear out fast. Dryer sheets lose effectiveness after just a few uses and need to be swapped for fresh ones regularly. They also don’t hold up well to repeated use the way a replaceable carbon cartridge does, so expect to rebuild the filter portion often if you’re using this method regularly.

When to Consider a Real Alternative

If you’re in a shared living space, apartment, or anywhere odor discretion really matters, a commercial smoke filter device or switching to a vaporizer will outperform any homemade method by a wide margin. Our guide to low smell cannabis products covers vaporizers, odorless edibles, and other discreet options in more depth. If you’re shopping for a proper filter device or a quality vaporizer, our accessories guide is a good place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use instead of a real smoke buddy?

A container with dryer sheets stretched over one end is a common low cost approach, though it reduces rather than eliminates smell.

Does a homemade smoke buddy actually work?

It can noticeably cut down on smell, but it’s less consistent than a carbon filter device built for the purpose.

What’s a better alternative for odor control?

A vaporizer or a commercial carbon filter smoke buddy will generally outperform any homemade version.

How often should a DIY filter be replaced?

Dryer sheets lose effectiveness after just a few uses, so they should be swapped for fresh ones regularly if you’re using this method often.

Does exhaling slowly make a difference?

Yes, a slow, steady exhale gives the filter material more time to absorb odor compounds than a quick, forceful one.