Walk into almost any smoke shop in America, and you’ll likely find it. Sitting near the register or burning quietly in the background, Smoke Odor Exterminator has become a subtle but consistent presence in the culture.
From rental cars to hotel rooms to apartments, it’s the kind of product people rely on when it actually matters. Between strict smoking policies and the loud smell of unburnt flower, Smoke Odor Exterminator candles and sprays have been battle-tested in real-life situations, trusted by generations of smokers to eliminate odor at the source, not just cover it up.
This year marks 25 years since the launch of the Smoke Odor Exterminator line—a milestone that says less about longevity and more about consistency. Because in a space that constantly shifts, very few products stick around unless they actually work.
Before It Was a Brand, It Was a Hustle
Long before legalization and before cannabis culture became mainstream, founder Paul Hoge was simply trying to make a living. In mid-1970s Florida, he started by pouring candles on his mother’s stove and selling them to tourists outside restaurants. There was no formal business plan—just instinct, hustle, and a passion for making candles.
That early grind turned into a real business in 1976, and over the next couple of decades, the company operated in the traditional candle world, producing seashell candles and novelty gift shop items. It worked for a time, but like many small businesses, they were eventually hit by industry shifts that forced them to rethink everything.
Solving a Problem Everyone Had
About 25 years ago, a challenge from the cigar world changed everything. Paul’s friends Don Bores and Paul Walsh proposed an idea: create a candle that doesn’t just mask smoke odor—but eliminates it.
At the time, most …
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Author: High Times / High Times
