Cannabis for Beginners: What is a Sploof (and How Do You Make One)?

Anyone who enjoys cannabis knows that there are some inherent problems that aren't found in other consumption methods.

Unlike edibles, tinctures, and other smokeless options, cannabis smoke quickly takes up space, leaving a lasting aromatic impression.

This smelly conundrum led to the creation of the sploof, a DIY option that helps minimize smoke and aroma. Today, like many past cannabis creations, the sploof is now also available as a consumer good that you can buy in stores.

What is a Sploof?

A sploof is a type of smoke filter. The original sploof, its name a spin on the spliff, was made using household items, typically a cardboard toilet paper tube, a rubber band, and one or more dryer sheets. 

This DIY invention helped mask the smell of cannabis smoke by having the consumer take a hit, then place their mouth inside the cardboard tube and blow out the smoke, which would then be filtered through the dryer sheets. 

The creation was mildly effective, with the best results happening when more insulation or dryer sheets were added. The sploof often helped to diminish the cannabis smells while leaving the area smelling like clean laundry. 

In recent years, companies have introduced more sophisticated versions of the sploof, using materials optimized to reduce smoke and odors.

The legalization of cannabis helped usher in a wave of newer sploof tech that can be purchased from several retailers. 

How Does a Sploof Filter Smoke?

The sploof is simple yet effective (to a degree). Once assembled, a sploof filters weed smoke through its dryer sheets, reducing the smell released into the air.

When a sploof is packed with dryer sheets densely and properly, the cannabis smoke escapes through the sheets and tube slowly, minimizing and mildly neutralizing the odors. Some recommend using scented dryer sheets to increase the chances of pleasant-smelling odors filling the air. 

More sophisticated sploofs are also available. These options, often manufactured by a company, typically contain activated carbon and other specialized materials to suppress odors. Some of these materials can also be used in homemade sploofs. 

Sploofs have varying degrees of efficacy. You likely won’t notice a substantial difference using one or two dryer sheets. However, if one can fit your tube, you may see improved results with additional scented sheets or an activated charcoal filter. 

Store-bought sploofs have a higher likelihood of preventing larger smoke clouds and strong odors from forming. However, the buyer should be aware that some products don’t perform much better than a DIY device. Be sure to check product reviews before purchasing. 

Why Use a Sploof for Weed?

It’s relatively simple: Weed smells strongly, especially when heated or set on fire. While some consumers love it, others don't always feel the same. 

No matter where you stand on cannabis smoke, the pungent aromas are often attributed to the organic compound 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol or prenylthiol. Additional plant compounds, including terpenes and terpenoids, contribute to a more robust aroma by producing a wide range of plant scents and flavors.¹ Cannabis smoke can not only smell pungent but often includes hints of gas, pine, soil, citrus, sweets, and a variety of other noticeable aromas. 

Those looking to enjoy cannabis while keeping the air smelling fresh can use sploofs. People have many other reasons to want to eliminate weed smells.

• Discretion and Privacy: Whether to cover their tracks or be considerate of others, most people use a sploof to smoke discreetly. 
• Legal Concerns: Some states continue to prohibit the plant, and some states even continue to use cannabis smells as justification to search homes, vehicles, and individuals. 
• Residential Rules: Many homes and apartments, including public housing and homeowners' associations, prohibit smoking cannabis on premises.  
• Maintaining Professionalism: Smoking during the workday can be risky, with risks varying by job role. Those looking to smoke while at work without getting spotted could benefit from a sploof. The concern continues if they’re smoking near the work site or office, and worry that smells could build up in a car or enclosed area, and have the aromas linger on their person once back at work. 
• Family or Roommate Concerns: Some parents want to smoke cannabis without their kids knowing about it. Some young adults who move back home want to smoke and are hoping to prevent their parents from finding out. And some renters may have roommates who aren't as open to cannabis consumption.
• Just Want Fresh Air: If a consumer doesn’t want cannabis smoke in their home, a sploof can help reduce the aromas. A strong air freshener may also be helpful. 

How to Make Your Own Smoke Filter

To make your own sploof at home, you’ll want to have the following items on hand:

• Cardboard tube (Toilet paper roll is ideal, but a paper towel one works as well)
• A rubber band
• Dryer sheets 

With all the items on hand, you can make your sploof:

1. Place a dryer sheet over one side of the tube. Secure it by wrapping the rubber band around the sheet and tube, applying enough pressure to hold the sheet without denting or collapsing the tube.
2. Insert additional dryer sheets into the tube through the remaining opening. Ensure the area is densely packed to suppress smoke and odors. 
3. Once you're consuming, make sure to blow any smoke into the mouthpiece to filter through the dryer sheets.

Dryer sheets can be substituted with paper towels, but if you choose this method, consider adding an air freshener or fragrance to the towels for an additional smell.

What to Look for When Buying a Sploof

If you want to buy a manufactured smoke filter for your cannabis use, consider the following before buying any sploof:

1. Materials Used: Choose options made from smoke-safe materials, and look for carbon filters and other components that absorb smoke and odors. 
2. Durability: DIY sploofs last one or two uses before getting dirty and germed up. Buying a sploof is guaranteed to last longer. Choose one that’s ideally easy to clean and sanitize. 
3. Ease of Use: A sploof should never be confusing. If it takes more than a moment to figure out, it might be too complicated of a device for this job. 
4. Trusted Sellers: Only buy sploofs from reputable online shops. Purchasing from the brand directly or through marketplaces that ensure product safety.
5. User Reviews: Word-of-mouth reputation remains essential in the world of cannabis, much like the strain you’re smoking; getting feedback from other consumers is always helpful in making purchases. 

Best Sploofs to Buy Now

Every person has their opinion on the best sploof to buy. If you're in the market, here are some of the top names commonly mentioned online:

• Sploofy
• Smokebuddy
• Smoke Trap
• vonSploof

Whether buying a commercially available sploof or building your own, be sure to consider durability, materials used, ease of use, and your budget to find the best option for you.

References

1. Oswald H, Paryani TR, Sosa ME, et al. Minor, Nonterpenoid Volatile Compounds Drive the Aroma Differences of Exotic Cannabis. ACS omega. 2023;8(42). doi:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c04496 ↩︎

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.