Eli5: How come when you’re sprayed by a skunk you’re supposed to bathe in tomato juice?

Question

Eli5: How come when you’re sprayed by a skunk you’re supposed to bathe in tomato juice?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Tomato juice simply covers up the strong smell of skunk spray with the strong smell of tomato. The smell of tomato juice is easily detected and it appears that the skunk odor is gone. However, the tomato juice does not neutralize the odor, it just covers it up.