Glossary
Odor Reactivation — Glossary
Moisture re-releasing dormant odor compounds from a surface — why a treated spot can smell again when damp.
Residue in a dry surface is dormant — it isn’t releasing much odor. Add moisture — humidity, a damp day, a wet dog — and the compounds re-release, and the smell comes back.
Reactivation is why pet odor returns after it seemed gone. The only durable fix is removing the residue so there’s nothing left to reactivate.