The honest answer is: it's genuinely disputed, with scientific evidence and hunter testimonials pointing in somewhat different directions.
What scent control products claim to do: Sprays, soaps, clothing, and activated-carbon suits marketed to hunters (especially deer hunters) claim to eliminate or neutralize human odor so game animals can't detect a hunter's presence, or at least reduce detection distance.
The case for skepticism: Deer and other game rely on smell as their primary defense mechanism, and their olfactory systems are far more sensitive than most consumer products can realistically overcome. Human bodies constantly produce new odor compounds (skin cells, breath, sweat) that no spray or carbon suit can fully suppress for long, and wind carries scent well beyond the range these products claim to neutralize. Independent lab studies — including research from wildlife biologists — have generally found no measurable reduction in a deer's ability to detect human scent when scent-control products were used versus not used. Critics argue much of the effectiveness reported by hunters could stem from other factors, like better stand placement or increased carefulness rather than the product itself.
The case hunters make for them: Many hunters report anecdotally that using scent-elimination systems (combined with scent-free laundry detergent, ozone generators, and careful wind management) coincides with more successful, closer encounters with game. Manufacturers point to internal testing and satisfied customers, though this evidence is generally not peer-reviewed or independently verified.
Bottom line: No controlled scientific study has convincingly demonstrated that commercial scent-control products meaningfully reduce a deer's ability to detect human scent, and most wildlife biologists remain skeptical of strong marketing claims. That said, these products are inexpensive and low-risk to try, and many experienced hunters treat them as one layer of a broader scent-management strategy (playing the wind, controlling body odor sources, hunting from elevated stands) rather than a standalone solution. If you hunt, most experts still emphasize wind direction and approach as the dominant factors in avoiding detection.