Overview
The Cartisan Houdini isn't a vaporizer. It's a carbon filter that captures exhaled vapor and kills the odor, so you can vape without the whole room knowing about it.
What We Tested
Our hands-on testing methodology
Unit Tested
Houdini (Onyx)
Testing Period
2 weeks of use
Exhales Tested
150+ filtered exhales
Environments
Indoor and outdoor
Compatibility
Multiple vaporizers
Indicator
Puff counter accuracy
If you live in an apartment, travel for work, or just need to be discreet, the Houdini solves a real problem. Ten bucks for up to 200 uses. Not bad.
How It Works
Simple concept:
- Take a hit from your vaporizer
- Hold the vapor for a second
- Exhale into the Houdini's mouthpiece
- Carbon filtration traps particles and odor
- Clean air comes out the other side
The activated carbon absorbs the vapor compounds that cause smell. What exits is way cleaner than what went in.
Design & Build
Form Factor
The Houdini measures 3.6" x 1.7" x 0.8". Small enough to pocket alongside your vaporizer. The rounded shape feels comfortable to hold and exhale into.
Bioplastic Construction
Cartisan offers a biodegradable bioplastic version. Good call for a single-use product. If disposable waste bothers you, the bio option helps.
Usage Indicator
A side indicator tracks remaining filter life. As you use the Houdini, the indicator moves so you know when it's time for a new one. No guessing.
Color Options
Comes in Bio (biodegradable green), Onyx (black), Cactus (green), and Blush (pink). Purely aesthetic, but options are nice.
Performance
Odor Elimination
The Houdini works. Testing across multiple vaporizers, exhaled vapor through the Houdini left almost no detectable odor. You won't be completely invisible. The device itself still smells, and your vaporizer has some residual scent. But it kills the exhale, which is the big one.
One user review nailed it: "Works magic" for odor elimination.
Best Practices
To get the most out of it:
- Take moderate hits: Smaller clouds filter better
- Hold briefly: Let vapor settle before exhaling
- Exhale slowly: Give the carbon time to work
- Seal your lips: Make sure all vapor goes through the filter
Limitations
The Houdini has limits:
- Big clouds overwhelm it: Massive hits can exceed what the filter handles
- Not for cigarettes: Heavy smoke clogs the filter fast
- Single-use: No way to recharge or refill the carbon
If you take massive dabs or blow huge clouds, look at the Sploofy instead. It's bigger with replaceable cartridges. The Houdini works best with normal vaporizer hits.
Cost Analysis
At $10 per unit ($9 each in 10-packs), here's the math:
| Usage Pattern | Exhales/Day | Unit Life | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occasional | 5-10 | 20-40 days | $7-15 |
| Regular | 15-25 | 8-13 days | $23-38 |
| Heavy | 40+ | 5 days | $60+ |
For occasional stealth needs, the Houdini is cheap. For heavy daily use, costs stack up fast. Ask yourself: do you need every session to be stealth, or just certain spots?
Use Cases
The Houdini shines in specific situations:
Apartments and Shared Spaces
Keep vapor from annoying roommates or alerting smoke-sensitive neighbors. Especially useful in non-smoking buildings where any visible vapor could mean trouble.
Hotels and Travel
Vape in hotel rooms without leaving odor for housekeeping to find. The compact size travels easy, and one unit covers most trips.
Public Discretion
When you want to vape but need to minimize the cloud and smell. The Houdini lets you be considerate of people nearby.
Parental Situations
For adults with kids or non-smoking family around, the Houdini cuts down on exposure and evidence.
Comparison to Alternatives
vs. DIY Sploofs
Homemade sploofs (dryer sheets stuffed in a toilet paper roll) cost nothing but work worse. And they look ridiculous. The Houdini performs better and doesn't scream "I'm hiding something."
vs. Sploofy
The Sploofy is bigger, reusable, and has replaceable cartridges. Handles larger clouds but costs more upfront (around $25 plus $10 cartridges). Pick the Houdini for portability. Pick Sploofy for home use.
vs. Air Purifiers
Air purifiers clean room air but don't stop the initial odor from spreading. The Houdini catches it at the source, which makes it better for immediate discretion.
Who Should Buy This
The Houdini makes sense if you:
- Need occasional discretion in apartments, hotels, or shared spaces
- Take moderate hits the filter can handle
- Want something portable over high capacity
- Accept the single-use cost
Skip it if you:
- Vape heavy every day (gets expensive)
- Take massive hits that overwhelm small filters
- Want something reusable
- Smoke cigarettes (wrong product entirely)
The Bottom Line
The Cartisan Houdini does exactly what it claims. Makes your vapor exhale vanish. Compact, effective, and $10 gets you up to 200 uses.
Not for everyone. Heavy users will burn through units too fast, and cloud chasers will overwhelm the filter. But for apartment dwellers, travelers, and anyone who needs stealth sometimes, the Houdini is a solid buy.
Sometimes discretion is worth ten bucks.
Looking for more Cartisan products? Visit our Cartisan brand page for the full lineup.