I don't really know how effective the charcoal filter is at removing bad odors from the air and from what I've read elsewhere it probably isn't very effective. Flux fumes away before they reach my face. I work in a well-ventilated area, so unless I get a concentrated burst of roughness in my face, I'm not concerned about the filter's performance. There are probably cheaper fans out there that could do the same thing, but I'm happy with this purchase. The build quality is actually very good (I was surprised tbh) and it's pretty quiet.