Whoa whoa whoa...
Maybe im over stepping.. So i apologize

Mayhaps take hubby to a moms n pops pet store, you know the ones, i notice most of those hold more of a odor to them, perhaps let him see how bad the house could be...

Other thing is, everything has a natural "odor" about them..

Sorry im not of much help. I like using regular papertowels when i wake i can smell if the cage needs cleaning, but i sleep in the same room.

I know they make bags of lavastone n such that pulls in odors n you can recharge it in the sun, i used it with ferrets, now there is an odor.. Maybe you can stash them around your spare room or rotate them out