Lawesson's reagent is commercially available. It can also be conveniently prepared in the laboratory by heating a mixture of anisole with phosphorus pentasulfide until the mixture is clear and no more hydrogen sulfide is formed, then recrystallized from toluene or xylene.
Samples give a strong odor of hydrogen sulfide owing to partial hydrolysis. One common and effective method of destroying the foul smelling residues is to use an excess of sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach).