An air purifier and a method for controlling the same are provided. The air purifier includes a fan for suctioning air, an odor sensor for sensing a concentration of odor, a hybrid filter including activated carbon and a photocatalyst, and a light emitting diode (LED) arranged in an area where the photocatalyst included in the hybrid filter is positioned and emitting light. Identification is made as to whether the concentration of odor exceeds a first threshold value, the fan is driven to suction air to reduce the concentration of odor when the concentration of odor exceeds the first threshold value, and the LED emits light to the photocatalyst based on a concentration of carbon dioxide in the air if the sensed concentration of odor is not reduced to a second threshold value after a threshold time since driving of the fan.