ETA: Vodka for the win! Lesson learned... new-to-me bag from Poshmark smells like... febreeze?

ANewMindset

I was so excited to have found the perfect crossbody bag on Poshmark. I had seen it new in store a couple of years ago, did not buy it, and when I went back for it, it was sold out. I found the same bag on Poshmark recently and pulled the trigger. Was excited when it arrived, but since I wasn't going anywhere, I put it in a spare closet to air out. (It a leather bag with satin lining)
Flash forward one month or so. Was ready to use it and to my surprise it smells like...floral gone bad.. or febreeze... or maybe roses with a hint of smoke? Honestly I have no idea how I missed that, except that I am a Poshmark novice, and in the time of Covid I just figured I would leave it and come back to it. On Poshmark, you cant change a rating after 30 days or contact the seller directly, so I have no course of action.
After Googling what do to about it, I currently have it in a large sealed plastic bag with three socks full of baking soda. I am keeping an open mind, but I think going forward I am just going to buy things I love when I see them!
If anyone has a remedy that has worked for them, I am all ears. Thanks!

7/7 UPDATE: I bought the cheapest vodka i could find (liquor store cashier said 'you aren't going to drink this, are you?'), and repeatedly heavily sprayed the entire lining and the smell is nearly gone! Its still hanging inside out, but this is very promising. Last step will be leather cleaner on the bag itself..

3 years ago

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from MsMaven

JAileen

Veteran

I bought a vintage Coach bag that was perfect except for the gross perfume smell. And BTW, the smell was not disclosed. I bought some loose aquarium charcoal, and put the bag and several little bowls of the charcoal in a lidded plastic bin. It took several weeks, but the smell finally went away. Good luck!

3 years ago

ANewMindset

Active Member

Thank you JAileen for the tip! The smell was not disclosed on this purchase either!

3 years ago

cat2

Veteran

Yeah, I don’t understand the second hand market. I have received a piece advertised as new with tags that wasn’t, my husband bought a counterfeit jacket, and I was also hit with Febreze purse fraud, she had covered up the scent of a cat with an air freshener that wore off. I suppose if you are able to shop a thrift IRL you can inspect and try on the pieces, but even that isn’t a guarantee. I try to buy as much as I can new and on sale instead and then splurge full price on a few key items.

3 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ew. I think people cannot smell things after a while -- if the seller was accustomed to the smell of perfume or Febreeze or whatever, they likely didn't even realize their stuff smelled like it. My sister was horrified after she quit smoking to realize how much of her stuff smelled like stale smoke. I tread very cautiously when it comes to secondhand items. I've been tempted by some designer scarves on Poshmark but I'm wary.

I have been successful in eliminating odors from some items by letting them sit outside for a couple of days, but that may be hard this time of year. But recently I ordered a sweater from Nordstrom that arrived with a strong smell -- brand new, supposedly! -- and it turned me off badly.

3 years ago

kkards

Veteran

I’ve been reluctant to try postmark/thread up because I’ve found interesting stuff, but its been listed for a year...what’s up with that. It feels funny to me...but than what do i know
but I did order from The RealReal for the 1st time last week, bought 3 things for around $100 all in. 2 transitional sweaters, which I’ve come to realize can have a really short season for me, so didn’t want to spend a lot. And 1 was a brand that i like, but it turns out IRL if looks a lot different that it did online, and its not a keeper. What i like about The RealReal, is that they have the item in their possession and it ships from them

3 years ago

Synne

Veteran

Oh no. I have a very sensitive nose, and steer way clear of anything smelly. Hard to do that with online shopping though! I have no advice on how to remove perfume (or is febreeze air freshner?). But vinegar and baking soda is my usual power duo. I also put everything I buy in my deep freezer for at least three days. Not sure that is helpful for this issue. Bummer!

3 years ago

Star

Veteran

I had plastic slip-on sandals for in the home that reeked of a weird perfume, as well as a plastic coated apron (they were both new). I left them on the balcony outside for 2 months and the fresh air removed all odour 100%. Spritzing neat vodka removes perspiration smells and other funny smells for sure but don't know about perfume smells (vodka is becomes odourless so you won't be replacing perfume smell with alcohol smell :)). The seller was probably trying to cover up the smoke smell with something else.

3 years ago

Anonymous

Kkards, if you already know this then forgive the explanation but on ThredUp they have the items in their possession too just like The RealReal. It’s on Poshmark where you’re taking a bigger risk and ordering directly from the owner like on eBay.

3 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Yeah, Poshmark can be really hit-or-miss. I have gotten absolutely wonderful buys on Poshmark, and I have also gotten some not-so-good ones (some dance shoes that started falling apart after only a few wears--I think they were probably old and improperly stored). I hope you can get the smell to come out!

3 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh I'm sorry to hear all these bad experiences. My guess is that the bag seller sprayed the bag with febreeze to "freshen" it up before mailing and did not let it air out afterward. I recently bought a pair of jeans from a new local online consignment. They were advertised as new but arrived with the worst smell of cheap perfume. I threw them in the wash and then in the sun and they were fine but it was annoying. I have ordered quite a few items from theRealreal over the years and don't recall this ever happening. If you stick with the bigger sellers on Poshmark it is much less likely too.

3 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

Thank you for the heads up on Poshmark, a site I have never used. That is just so disappointing to hear about your bag, I hope the smell comes out.

I have bought from the RealReal and was delighted with my purchase.

3 years ago

ANewMindset

Active Member

Thanks everyone for your comments/suggestions. I will update this post if i have any success!

3 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Gillian Pearl —thank you. I should have done my research, i just assumed, wrongly, that ThreadUp and Poshmark had the same business model.

3 years ago

Glory

Veteran

I am sorry to read about this and hopefully some of the suggestions will help. When my kids played hockey I used sneaker balls in their hockey bags and am wondering if something like that might work. They used to be available in scented and unscented versions.

3 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

Contact a local dry cleaner that specializes in leather. I bought a secondhand pair of suede pants, which were fine when I got them. But I left them with a tailor - who was not my usual guy - for a waist alteration and when I got them back, they reeked of cigarette smoke. The local dry cleaner used some ozone method and was able to get the smell out. It was not cheap.

3 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

what a disappointing experience especially after you've searched for your HEWI.

95% of what i bought last year was "2nd hand"--all on the realreal. i've had a few disappointments but i've learned to buy only those with tags/pristine or excellent rating. and their return policy is good, but there is a shipping cost both ways. i've finally accepted shipping as part of the new shopping experience.

with poshmark and thredup, i don't think there is the same vetting of provenance and description of quality.

3 years ago

Anonymous

Reply to the vintage coach bag post above…the vintage leather bags can be washed in soap and water which would probably get rid of the smell
it gets them clean too I did it with three bags

ps how do u reply to a post ?

2 years ago

Anonymous

“with poshmark and thredup, i don't think there is the same vetting of provenance and description of quality “

With Poshmark it depends on the seller, some do a good job on writing a listing others don’t

2 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

After a bad buy on eBay,l have become an expert in reading between the lines.Some people just use second hand markets to dump their rubbish so it does pay to be very careful.You can get some really good stuff as well so swings and roundabouts.l tend to only buy stuff l can put through the washer.

2 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

I'm very, very sensitive to fragrance, and it's gotten worse this year, so I've had to cut down on my Poshmark shopping. I can get perfume out of washable items (I have excellent scent-removing detergent). But certain brands of fabric softener / dryer sheet scent never come out even after a dozen washes and leaving it in the sun for days. I've had to re-Posh a few pairs of jeans and nice tops recently because of this.

My big gamble recently was my dream pair of leather pants that finally appeared on Poshmark. Leather holds perfume smells and it's hard to wash out, and sure enough the pants were too scented for me to wear. But I put them out in direct sun every day for a week and I think it's down to a level I can handle.

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

I don’t have any experience with second hand clothes but I once bought online a wool car coat from BR. After a while I noticed very unpleasant odor and airing it out outside even in winter didn’t help. I sprayed it with vodka, let it dry and left outside overnight. I had to repeat it twice but it helped, smell is gone. Hey, it a Russian drink, so kind of fitting! LoL
But seriously, pour some vodka in a spray bottle and spray clothes, alcohol should evaporate with an odor, it will not smell like vodka afterwards I would spray leather on the inside.

2 years ago

Staysfit

Veteran

I am sorry to hear this, it makes me nervous about venturing into second hand purchases, but Shevia’s positive luck balances my fear. I have been looking at a few things on The Real Real, I would never have considered odors without your post. I think baking soda and or charcoal sound like great ideas.

2 years ago

kate

Active Member

I just bought a cashmere pullover on sale from Everlane and it smells like someone’s perfume. On sale so no return. Would have liked better quality control!

2 years ago

ANewMindset

Active Member

I updated the post itself.... cheap vodka is the way to go!!! Thanks Irina!!!

2 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm glad the vodka tip worked

2 years ago

Irina

Veteran

Glad it helped!

2 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Great trick ... The clerk's comment made me lol!! Frankly I feel that way about all vodka ... Especially now that the distilleries started making hand sanitizer

2 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks for the follow up! I was intrigued by this suggestion and glad to hear it was a success.
I buy the cheapest clear alcohol available every holiday season to mix in the water with my paperwhite bulbs. (It stunts their growth so they don’t get so tall and flop over.) It’s always kind of a hilarious experience in the liquor store!

2 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Good to know!

2 years ago

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