How can I get rid of the smell of old leather?

Welcome to Fluther.

The smell of leather is like the smell of skunk, only appreciated by those with the imagination to find it pleasant. But for those of you with sensitive noses, you can try some leather cleaner (Check with a shoe repair shop, they might have a good suggestion) or something called Saddle Soap, and then, after you have cleaned it enough to get that smell out, let it dry, and rub some sort of leather oil into it. I use something called Bear Grease to waterproof and protect my leather boots. There are other products you can try, including neatsfoot oil and mink oil. Neatsfoot oil has a tendency to make leather dry and brittle so mink oil might be your best bet.

Good luck, I hope you find the proper product to fix the problem.

1. Pick up the bag
2. Throw it away

Fill it with charcoal and put it in a pillow case for a week or two.

Neatsfoot oil is the product i would recommend , it’s the one and only thing i used for reviving leather and vanishing smells . I used it alot it is cheap , and can be found in many places i worked with a lot of leather when i had my owl . I also made things for other peoples birds with leather .

@sandystrachan: Ah! I remember reading a book years ago that involved a kid trying to use neatsfoot oil on his baseball glove. Good times.

@sailor: I’m pretty useless with leather, but my mother likes stuffing odd-smelling bags with potpourri for a week or so. If nothing else works, at least you can have fun concocting a scent-inclusive history for your bag!