Butterfli19

So different, our experiences. I agree the older ones didn't smell as bad, and the smaller ones don't either. Maybe it varies from factory to factory? Obviously the larger the mat the more treatment it needs, but I guess we'll never know.

Anyway, I went to JoAnn's and bought the 18x24 Fiskars mat and no odor. If you stick your nose right on it there is a smell, but it isn't putrid. Had it in my bedroom last night and no smell. Yay! I did check the larger size Olfa mats and could barely bring them to my face because of the smell. Must have looked funny - "check out the crazy lady smelling mats!" lol.

Anyway, so far so good! Time to wash fabric and sewwwwwwwww!

meanmom

My DD gave me an Olfa rotating mat for Christmas a year ago. I opened the package and it smelled awful. I figured it would be gone in a few minutes. NO! I got a headache from the smell. I put it in the room across the hall and figured it would be ok. The next day when I got home from work I could smell it all over the house. I put it down the basement for about a month and the smell is gone. You could put it in a box or bag with crumpled newspaper, that is supposed to help remove odors. I find the Fiscars mats dull my blades faster. Or you could put it in a large trash bag with one of those refrigerator boxes of baking soda.

Aurora

Our Extension Agent bought about ten of these last September. They stunk so bad I could not stand to be near them and they still smell but not so badly. I started bringing my own. I prefer Fiskars since they are two-sided.

Pennyhal

Those mats smell so bad that I can't even walk by them in a store without getting a headache. When I asked a clerk about the smell, she said that they didn't smell??? I buy the white cutting mats. Expensive, by last a long time. No smell.

popover

I'd rather have a dull blade than "the house that gags".

mhollifiel

I'm a Martelli cutting mat fan. I bought the big one. They are thicker and, I swear, they make my blades stay sharp FOREVER! And no stink. I've used Fiskars but never Olfa. I have 4 large mats and numerous small ones and the smell has been a real problem with a couple of them. The airing and vinegar wash helped solve the problem with those but my future purchases will all be Martelli mats due to their feels like butter cutting and gentle treatment of my blades.

christinelf

I have an Alvin brand mat, and it doesn't have any odor. I bought it online www.alvinco.com. It is green on one side , black on the other, both sides have measurements/lines on them. A woman in my guild recommended it and it works great. I have a Olfa rotating mat and it still has some odor a year later.

Peckish

I wonder if it's an odor that only certain people can smell, like some people can smell arsenic (bitter almonds) and some people can't. Some people can also detect a fruity odor that diabetics often have, but apparently not everyone has this ability.

tessagin

I have had my mat (Fiskars) for at least 15 years and it has never smelled. I just wipe it off with a damp cloth when i'm done. I get anal if anyone thinks they'll use it. So it's just me and the hubs who use it.

sewmuch

I bought a quilters select mat at a quilt show recently, no problem with it...