A word to the wise...a few years ago I was excitedly shopping in the outdoor market in Florence. Bought several purses as gifts, couple of belts, attache case etc. When I got them home I realized that they had a very unpleasant odour. In fact I couldn't use them as gifts. They plain stunk! I think I got caught up in the whole experience and must have bought cheap leather that hadn't been cured properly. Is there a way to determine "good" leather??

Take the items to a leather shop for recommendations on products that clean the leather properly, you may even be able to treat them chemically so it may not be a total waste.

Good evening, Lyv <BR> <BR>Would that a lot of leathers sold not <BR>only in IT but also here are very <BR>odorful. This is my opinion and that <BR>is to feel the leather in a place where <BR>your fingers can warm the leather, on <BR>the uinfinished side if possible, hold <BR>for a while and then smell to detect <BR>any odor. Have found that items such <BR>as pants, jackets and skirts made from <BR>lamb leather are much softer, smellless <BR>but higher in price. If you normally <BR>walk into a leather shop in Italy, the <BR>smell of the material will not permanate <BR>the shop. I have notice negative smells <BR>just passing the door of some of the <BR>shops here. Richard of La Grange Park, Il... <BR> <BR>

I bought some stinky leather in Greece - a belt and purse. Even after 14 years they still smell......

Well, we certainly all have our own perceptions about this stuff, don't we? The pack I bought in Florence three years ago still smells the same as it did the day I bought it, and I love it! Kind've reminds me of my younger days on the cousins' farm...

Oh my god Ivy I think that we may have bought from the same vendor! I bought a purse 2 years ago in the San Lorenzo market and it still smells bad! It really doesn't just smell like leather but the whole dead cow! I paid a good deal of money ($100.00 ) for this bag and I'm glad to know there may be help for it after all!

Liz&gt;&gt;that's him!! I have picture of him standing with us as we were loaded down with our purchases. We gave our daughter-in-law a backpack and she was horrified by the stink - was too embarrassed to tell us for a while. By that time, my new purse was mooo-ing! Yes, it must be the same fellow!

I find that leather is like cologne. I'm thrilled at a faint hint of fragrance -- and immediately turned off by a little too much. (Have walked by sofas in furniture stores that made me want to hold my nose.) I don't know if the cleaning will help, but it's certainly worth a try. <BR> <BR>My own standard for leather includes grain, thickness, color (bad leather doesn't take dye as well), suppleness, etc. I confess that I am totally spoiled by owning many items made by Coach. And I almost never buy leather with zippers -- good leather will wear on long after the zipper fails. <BR>