How do I get the old-lady odor out of my grandma's wood jewelry box?

Question

I inherited my grandmother's jewelry box--it's 12" tall, 10" wide, and 5" deep. It is made of wood, and the doors on the front open to reveal five drawers. Each drawer has a fabric lining in the bottom. There is a pervasive smell inside the box--it smells like an old lady's perfume, and if I leave my jewelry closed up in the box for any length of time, it comes out smelling that way too. I have tried Febreze, lavender oil, and my own perfume, but none of those have worked. Right now I'm trying baking soda--lining the drawers with tissue, then filling them with the baking soda--which has some effect, but not enough. I've gone through two boxes of baking soda so far. My next plan is to rip up the fabric lining, but I'd hate to have to do that. I really want to make this jewelry box work because it has a lot of sentimental value. Help!

In response to a few people's ideas about sentimental value: it's not just a perfume odor. It's a nasty, musty odor mixed with the perfume smell (and also, now, mixed with the febreze and other crap I've sprayed it with). It's not a good smell, it doesn't smell like my grandma, and smelling it on my jewelry is really gross.

Answer 1

unfortunately all of the spray products you used probably exacerbated the problem .
I would continue with the baking soda in the following way (you may have to repeat 2 or 3 times) Please ONLY get it re-lined if ABSOLUTELY necessary
try this first : place the box carefully into a Large plastic bag inside a big cardboard box. open a box of baking soda and place it beside the jewelry box in the bag - carefully open all the compartments of the jewelry box and then carefully close the plastic bag. Leave the box where it won't be disturbed for a couple of weeks. Like in your fridge, the soda should absorb alot of the odor.
If there is still odor try this : it's alittle more radical but should work.
take the box apart carefully - liberally sprinkle clean baking SODA into each drawer and into the empty box. close it up close up the box again and leave it in a closed plastic bag - leave it for a couple of weeks. it's messier, and you will have to vacuum out the powder after a couple of weeks, but that should do it.
I know that charcoal also removes odours, but I wouldn't mess with black stuff on the velvet or wood.

Good luck

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I love my 92 year old mom, so please don't be offended by my answer!
In most grocery stores in the PET ISLE they sell pet odor spray!
It will mask all most ANYTHING!
I did rip out the lining one time of An old jewelery box. I saved the material and had a furniture upholsterer redo the box in similar material, and gave the box as a gift to my daughter! That is a really good option to take it to a pro.
But the pet odor spray should work, along with if you can leave the drawers open for a couple of days.;

Answer 4

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

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Answer 7

I would think the smell would be a part of its sentimental value. I would leave it as it is and store my jewelry elsewhere if I didn't want it smelling like grandma's jewelry.

Answer 8

You can try placing a small piece of cedar wood in it for a little while. Also, place the box outside in a moisture free weather protected area for a few days allowing it to air out in the sunlight.

Answer 9

I was going to suggest baking soda but I see that you are trying that.

I think relining the drawers is your last resort. And that what you should try is air and time. Aerate it.

It's a shame that you aren't fond of your grandma's perfume!

Answer 10

You don't need to get rid of it! Smell is connected to the old factory senses and a part of our brain that is connected to emotions. (the limbic system) Unless the smell reminds you of something horrible I would try to keep it in there. I have a box like that and I think it is cool that maybe someday my child might get to sense what it felt like to walk into her great-great grandmothers house.