I am looking to buy a beautiful, but old Vuitton bag online, however the seller has advised that it has been kept in storage for a long time (in an old closet) and has a strong 'vintage' smell to it. I imagine it's that 'charity store' odour, that we all now and (don't) love. Drycleaning gets it out of clothes, but a bag??
The interior is lined in that cream cotton fabric (its a carry on), the rest is the standard vuitton material.
I am hesitating, as firstly, I hate that smell and don't want to smell like a bag lady when I take it on a plane (imagine that as I waft down the business class aisle.........).
Does anyone have some wonderful practical advice as to how to get rid of it from the interior of the bag - the lining is attached, so it can't just be removed, drycleaned or anything....I need some old fashioned 'housewife' magic, I think!
I won't buy it, even though it's beautiful, divine and a great price if I'm going to be stuck with that smell.
I don't think just airing it or drenching it in Hermessence vetiver tonka will do the trick, somehow.
Many thanks in advance!!
MB

Would you have enough time to put in some kind of sachet before using it? I'm thinking of something with lavender and baking soda. Baking soda should absorb the odor, lavender should clear it out further.

Febreze would be your product of choice here. Heloise would say vinegar or some such, but that's because she didn't have Febreze.
http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/Sta...p;ci_sku=438368

thanks ladies! I have to figure if I can risk buying somthing like this in tv first place, think....
Mb

Would you consider calling an LV store for advice? Describe the problem. They'll know what to do.

Simple!good idea....why didn't I think of that? Ill call the London store tomorrow.
Mb

Without knowing exactly what the smell is, it's hard to say. In my experience if it's a mouldy or mildewy smell, it's impossible to get out.

How do you know it's a real Vuitton?

Well.....I kind of know my accessories, I work with them (design), so I can usually tell the real thing - I've seen enough fakes in my life time to tell the difference. This ones old, at least 30 years old - and from the photos it looks as it should, internal and external.
If a fakes so good that it looks like the real thing when its over 30 years old, then truly it's worth what I'm willing to pay.
and lastly, this seller has a great record, I don't think they would risk selling rubbish - it's not worth the hassle.
MB

If, by chance, you or someone you know has an ozone generator ( here's one: http://www.jenesco.com/ ), you could place the bag in a small room, such as a bathroom, and crank the machine for awhile. That might fix the smelly problem. My mom had a sailboat, and she used one to get rid of moldy, damp smells below-deck.

(Just be careful, I understand that breathing the concentrated emission of such a gadget can kill plants, animals, and probably you.)

This page has more detail about fabric deodorization:

http://www.jenesco.com/ozone-generator.html

Good luck with your purse!

Thanks Isabella. This is a fascinating thing. I've never heard of this before! I'm going to investigate further and see if I can find out more. I recently bought a professional steam press and it's miraculous - creases literally drop out of everything and I love it!!!
This gadget looks promising
MB