Brand New area rugs tend to have an exotic odor. This can be due to a number of factors, I will quickly list a few...
1. New Rugs are often packaged for shipment as soon as they are completed, whether hand-made or machine-made, they are quickly placed in an air tight plastic bag or container. These new rugs have not yet been allowed to outgas (allow smelly stuff to dissipate) before packaging and shipping directly to you. This can often be the number one reason for smelly New Rugs.
2. Some New Rugs will have an exotic smell based on the area or region that they were constructed. Certain chemicals in the dyes, washes and rinses used in rug manufacture can account for some smells. I have had people tell me that a rug made in India smells like India, and a rug made in Thailand smells like Thailand (I guess you would have to spend time there to know this. I can attest to certain decor items that smell like the countries or cities I have visited in the Far East).
3. Some of the Foulest smelling New Rugs have a very distinct odor and a very distinct reason for that smell. Most area rugs use some form of latex to insure a good bond between the fibers and the backing of the rug. This smell is directly proportional to the amount of latex used, some rugs have a solid latex layer on the back and these are the type that I am always warning people not to use over a cherished flooring such as vinyl, hard-wood and laminates, because they will eventually cause damage to such flooring not to mention that it takes them longer to outgas. There are also two types of latex used depending on the region where the rug was made. There is Natural Latex and Synthetic Latex. Natural latex has a stronger smell than synthetic latex. It can manifest as anything between a burned rubber smell to a smell that reminds us of gasoline.
The best way to keep the strongest odors out of your home is to unwrap your new area rug outdoors, in the garage or a patio and allow it some time to outgas before you bring it into your home. Just a day or two outdoors can outgas a majority of the strongest smells, but your rug may continue to smell for a week or two. It can take some rugs even longer to outgas if the manufacturer used natural latex. Some rugs never do fully outgas or may seem okay until you spill something on it or have it cleaned and the smell gets stronger again. Many synthetic rug pads may also need out-gassing before interior use.
You can minimize your chances of dealing with a really smelly rug by buying a wool fiber rug with a standard heat-set backing from a reputable source and ventilate the room by cracking open some windows for the first few days (72 hours) after you unpackage your new area rug.
Charles Beason,
Fine Wool Area Rugs and Home Decor Items
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