Hello All,
My daughter purchased a tanned rabbit skin online, and was asking me why it smelled of wood smoke.
From watching Mountain Men, I remember Tom Orr smoked deer hides as one of the steps in his natural tanning process.
Can this wood smoke smell be covered up somehow?
Thanks,
Doug Lee.
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Smoking is an essential part of the brain tanning process. Chemicals in the smoke keep a brain tanned hide from going stiff after being wet. I would be surprised if the rabbit hide is brain tanned but it's possible. Airing out is the only way I know to reduce the smell. I'll be interested in what others think.

Thanks for the quick reply.
I told her the same thing, air it out.
Time will tell!
Doug Lee
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Spray with fabreeze or similar product to get rid of smoke smell

Many people enjoy the smell of smoke cured leather.
The smoke odor will decrease over time even if nothing is done.
As mentioned, smoke curing, if indeed that is the case here, allows the leather to remain supple after wetting.
Therefore washing the leather with water and/or soap and water will decrease the amount of smoke residue in the skin. Washing will also lighten the color, again by washing smoke constituents from the leather.

Most people like smoke tanned leather for the smell.
Freshly smoke tanned leather has a strong smell of smoke.
Like was said it will mellow out with time but never goes away.

Thanks again for all the replies, my daughter seemed impressed, and thankful for the information.
Doug Lee
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