I just came back from Morocco, where they make excellent leather products. While there I bought a cowskin leather briefcase for myself, and a goatskin purse for my girlfriend. Now I don’t normally mind the smell of “fresh” leather, but these two items are VERY fresh from the tannery, and the briefcase in particular REEKS of it – sort of a blend of musk and poo. The goatskin purse was odor-free when I bought it (as goatskin usually is), but I made the mistake of putting them together for the trip home, and now it smells too.

Anyway, does anyone have a practical way to tame this smell? I once had a friend tell me (after I bought a leather jacket that smelled a little) to put new leather in the bathroom during hot showers, and let it be exposed to steam. Does anyone know if this works? Any other ideas?

Thanks very much!!