Leather is one of the most durable and popular materials in the world, for making a whole host of different items.
Whether its clothing, furniture, bags, you can use leather to make a wide variety of items that will endure for years.
Cow leather is the most commonly used, and one of the most common features of cow leather is its distinctive smell.
The smell is, for some people, so strong that they never want to use goat leather.
But what about goat leather?
Does it smell just the same?
Does goat leather smell?
Yes, goat leather smells. More or less any kind of leather will have that odour. It may not necessarily smell that bad immediately, but you’ll start to notice it after a couple of uses. Goat leather does smell, though, and you can use saddle soap or oils to reduce the aroma.
Leather, being an organic material, is much more prone to producing strange smells of its own accord.
The process of tanning leather is not a quick one, and there are a lot of chemicals involved in the process.
Don’t expect goat’s leather to be any different, then.
It is obtained by the same means, and thus produces similar smells.
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Does goat leather smell bad?
Bad, obviously, is a relative term in this case.
Leather of any kind produces quite a strong odor, so much so that most people would characterize it as unpleasant, at least.
The simplest answer is that, after a few uses, goat leather will begin to smell bad to just about anyone.
However, many people without sensitive noses do just fine with an odor that others would find repulsive.
For the most part, then, whether or not goat leather smells bad is down to how sensitive you are.
In any case, it certainly does smell.
Often, fans of the durability of cow leather, but not the smell, switch to goat leather hoping it will produce a less offensive smell.
While the character of the two odors is distinctly different, for most people, it is not enough to make the difference.
The most important thing in owning leather is knowing how to properly maintain it.
Leather, of any kind, is not like other materials and fabrics.
As I said, it’s an organic material and needs special care because of this.
So how do you get rid of the smell?
How do you get rid of the smell of goat leather?
It is going to depend a little on what kind of item it is.
Either way, if you don’t have specific products for maintaining and cleaning leather, then you ought to.
Leather can be a great companion that lasts decades, but only when properly cared for.
Your best options for getting rid of the smell of goat leather are saddle soap and neat’s-foot oil.
Like I say, depending on what exactly the item is, you may need to do this more or less often.
Bags, for instance, generally need to be cleaned after only a few uses.
Other than that, you can use baking soda in a pinch.
If you have a jacket sprinkle some on and leave it overnight, then wipe with a damp cloth in the morning.
For a piece of furniture, you can also sprinkle with baking soda and then vacuum off in the morning.
Constant and regular care and maintenance are the only way you can keep your leather items from smell bad.
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Why does leather smell bad?
Leather is a complex material.
The process of making it is a long one, involving many steps.
Not to mention the relative unusualness of the material.
As I’ve said, the very fact that it is an organic material to begin with is bound to make it smell strange.
The majority of the smells most people find offensive, though, come from the tanning process.
Tanners use a great deal of chemicals and perfumes, giving leather a pretty unique smell.
Making leather takes days, and it will often be submerged in such materials for hours at a time.
This, coupled with regular use once the item is finished, release smells over the course of its lifetime.
But does goat leather smell better than other kinds?
Does goat leather smell worse than cow leather?
No, is the simple answer.
All leather is going to smell at best a bit strange.
It’s worth pointing out, though, again, that the degree to which you find the smell distasteful will be based on your personal preferences.
Some even find the smell pleasant.
However, if you were thinking of switching to goat leather over cow’s leather because it might smell better, you are unfortunately out of luck.
Since they both use effectively the same process to tan, the smells are mostly the same.
If anything, the extra sensitivity of goat leather will mean you’re going to be having to clean it a lot more than cow’s leather.
If the smell bothers you, cow’s leather may be the route to go.
So, again, don’t expect to buy a goat leather item and for it to smell any different that a piece of cow leather.
All leather, whether cow, goat, mole or deer, is going to produce a strong odor.
For many of us, whether that smell is bad is just an issue of personal sensitivity.
For someone not very sensitive to bad smells, it won’t be all that bad.
For someone more prone, though, it can be overpowering.
But there are many methods at your disposal to fix it.