I have a Kudu backhide, tanned, from back in '99, received finished in 2000. It shows no sign of deterioration or hair loss, but the darn thing has always had this faint odor, like it never quite cured. Darndest thing. I've collected a few other backhides since then and they don't give off this odor. Was it some tanning solution chemical? My (I think healthy) dose of paranoia tells me that any smell that can hang on coming on seven years has got to be a little toxic. It's not overpowering; you just notice it if it has been closed up in a closest or something. Any ideas?

Howdy,

Something like this just happened to one of my clients. They have stated bothe thier Zebra rug and impala flat skin have a faint odor to them. I personally can not smell it but my nose does not work well. We have tried several treatments on them and nothing has worked. Here is the strange thing. Both skins were tanned at different tanneries. The other skins tanned along with them have no odor at all. We can not figure out were the odor originated. The tan is strong and good and there is no sign of decay anywhere on the skins. There shouldn't be any kind of "toxic" chemicals permiating your ambient air in a normal tanned skin so I am not positive but I severely doubt these odors to be toxic unless the skin was exposed at some other point to some other chemical outside the normal tanning process. Good luck and I hope you find an answer because I would like to know also.

It may be the tanning oils used to help them stay soft and maybe some kind of insecticide. I know the smell you have.

Thanks to both of you. 'Nice to know I'm not imagining or the only one to experience this. Now to find the right aired out place, but where some varmit (or the $#@! beagle) won't drag it off.

I feel your pain. My kudu, hartebeest and zebra still have a chemical smell to them after 3 years. These came from Namibia. My back skins from RSA are fine. Don't know what the difference could be, but they sure look nice on the garage wall!! Mama won't let them in the house!

I am wondering if they were actually tanned or done chemically??????

My kudu in particular smells a bit more than the rest of my African mounts, so I use febreez on them. I takes almost everything away for a few months, then I reapply.

Thanks guys. I'm off to dig out the Febreeze before I finally tack it inside the barn wall.