Vinyl smell?

Hello!

 

I was wondering if it was normal for DDs' vinyl to smell quite strongly, even after being on display for a few months? I've got a brand-new Sheryl Nome with me since last June, and noticed right of the bat that her vinyl smelled very strongly (enough to give me headaches), but expected it to fade away with time and aeration. Still, it's been almost five months and it hasn't faded out a bit. (;´Д`)

 

I own other vinyl dolls such as Azone and Pullip, but I never encountered any problems with them. Their vinyl just don't smell, whilst the one of my DD just feels overwhelming.

 

Is there any trick that you would recommend besides ventilating the room? I find myself not enjoying the doll as much as I hoped, and I would really like to improve the situation...（●´∧｀●）

 

Thank you!

That's not normal at all :/ Even brand new you barely smell anything. You should probably check if her head smells by itself. If it doesn't you can sacrifice the body, if worse comes to worst.

That's really odd, when I bought my first doll she never had any strong vinyl smell. Naturally when you first open them they have a slight smell. But the fact that you said your girl has been smelling like that for months makes it really odd. Have you tried contacting Volks specifically about your girl to see if they have gotten anymore complaints about this? It could be the change of the chemical formula to create soft vinyl which they changed for the batch you got.

 

As for some advice, if you have an air conditioner or anything similar try placing a scented filter. If not you can buy various kinds of fragrances such as wall outlets, sprays, candles, etc. to mask the smell. Thats unfortunately all I got. I wouldn't risk doing anything to the doll (such as washing or spraying any kinds of chemicals/perfumes on the vinyl) since it can cause damage.

 

Or as Foo said, if the head doesn't have the strong smell, then depart with the body.

As pointed out here by others, strong chemical smell from vinyl dolls is not very common. Unlike resin where chemicals are mixed and then react with one another to create their final form, vinyl is mixed and heated, cooling to its final form without a lot of chemical reaction.

Try removing the costume and see if you can localize the smell to a specific part. Perhaps a part or two did not get mixed evenly and is giving off the smell. If the smell is coming from a specific part you can isolate that part and treat it.

It is also possible the costume may have picked up the smell and is holding it. If the costume smells you can treat the costume before returning it to the doll.

My DDS also seems to be giving off a strongish smell. It's not obvious when you handle her but she stays in a room that the window is always kept closed and the door shut. After 5-7 days with the room shut up, opening it there is a very strong smell in the air. (never had this problem before she began living there).

 

The doll body was bought from Volks Japan website in July... I think.

BTW, if this is the chemical smell of the uncured vinyl, it's dangerously unhealthy to keep smelling it. If you bought it from Volks, inform them right away. If you bought it second hand, they likely won't help you (TBH even if they do help they'll probably be slow), and you're better off finding the offensive part and getting rid of it.

 

Contain the smell ASAP.

Don't over look costumes and accessories as possible sources.

Did you ever get a solution/resolution to this issue?

 

I was posting in another thread the other day and remembered this stuff. I haven't used it but I thought it might be worth mentioning.

http://www.twinpines.com/D-stinker

pvc will release fumes/gas at times, it should eventually stabilize but it's a reoccurring thing sometimes. I have pvc figures that smell from time to time, the smell will be stronger if it's been contained for a long time so containing it will not help. People who collect figures and don't open them often describe strong chemical smells once they do open them or if someone buys an unopened figure from someone that has been released for some time.

 

I would take any clothes off of it and ventilate while you contact volks about it and wait.

Thank you so much for all of your replies!

I really apologize for getting back to this thread so late.

 

The doll was bought brand-new from Tokyo Otaku Mode. I'm unsure if Volks would be of help as I didn't get her directly from them, but I might try to contact them nevertheless.

 

I've been moving her around and handling her more often this past month, and the smell seems to have faded a bit. It doesn't seems to "float" around her like it did before, my family members do not notice it from afar, and I have to get much closer to her in order to smell anything.

 

I was though, during the month, officially diagnosed with important sensory sensitivities. It has always affected me to various extents, being from recognizing smells rooms away despite the doors being closed, hearing things outside that only my cat could perceive, feeling textures much strongly than other people in my family, to sensing random changes in the air minutes before anyone else notices.

 

Because of that, it had me wondering if that strong vinyl smell wasn't simply her natural one, that I just happened to perceive much more. I remember being unable to sit in brand-new cars, as the smell they gave was so unbearable it made me physically sick. It has always been the same with perfume as well.

 

I'll certainly try the D-stinker if the company doesn't have problems shipping it to Europe. Thank you very much for mentioning it!

I've been moving her around and handling her more often this past month, and the smell seems to have faded a bit. It doesn't seems to "float" around her like it did before, my family members do not notice it from afar, and I have to get much closer to her in order to smell anything.

 

I was though, during the month, officially diagnosed with important sensory sensitivities. It has always affected me to various extents, being from recognizing smells rooms away despite the doors being closed, hearing things outside that only my cat could perceive, feeling textures much strongly than other people in my family, to sensing random changes in the air minutes before anyone else notices.

 

Because of that, it had me wondering if that strong vinyl smell wasn't simply her natural one, that I just happened to perceive much more. I remember being unable to sit in brand-new cars, as the smell they gave was so unbearable it made me physically sick. It has always been the same with perfume as well.

Sorry to hear you were diagnosed with that! But it's good to know that Sheryl may just be emitting her normal smell and that her vinyl isn't defective.

 

Being closed up in a new car CAN be almost unbearable until it airs out! That is certainly understandable.

 

Linda S.

galatia9

Hi Cotton! Is the smell she's emitting somewhat strong and fruity? I recently recieved a Mariko second hand and she remained in her box for 2 to 3 weeks before I had her out (except for a quick look where I don't remember anything). I have only just taken her out of her box and noticed the fruity smell I mentioned. She smelled the same fruity smell all over but her default didn't so its likely the vinyl. I also just got a Len byt he didn't smell like anything. Like you I can't seem to enjoy my girl because of the smell. I'd love to know if yours smelled the same.