How to Get a Smell Out of a Leather Jacket
How to Get a Smell Out of a Leather Jacket
Leather can pick up smells over time — mustiness from storage, smoke, damp, or just general staleness. The challenge is removing the odour without soaking the leather, which can cause its own problems. The good news: a few gentle, leather-safe methods clear most smells effectively. Here's how.
First rule: don't soak it
Before anything else — don't try to wash the smell out with water or chuck it in the machine. Soaking leather can stiffen, stain and damage it, and won't even tackle odours well. Leather needs gentler, drier methods, which is what follows.
Method 1: Fresh air
The simplest fix, and often enough on its own. Hang the jacket outside or in a well-ventilated spot (out of direct sunlight, which can fade and dry leather) for a few hours, or even a day or two for stronger smells. Fresh, moving air naturally lifts a surprising amount of odour, especially mustiness and staleness.
Method 2: Baking soda
For stubborn smells, baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) is your friend — it absorbs odours rather than masking them:
- Place the jacket in a large bag or container.
- Sprinkle baking soda inside the jacket and around it (not rubbed into the leather — just loosely).
- Seal it and leave overnight (or up to 24 hours).
- Remove the jacket and shake/brush off any residue.
The baking soda draws out trapped odours. Repeat if needed for very strong smells.
Method 3: Address the source
If the smell keeps coming back, tackle the cause:
- Musty/damp smell — the leather may have been stored damp or have mild mould; make sure it's fully dry and stored somewhere airy. Persistent mustiness can mean mould, which needs dealing with directly.
- Smoke smell — fresh air and baking soda over a few rounds usually lift it.
- Sweat smell (lining) — air it well; the lining holds onto this.
Method 4: For a new-leather smell
If it's simply the natural smell of new leather, that's not a fault — it's genuine leather doing its thing, and it fades naturally over a few weeks of airing and wear. No treatment needed.
What to avoid
- Don't soak or machine wash the jacket.
- Don't use perfume or air freshener directly on leather — it can stain.
- Don't leave it in direct sunlight to "air out" — that dries and fades it.
After de-odorising, a light conditioning keeps the leather healthy. See How to Condition a Leather Jacket and the full routine in How to Care for Leather. Good storage prevents most smells in the first place.
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FAQs
How do you get a smell out of a leather jacket? Air it out in a well-ventilated spot, and for stubborn smells, seal it in a bag with baking soda overnight to absorb the odour. Avoid soaking or machine washing it.
Does baking soda remove smell from leather? Yes — placed in a bag with the jacket overnight, baking soda absorbs trapped odours rather than masking them. It's one of the safest, most effective methods.
Why does my leather jacket smell musty? Usually from being stored damp or in a stuffy space, sometimes with mild mould. Make sure it's fully dry, air it out, and store it somewhere airy.
How do I get rid of the new-leather smell? The natural smell of genuine new leather fades on its own over a few weeks of airing and wear. It's not a fault — it's real leather.