Camera smells like cologne

George Mann · Jul 7, 2020

How many of you could live with a camera that smelled strongly of mens cologne?

I have one, and apparently, the former own bathed in it!

I am now investigating ways to rid it of the smell.

glbeas · Jul 7, 2020

Better than smelling of cigarette smoke. Good luck!

George Mann · Jul 7, 2020

glbeas said:
Better than smelling of cigarette smoke. Good luck!

Well, I still have another camera that smells strongly of pipe tobacco.

George Mann · Jul 7, 2020

Both of these camera's are electronic with plastic cladding and faux leather.

drkhalsa · Jul 8, 2020

Took a Nikkormat to a local Houston camera repairman for a CLA. When I got it back a few weeks later, it so reeked of cologne that I could hardly stand to use it.
The smell eventually wore off.

NB23 · Jul 8, 2020

drkhalsa said:
Took a Nikkormat to a local Houston camera repairman for a CLA. When I got it back a few weeks later, it so reeked of cologne that I could hardly stand to use it.
The smell eventually wore off.

A fetishist, maybe?

drkhalsa · Jul 8, 2020

NB23 said:
A fetishist, maybe?

Well, I haven't gone back.

JPD · Jul 8, 2020

Maybe the former owner was from Cologne (Köln) in Germany? Or perhaps the camera smelled of mold and he tried to disguise that by putting a drop of cologne on the leatherette. Some leatherettes, or their glue, can be sensitive to alcohol, but I would use diluted alcohol, maybe to 25%, and wipe the camera. Then put it in a plastic box with Sodium bicarbonate and let it stay there for a day or two. Most of the scents used in colognes are soluble in alcohol.

A Kodak Retina I bought reeked of old cigarette smoke. I gave it a good wipe and cleaned all the metal and glass parts, and the smell went away after a while.

I'm a pipe smoker, but I only smoke with a window open and the kitchen fan on, and none of my cameras smell, and neither do my clothes.

George Mann · Jul 8, 2020

The worst part of owning these camera's is the fact that every time you touch them, the smell ends up on your hands!

JPD · Jul 8, 2020

George Mann said:
The worst part of owning these camera's is the fact that every time you touch them, the smell ends up on your hands!

Yes, it's like getting something from the former owner on you. I always carefully clean the second hand gear I buy. There always are cells and oils from the former owners skin on them. Cologne is better than body odor, though.

AgX · Jul 8, 2020

Of course I come across cameras that have a mould odor (in few cases there is not the slightestt trace of mould), that of cigarrette smoke. and a lot have a faint odor of perfume, most likely as people have stored cameras in their closets with fresh washed clothing.

In one case, a german electronic flash from the 50's, the sync cable has an extreme perfume odor, its plasticizer must have degraded to something smelling that way.

But a whole camera smelling as described by the OP I have not yet experienced. The only remredy I can think of is ventilated heat.

AnselMortensen · Jul 8, 2020

I would try putting the camera in a sealed box with some clean UNUSED cat litter for a few days. Use some sort of barrier so the camera doesn't actually touch the litter... (because powder).

foc · Jul 8, 2020

AnselMortensen said:
some clean UNUSED cat litter for a few days

I am glad you clarified that

AgX · Jul 8, 2020

By the way George, for a non-native speaker as me your thread title reads very weird.
I was considering asking If you ever had been to Cologne... Further reading cleared things up.

Truzi · Jul 8, 2020

AgX said:
By the way George, for a non-native speaker as me your thread title reads very weird.
I was considering asking If you ever had been to Cologne... Further reading cleared things up.

I was going to say it's better than smelling like Detroit.

I'm a smoker, so normally don't notice smoke smell, though have received items that are strong even to me. I imagine cologne would be more difficult to dissipate. Put it in a well ventilated area and let it air out for a while and hope it becomes less offensive.

If you have a garage that may be good - you can open the door for circulation, but it will keep the camera out of direct sunlight. We're doing this right now for unwashable items that came in contact with our dog... who came in contact with a skunk.

choiliefan · Jul 8, 2020

I have a small ozone generator which does a good job ridding smoke and mold odors from gear.
Should work on perfume as well.

JPD · Jul 8, 2020

Some pipe tobaccos can cause a distinct smell. People sometimes associate Oriental tobaccos with strong smells, but Oriental/Turkish tobacco is actually mild and sweetish sour. But there is one type, Latakia tobacco from Syria or Cyprus. It's Oriental tobaccos that's been smoke-cured, which gives it a smokey flavour. Sit in a non-ventilated room and smoke Latakia mixtures for a year or two, and your stuff will smell like they have come from a fire damaged house. I'd still prefer that to some of the modern "aromatic" tobaccos with flavourings.

George Mann · Jul 8, 2020

AgX said:
By the way George, for a non-native speaker as me your thread title reads very weird.
I was considering asking If you ever had been to Cologne... Further reading cleared things up.

Yes. I have a lot of family in the fatherland, and I have visited most of it (including Cologne).

ciniframe · Jul 8, 2020

All my cameras smell like old people, not sure why.....oh right, never mind.

George Mann · Jul 8, 2020

Well, "Mr. Cologne" happens to be a digital camera (Nikon D300s), and I am camped in a northern Arizona forest where wind blows a lot of dirt around.

It is otherwise tempting to put it outside for a while, but given the nature of this type of camera, I don't think it would be too wise.

George Mann · Jul 8, 2020

All my old camera's smell like mold and lubrication.

My F90x and D100 don't seem to smell like anything in particular.

Alan Gales · Jul 8, 2020

George Mann said:
The worst part of owning these camera's is the fact that every time you touch them, the smell ends up on your hands!

Well, it can save you on buying cologne.

logan2z · Jul 8, 2020

My Nikon FM arrived smelling like women's perfume. I guess it could be worse...

Andrew O'Neill · Jul 8, 2020

My first large format camera, a second hand Cambo 4x5, smelt very strongly of cigarettes. I ordered it from an ad at the back of a photography magazine when I lived in Japan. The pong was brutally strong! The first thing to go in the bin was the dark cloth that it came wrapped in. Even the two film holders reeked! Today it smells like a camera.

NB23 · Jul 8, 2020

JPD said:
I'm a pipe smoker, but I only smoke with a window open and the kitchen fan on, and none of my cameras smell, and neither do my clothes.

*ahem!* that’s probably what you think. That’s what all smokers think

Camera smells like cologne

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