Normally I would not spend this much on a straw hat, but I'm glad I did! I was drawn to the hat because of the beautiful blue/green color, but everything about it seems perfect. Even the chin strap that I never thought I'd use has come in handy on these sunny but breezy spring days. Concerning the smell that bothered earlier customers: mine has NONE. Neither my husband or I detect any odor at all. If it holds up, as I expect it will, this hat ia a true winner.
This is a nice hat, but not for me. I will be returning it. I did not notice a scent when I opened the package as others have. However, it felt more like an Easter hat than a hat I would wear about casually or on vacation. In fairness, I don't look good in most hats, and this item is very well made, so it may work out just fine for someone else.
If the raffia hat is too smelly you can deodorize it with charcoal, the kind you would use for the barbecue. Put the hat in a box or other container along with an open bowl of charcoal, close the box and in 2 or 3 weeks it will be odor-free. Charcoal works to deodorize lots of things, and it really works well.
