I am in the market for a new cutting mat and figured I would just go buy one at JoAnn's, with coupon of course! I had recently read all of your comments on the terrible rubber smell of the Olfa matts!! Yesterday, I picked up a big matt at Joanne's and could not believe the smell! I carried it around with me for about 20 minutes, but could not stand even being that close to it! I put it back immediately. Pewwwww. And the odor stayed with me most of the afternoon!!! Thanks for making me aware of this problem. I am a big fan of the Olfa matts, so now what? I am going to try and find a website to complain but surely they are aware of it? JoAnn's was so busy couldn't find anyone to talk to about it.

I have the blue "duraheal" mat, don't know who makes it, could be June Taylor. Got it at JoAnns for half off and it has no smell. Welcome to the board from another Southern Californian. Where do you live? I am in Ventura County, not far from the beach.

I wish I were closer to the beach. But for now am located in the Inland Empire, hot and windy San Bernardino! I will check out your recommendation on the other mat. I couldn't believe how awful that smell was and can't imagine it getting on your material etc. Thanks for the advice.

When we were traveling in New York, we stopped at a quilt shop and she had a mat she loved - it was white - do not remember the name, but owner said it was only sold at quilt shops - not Jo-Ann's or places like that. Maybe you could check out your local quilt shop.

Welcome from Maine.

Great idea about asking my quilt shop. I am heading there this week, and lucky me, have a gift certificate I can use!! Thanks.

I know what you mean about the strong smell from those cutting mats, especially in the car on the way home from the store. Thankfully, the smell is only temporary and disappears in a short period of time.

I bought an Olaf cutting mat at Wal-Mart several years ago and the smell was so bad I returned it. I selected another, the same brand, that didn't have an oder and still have it to this day. Really don't know why one would smell and another would not. Wonder if the Olaf company would know. Surely they can detect this flaw before shipping.

My Fiskars matt was purchased at Wal-Mart. No problem with odors.
An odor problem I did encounter was when I bought 3 large Christmas gift bags at the Dollar Store for the quilts I had made for my GDs. Placed the quilts in the bags overnight in the closet. The next morning my closet smelt terrible. Aired out the quilts, and threw the bags in the garbage.