Funny you should mention Potpourri, one of the deacons at my church worked for a potpourri factory here in town and he and his truck/tools always smelled. His wife would always tell us that his girlfriend needed to cut back on her perfume. :lol:

Billy

From the sound of it here most people wash fabric anyway when they get it so I wouldn't worry about it. Stuff you buy at the store sometimes stinks and we bring them home and wash it. Follow your dreams. Frebreeze it before you put it in the box and be who you are. People who are seriously sensitive always ask.

Lisa

If you are selling in person someone who does not smoke will smell it and than if they buy it they will know how to get rid of the smell. If you are selling on line list that it is coming from a smokers and pet owner's home. by being warned if you buy it there is no recourse.

Cristy

I have had my migraines more or less under control for a lot of years, but even today I can not linger in the soap/cleanser/bleach/candle areas of grocery stores. I can smell it as soon as I walk in a few feet, so I know what I want and go straight to it and then leave. Don't have that trouble with CostCo for some reason, could be because it's such a big place, possibly more powerful fans.
No way on earth would I ever want another series of migraines like I used to have. And, unfortunately, can not visit certain family members for more than an hour or so. Much better to get a motel room and meet at restaurants and shopping areas.

When I give something away, I wash it and immediately stick it in a plastic bag fresh out of the dryer. I put on it a sign that says "Sewed by a non-smoking cat" which gets it said.
I don't smoke and do have 2 cats.

I hate scents. I even use unscented laundry soap. That being said, I'd buy from you if I liked what you were selling. Every time I buy fabric, I end up washing them.

Keep your fabric and sewing equipment in a room with a door where the cat and the smoker won't go. That way you can go in there and sew without worrying about cat hair or smoke.

Be upfront and honest about it, let them know about your efforts to wash and package, and people can decide for themselves what they want to do! Good luck!

A friend of mine, who is a quilt instructor in Northern California, sent my son a surfing themed quilt before he headed off to college years ago. Her package was delivered to our home and honestly we had a very hard time opening it as it wreaked with smoke so badly. After opening it, I had to wash the quilt several times in baking soda and vinegar and hang it outside to air dry in order to get the smell out. He brought it home several more times to wash and dry before he said the smell was gone. Sorry but I would not buy anything that smelled of smoke.

Why not make one quilt/bag/table runner (whatever product you decided to sell), clean it as if you ready to sell it and then take it to a few very honest people who would let you know if it had lingering smells... that way you haven't just given up or conversely invested alot of time and money into a product that might not sell.

Make sure they're nonsmokers.