Hubby and I smoke and I cook with onions and garlic a lot but never thought about it stinking up the quilting since it's in a separate room and we only do these things in the kitchen. If it's in a different room I don't see a problem but I'm sure if you use a used one it would be fine but I'd worry a bit about a fresh one. I prewash all my fabric and zip lock them, they stay fresh for years!!