I have a wool mat covering my ironing board--it does smell like wet wool when I use water spray on a block, but no more than any wet wool. It did come with a spay bottle that gave directions on what to add (baking soda and essential oil??) to use if you don't like that smell. I don't use starch on it, but when I need to use Best Press or Starch I do put some muslin on it to protect it.