You unbox a new memory foam pillow, lean in, and catch a faint chemical smell. It is enough to make anyone wonder what they just put next to their face all night. Here is what that smell actually is, whether it is safe, and how to get rid of it quickly.
What the smell is
That new-foam odor is called off-gassing. It happens when a foam product is sealed for shipping and releases trace volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, as it first breathes in the open air. It is most noticeable right out of the packaging and fades over a few days. It is the same reason new cars and new mattresses have a smell.
Is it safe?
For foam made to a real safety standard, yes. The thing to look for is CertiPUR-US certification. It means the foam is made without ozone depleters, without certain flame retardants like PBDE, TDCPP and TCEP, without mercury, lead, and formaldehyde, and with low VOC emissions, under 0.5 parts per million, for indoor air quality. Every Dreamy Blue pillow is CertiPUR-US and OEKO-TEX certified, so the harmless new-foam smell is exactly that: harmless.
How to get rid of it fast
- Air it out. Unzip the cover, take out the fill or open the pillow, and let it breathe in a well-ventilated room for a day or two.
- Run it through the dryer on low with a dryer sheet, which both freshens it and helps the fill loft.
- Give it a little sun and fresh air if you can, which speeds up off-gassing.
- A fresh, breathable cover helps too. Our covers are bamboo-derived rayon, which is breathable and washable.
What it is not
A faint, fading foam smell is normal. A strong chemical odor that does not fade after a week, or that comes with irritation, is worth questioning, and a good reason to only buy foam that is certified in the first place. Buy certified, air it out, and within a few days you will not notice a thing.