Why does my flute smell funny???? I keep it really clean and yet it smells... I think it might be my cleaning cloth but i dunno... Any ideas on how to get rid of the smell??? wow i use too many question marks...

Flutes can collect a strange smell from the materials (& cheap, exotic perfume agents?) used to make and line the case. It was as if the case materials were kept in the same warehouse that doubled as an incense warehouse. These same aromatics may be used in pad making. This was the norm for the early Chinese-made instruments, and is possibly still done. I suppose a really appealing smell (NOT!) was supposed to influence the buyer.

So the brand of flute and where it is made may throw some light on this issue.

I have smelled some of those case that those cheap Chinese flutes come in. Yuck!! I don`t know if it the type of glue that is used for the inning or what.

What kind of flute do you play and how old is it? Did you buy it used?

Oops... it should say lining, not innning.

You might want to clean out the inside of the embouchure hole using a Q-tip and some rubbing alcohol. That should get rid of most of the smell.

I dont have some cheapo flute lol its not great but its good for me. Its a student yamaha, its 10 years old but in great shape, there is no crap collecting inside, i polish it every week, inside and out with a selmer polishing cloth. The case is a yamaha case, also in great shape. The smell has spread to the case but was never there before

You are never supposed to polish the insider of your flute.

Just a Q tip and some alcohol is not to your embouchure hole is not going to take away odors.

Scott, it is great that you have read my recent post about the Q tip and acholhol thing, but I don`t think that this would apply here.

Damn... am I dyslexic tonight or what tonight! ALCOHOL....

I think that those pills for my migraine are kicking in. Lol!

"I dont have some cheapo flute lol its not great but its good for me."

I wasn`t trying to imply otherwise. I am sorry if it sounded that way.

You could try spraying some Febreze in your case. I found a really great product called eliminator odor made for cases.

Here is the website. (The guy that sells all this stuff is wonderful and so are his products.)
www.doctorsprod.com

Kara--Where on the site is the product you were referring to? I can`t seem to find it. Sorry.

If you look on the main page, click on order. There will be a whole list of his products on that page.

It is the 28th one from the bottom of the list. It is listed under:

Doctor`s Case Odor Eliminator - DT7, 240 mL Spray Bottle

Here is a link to that page.

http://www.doctorsprod.com/OrderForm.html

The Gleam™ Anti-Tarnish Sachet – DA5 look interesting.
I might try some of those next. I have never been disappointed in any of Omar`s products.

Thanks for the information.

Your welcome.

You`ll find information about the product on the Doctor`s Products website under "Technician`s Corner". I agree he is a great guy. He is VERY knowledgeable in his specialist area of Chemistry, and has vast laboratory resources to call on for developing products to solve clarinetists` problems. WE get on very well, sharing each other`s expertise.