Unbox a new piece of flat-pack furniture and there's a decent chance the first thing you notice isn't the finish — it's the smell. We read through 34,548 reviews on the WLIVE Wide Dresser, one of the best-selling budget dressers on Amazon, to find out how common the smell actually is, how long reviewers say it takes to fade, and what to do when it doesn't.
What the reviews actually say
We read through both the critical and positive reviews specifically mentioning smell.
Where it's a non-issue
Plenty of reviewers report no smell at all. One buyer who ordered two dressers in different colors wrote: "I did not receive my furniture with any bad or strange odors." Many other reviews focused entirely on assembly and looks without mentioning any odor, which — across a 34,548-review sample — suggests it's far from universal.
Where it doesn't clear up
For a smaller group, the smell is the main complaint and it's persistent. One reviewer: "the smell is horrific. Why would I put my clothes in something that smells like this bad? ... If for things that aren't fabric, this will be fine, but for your clothes? No way." A more recent reviewer tested the standard fixes and found neither worked: "It's simple to set up but it smells disgusting. I left it out after construction for over 24 hours in a ventilated living room area. Afterwards, I doused it with Febreeze and it still smells like the disgusting smell it came with. I can't lose the smell no matter what I do."
The reviewed product
WLIVE Wide Dresser, 5-Drawer
Most reviewers report no odor problem at all, or one that airs out quickly. A smaller, recurring group reports a stronger, longer-lasting smell that doesn't fully clear even after 24+ hours of airing and Febreeze — worth knowing if you're sensitive to new-furniture smells or plan to store clothing in it right away.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
Why does new furniture smell so bad?
The smell typically comes from the materials — fabric drawer bins, adhesives, particleboard and packaging — off-gassing after being sealed for shipping. It's a normal manufacturing byproduct rather than a sign of a defective unit, and reviewers describe it ranging from barely noticeable to genuinely strong depending on the specific unit and their own sensitivity to smell.
How long does new furniture smell take to go away?
Based on the reviews, most buyers who notice a smell at all report it fading within a day or so of normal use in a ventilated room. A smaller group reports it lasting much longer — one reviewer specifically noted it was still strong after airing it out for over 24 hours in a ventilated space, so "a day" isn't a guarantee for every unit.
Does Febreeze get rid of new furniture smell?
Not always. One reviewer specifically tried this fix and reported it didn't work: after airing the piece out for over 24 hours, they "doused it with Febreeze and it still smells like the disgusting smell it came with." Odor spray can help mask smell temporarily for some buyers, but it isn't a reliable fix for everyone based on this feedback.
Is new furniture smell dangerous?
The reviews don't report health issues from the smell itself, but if you're sensitive to chemical odors, airing the piece out fully in a well-ventilated space before using it — especially before storing clothing in it — is the approach reviewers with a good experience consistently describe.
Should I worry about smell before buying this specific dresser?
Not necessarily. Across 34,548 reviews, most buyers don't flag odor as an issue at all, and the WLIVE dresser's overall 4.3-star rating reflects that it's a well-reviewed, trusted pick. The smell complaints are real but represent a minority — worth knowing about, not a reason on their own to avoid the dresser.
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Prices, ratings and review counts change on Amazon in real time — figures above were accurate as of the data-capture date and may have shifted since. Always check the current price on the product page before buying.