The smell of down feathers....

[ChiefKiasu]

ks2me:

Can someone educate me if it is true that down feathers smell bad, like that of someone who has laboured the entire day without a shower?...

I had a down jacket that I used for 5 continuous winters without any smell. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever washing it either :!:

Then again, as part of the avian breed, I don't think my views should be taken seriously in this discussion.

PS. My sense of smell should not be questioned here, though, since I can easily identify the guilty party who let off gas in a room occupied by my wife and my 2 kids.

[corneyAmber]

Way2GO:

I supposed it depends on the type of bird the down came from.

Duck feathers would have a strong smell.
I heard that the smell comes from the oil secreted by the bird.
But u can't wash away the oil completely otherwise the feathers become brittle.

I bought a couple of down pillows some years back from I can't remember where now, maybe Robinsons.
There was a slight smell to it. But the quills started sticking out and was poking into various parts of the face when you turn your head in the pillow.
I thought this odd since down feathers shouldn't have hard quills right?Opened then up and discovered there was a certain amount of feathers inside mixed with down.
Hiaz...threw them away.

Ah BINGO way2go!!
I think you have helped me solve the mystery.
I checked out the goose down and the duck down and the smell came from the duck one.

:thankyou:

[corneyAmber]

ChiefKiasu:

ks2me:

Can someone educate me if it is true that down feathers smell bad, like that of someone who has laboured the entire day without a shower?...

I had a down jacket that I used for 5 continuous winters without any smell. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever washing it either :!:

Then again, as part of the avian breed, I don't think my views should be taken seriously in this discussion.

PS. My sense of smell should not be questioned here, though, since I can easily identify the guilty party who let off gas in a room occupied by my wife and my 2 kids.

Hey hey avian species, now you know yours must be the goose one, no wonder no smell for 5 years except your own smell... :lol:
No question about your nose for other people....but for yourself....

[ChiefKiasu]

ks2me:

Hey hey avian species, now you know yours must be the goose one, no wonder no smell for 5 years except your own smell... :lol:

No question about your nose for other people....but for yourself....

Yes, yes... mine was goose feathers... how you know arh? And yes, my nose can smell everything but myself!

Congrats on your attainment of Kiasu Grandmastership, ks2me!

[ooptimizer]

Yes, congrats to you!

[corneyAmber]

ChiefKiasu:

ks2me:

Hey hey avian species, now you know yours must be the goose one, no wonder no smell for 5 years except your own smell... :lol:

No question about your nose for other people....but for yourself....

Yes, yes... mine was goose feathers... how you know arh? And yes, my nose can smell everything but myself!

Congrats on your attainment of Kiasu Grandmastership, ks2me!

Thank you Thank you! I finally made it to grandmaster but I missed all the auctions!! Argghhh... :oops:

[corneyAmber]

ooptimizer:

Yes, congrats to you!

Thank you ooptimizer!

[Blobbi]

Hey, congrats ks2me!


I have a down comforter at home. No smell leh!! Dunno what bird it came from too.

[BlurBee]

ks2me:

Thank you Thank you! I finally made it to grandmaster but I missed all the auctions!! Argghhh... :oops:

There is another round tonight.
See u tonight.

[corneyAmber]

Blobbi:

Hey, congrats ks2me!


I have a down comforter at home. No smell leh!! Dunno what bird it came from too.

Thanks Blobbi!

I think I have gathered enough data points that the ones that give out the smell are the duck ones. However, I have come across one duck one without smell and the sales person said they treated the feathers.