Memory Foam Smell

What Is It?

Whether or not this is a serious problem depends on the brand of foam you buy and your sensitivity to the smell. Few people are able to sleep with their new memory foam immediately they open it. Personally I had to leave mine airing for about two days and even then I could still smell it slightly for a couple of days more. This seems to be about average. However some people find they need to leave the foam to air for a couple of weeks. Some are so sensitive to the smell that they simply give up waiting.

If you know that you're sensitive to smells in general then it might make sense to consider buying something small such as a memory foam pillow before investing in a mattress.

Incidentally, it is this smell that reportedly kept memory foam "earthbound". Visco-elastic foam was initally designed for the NASA space programme to cushion astronauts from the effects of acceleration. Apparently the smell was enough to scupper this plan. In a well-aired bedroom, the smell of memory foam might dissipate quickly and become negligible. But in a small cabin with recycled air it would be a distinct problem. And the astronauts could hardly open a window!