Vanilla Smell

[Mazerius]

Gibson has given the answer to the "that smell" (the vanilla kinda smell) somewhere in the past, though I cant remember where I read it. Its from an aldehyde component used in both finishing the guitars & in making the cases (IIRC). If you want to keep your guitar & case smelling like it, get yourself some "Benzoin Resin" & keep a little in the case with the guitar. Soon as you get some of this benzoin resin you'll recognise the smell. Cheers

Edit; there is 2 varieties of benzoin resin, Siam & Sumatra. I cant remember off the top of my head which is "best", though both will do to give you "that smell". Cheers

Definitively the right answer IMHO.
See what's written in this old book: https://books.google.fr/books?id=V7...nepage&q=Benzoin Gum Benjamin varnish&f=false
Benzoin (or Gum Benjamin) may be used in Gibson's varnish.

 

[Pappy58]

It's the case. I bought a new R8 last year and the smell is just now dissipating. I bought a new R9 lasy week with the Costa Rica case, and no smell...I doubt there has been a change in the Lacquer on historics that would have done that. It must be the case! Close the case!

 

[Mazerius]

It's the case. I bought a new R8 last year and the smell is just now dissipating. I bought a new R9 lasy week with the Costa Rica case, and no smell...I doubt there has been a change in the Lacquer on historics that would have done that. It must be the case! Close the case!

That's also what I thought first, that it was only the case but Benzoin seems to be use for both guitar AND case. At least, for some guitars and some cases.

 

[Mazerius]

I asked Gibson:

 

[DaveGH]

It's the guitar... I have a Heritage with no case and it has a great vanilla small. My R8 didn't have it....

 

[ivan H]

Again, it can be both the guitar & TKL case. Gibson has confirmed this in the past, I will endeavour to find where I read it. TKL have confirmed that they use the scent, see earlier in this thread, & Gibson have again confirmed that they use it on the Gibson USA guitars but not Custom Shop, see @zetrex post above. I think that confirms the "guitar & case" thing. Note that guitars from the Gibson USA devision that have a "faded" or "satin" finish do not have the vanilla smell. Oh, while I think of it, it is the "Siam" Benzoin resin that has the full on vanilla smell, the "Sumatra" Benzoin resin has the vanilla smell with a hint of cinnamon. Put a little Siam benzoin resin in the case with all your guitars & you can have all your guitars & cases posses that heavenly vanilla smell. Cheers

 

[ecosse]

It has to be the case. My buddies case for his mid range Takamine is one of those made in Canada cases (like Gibson). Smells exactly the same as the cases for my les Paul (original Gibson case - made in Canada) and SG (which is an aftermarket made in Canada case).

 

[Mazerius]

I then asked if the vanilla scent was in the lacquer or in the glue used for the case. Here is Gibson's answer:
"That would be in the lacquer."

 

[Redfish]

Just received a Gretsch case made by TKL today from Musicians Friend and it has the smell. It has never held a guitar so that answers that as far as I’m concerned. Even the empty cardboard box it came in smells like that. I wish Glade made a plug-in deodorizer with this smell. I’d buy a case of the stuff.

 

[dsmcl77]

I think those "other threads" established that there's an aldehyde in one of the solvents used in (probably) a glue that has the same general chemical makeup as vanillin, the compound that gives vanilla its smell. You don't want to spend a lot of time sniffing that aldehyde; it's likely bad for your nervous system.

Geez! Now I understand a lot of things about my life since I bought my first (new) Gibson.

 

[dspelman]

Geez! Now I understand a lot of things about my life since I bought my first (new) Gibson.

Yesh! Sniffing solvents can be...uh...I forget.

 

[syrinx]

My new mouse pad smells exactly the same as the guitar finish and case-which proves many things smell the same.

 

[2manyGuitars]

Butterscotch

Interesting fact. My farts smell like butterscotch. Well actually, only one or the other...

Butt or scotch.

 

[Thrill]

Its the case and its not entirely exclusive to Gibson. I had a 98 Fender American Strat, and the case had the smell, and it was still pretty strong for being 20 years old. Made the guitar smell great for the first hour or 2 it was out of the case.

Interestingly enough though, my Gibson case DOESNT have the smell. Ill admit, I was a little bit disappointed that it doesnt, and kind of embarrassing, the first thing I did when I got the guitar was open it up, stick my face close, and take a whiff. Was kind of let down loll

 

[Duane_the_tub]

It's either the guitar, or both. My 2018 Custom Shop SG reeks of vanilla, and has been out of its case since the day it arrived. It stays on a stand in my bedroom at night, and the whole room smells like it (the case is downstairs). My wife thought I bought an air freshener.

If I hold the guitar up to nose, the smell is so strong it's almost nauseating. I'm really hoping it dissipates soon.

 

[sambot]

Coincidentally, "Vanilla Smell" is my stage name… at least it is from now on!

And just to add to the pool of clues here, I recently picked up a 2018 Les Paul Tribute in a satin Honeyburst finish (my first Paul!). No smell… vanilla or otherwise. It being a satin finish, there's no lacquer, right? No lacquer, no vanilla.

 

[2manyGuitars]

Coincidentally, "Vanilla Smell" is my stage name… at least it is from now on!

And just to add to the pool of clues here, I recently picked up a 2018 Les Paul Tribute in a satin Honeyburst finish (my first Paul!). No smell… vanilla or otherwise. It being a satin finish, there's no lacquer, right? No lacquer, no vanilla.

There’s lacquer. Just fewer coats and no buffing.

The “no buffing” might be the key here. The former Gibson employee mentioned earlier in the thread that it had to do with the buffing compound.

 

[Mazerius]

Gibson confirmed to me that the vanilla scent is in the gloss laquer for Gibson USA's guitars only (no Memphis' nor Gibson Custom's) and not in the satin finishes. It's also in some cases glue.

 

[ecosse]

That wouldn’t explain why the few satin finished guitars I’ve had, smelled sweet, and why non Gibson’s with the same case have the EXACT same smell.

 

[Mazerius]

At Gibson's the vanilla smell is so strong that it sometimes smells way away from the buildings (read that in some post around here by a Gibson's neighbor). I guess the smell can easily impregnate the satin guitars. Regarding the case, it has already been said that benzoin (from which comes the vanilla scent) is also used in some glue.