dirtygardener, yes it does smell something like turpentine! Really an obnoxious smell. Did the smell come out of your jeans after the vinegar? What's sad is all this soaking has taken a lot of the dark blue dye away--the reason I bought them in the first place. My fault for buying super cheap jeans made in China!

The smells are to be harmless. Run your fan they will dissipate real soon.I have never heard or read of that order being toxic in any way, but air it out for a week and then enjoy

was it the kind that contain 60% alcohol? I use it all the time in the kitchen, bathroom, car, etc. & never have noticed this odor & am sure some have 'expired'... I just never look at it!

Your vendor's statement is one of the more creative pieces of cow pies I've seen in a while. Textiles can be coated with a finish to make the manufacturing process easier but it's something you can feel and doesn't have much odor. If the quilt arrived wet with a chemical smell, someone spilled something or the box leaked. Chemical smell is pretty broad. Did it smell like gasoline, lighter fluid, or cleaning solution? Any evidence of spot cleaning on the quilt? If it smelled like petroleum, I'd send it back. You don't want that in your washer. If that's not the smell, you could wash it yourself to be sure before using it. Cotton processed for garments or home use doesn't have any odor. I've come across some artisan dyes (not industrial) that have an odor when wet, but the item wasn't meant to be used as bedding. Most quilt makers will launder all fabrics before use in a quilt top whether the fabric is new or recycled. If that cotton went through variant temperatures it would be dry or frozen or growing something because it was wet when you got it.