Thanks! I followed the advice that some of the threads recommended.
My purse also stunk to high heaven with cigarette smoke. Reeked pretty bad and also smelled when I opened the box. This wasn't mentioned in the listing...do you all think that I have a reason to complain to the seller? She didn't mention the smell in the listing, however, I did get it for a really good price. I want to leave positive feedback, but I'm not 100% satisfied because of the smell.
Here's what I've done so far:
*I left drier sheets at first and it got a little better, but it may have just been that the drier sheet scents were so strong that it masked the smoke smell. The outside still smelled.
*I then febreezed directly on the inside of the purse. I basically drenched the inside really well and then wiped it down with a paper towel. I left the paper towel and the drier sheets in there for a few hours. i didn't do the outside because I was scared it would stain or ruin the fabric, but I might do it later...it didn't make much of a difference in the fabric on the inside (I have a papillon). It still smelled, but it was a little better.
*Next I bought the kitty litter that was suggested. I looked for activated charcoal, but didn't see it anywhere at walmart, so kitty litter it was. I put 4 piles of the litter in paper towels inside the purse and the inside cigarette smell is almost gone. This was only after half a day. I put the purse on the kitty litter as was suggested in a trash bag as suggested, but it STILL reeks.
Hopefully it'll get better over time and I'll let you know how it goes after a few days of leaving it alone. My boyfriend thinks it smells better, but I didn't seem to think so. He says I have a sensitive nose.
I think I'm going to leave it alone with the kitty litter for a few days and then febreeze again. If it still reeks, I'm going to leave it in my car in the heat (if it ever stops raining here). I don't really want to do this because I'm scared it'd bake the leather, but if worse comes to worse, I'll try it.
I tried to look for that deodorizing cleaner mentioned in another thread (was it Wilson's or Wilbert's? I can't remember), but they had nothing like this at the store either.
Thanks for the advice and if anyone else has any advice, please let me know.