The short answer
A strong chemical or plastic smell from a new sex toy deserves attention, but smell alone does not tell you exactly what the toy is made from.
A verified silicone product can temporarily pick up odors from packaging or manufacturing. At the same time, a persistent strong odor combined with vague material disclosure, an oily surface, tackiness, or a seller that cannot clearly identify the material is a reason to stop guessing.
The useful question is not:
“Does silicone ever smell?”
It is:
“Does this smell go away after normal cleaning and airing out—and can I verify what I actually bought?”
Start by checking what the manufacturer says the toy is made from
Do not rely only on the marketplace title.
Look for:
The exact material on the manufacturer’s own product page.
A manual or packaging insert.
Whether the manufacturer names silicone, ABS plastic, TPE, TPR, PVC, glass, stainless steel, or another material.
Whether the description uses vague phrases such as “silicone-like,” “skin-like,” “soft-touch,” or “premium material” without actually naming the material.
A clear material disclosure does not guarantee perfection, but vague disclosure makes troubleshooting much harder.
Can real silicone pick up a smell?
Yes.
Silicone itself is often described as having little or no inherent odor, but silicone can pick up surrounding smells.
That can include:
Plastic packaging.
Foam inserts.
Warehouse/storage odors.
Fragranced soap.
Lubricant.
Strong-smelling materials stored nearby.
Current silicone-material guidance notes that packaging odor can sometimes fade after washing and 24–48 hours of airing out.
That means “it smells” does not automatically equal “fake silicone.”
What should I do with a brand-new toy that smells?
Start conservatively.
1. Read the exact care instructions.
2. Wash it using the manufacturer-approved method.
3. Dry it completely.
4. Leave it in a well-ventilated place away from its original packaging.
5. Recheck it after 24–48 hours.
Do not use harsh chemicals, solvents, or improvised heat treatments just because you saw a trick for silicone cookware online.
A rechargeable vibrator is not a baking mat.
The toy may contain a battery, motor, adhesive, seals, coatings, buttons, sensors, or electronics that cannot tolerate those methods.
When does the smell become more concerning?
Pay more attention when the smell is paired with another change.
Examples:
The surface feels oily.
The toy becomes sticky after washing.
The material leaves residue on your fingers or another toy.
The surface is peeling, cracking, swelling, or changing texture.
The material description is missing or contradictory.
The smell remains strong after normal cleaning and airing out.
The seller or manufacturer cannot tell you what the material actually is.
One clue by itself is not always diagnostic.
Several clues together matter much more.
What if the smell gets weaker after washing?
That is more reassuring than a smell that stays just as strong.
A packaging odor should generally move in the direction of fading once the toy has been removed from the packaging, cleaned correctly, and allowed to air out.
If the odor steadily decreases and the surface remains normal, that is a very different situation from a toy that continues to smell strongly while also becoming oily or tacky.
What if the smell transfers to my hands?
Wash your hands and stop using the toy until you understand the material.
A smell transferring does not automatically identify a dangerous substance, but it tells you the odor is not merely something you imagined when opening the box.
If the toy is leaving visible oily residue as well, treat that as a separate material-change clue.
Our Why Is My Sex Toy Sticky or Oily Even After I Wash It? guide walks through that problem.
Can I trust the word “silicone” on an Amazon listing?
Treat the listing as one piece of evidence, not the entire investigation.
Compare it against:
The manufacturer’s own website.
The exact model number.
The box/manual.
Brand support.
Material and care instructions.
If the manufacturer says one thing while a third-party listing says something else, ask the manufacturer before using the toy.
What does clearer material disclosure look like?
One current example is the We-Vibe Touch X. The manufacturer identifies the product materials instead of relying only on vague phrases such as “premium” or “body-safe.”
See the current We-Vibe Touch X listing on Amazon.
That link is not here because RID thinks every questionable-smelling toy should be replaced with this model.
It is here to show the kind of product information shoppers should look for: a recognizable manufacturer, an identifiable model, published materials, care information, and support you can actually contact.
What if the manufacturer confirms it is silicone but it still smells?
Ask whether the odor is expected for that model and whether they recommend any additional care steps.
A reputable manufacturer should be able to tell you:
What material is used.
How to clean it.
Whether a temporary packaging odor is known.
Whether the product should be returned or replaced.
Keep the answer in writing if you are still inside the return or warranty period.
Does a strong smell prove a toy is unsafe?
No.
Smell is a warning clue—not a laboratory test.
It cannot tell you the exact polymer, additives, curing process, or whether a product meets a particular safety standard.
That is why RID does not recommend home “flame tests,” mystery chemical tests, or DIY experiments as proof of material identity.
What if I already used it once?
Clean it according to the manufacturer instructions and inspect it before using it again.
If you experienced irritation, burning, swelling, or another physical reaction, stop using the product and seek appropriate medical advice rather than continuing to troubleshoot the material by trial and error.
If there was no reaction but the product still has a persistent unexplained odor, you can still pause use while you contact the manufacturer.
The RID smell check
Ask these questions:
Is the material clearly disclosed?
Does the manufacturer confirm that material?
Did I clean it exactly as instructed?
Has it aired out away from the packaging?
Is the smell getting weaker?
Is the surface still dry and stable?
Is there any oil, tackiness, peeling, cracking, or swelling?
Will the manufacturer stand behind the product?
The more uncertain those answers become, the less reason there is to keep experimenting with the toy.
Reader questions, answered
Should a silicone sex toy smell like chemicals?
A strong chemical smell is not normally a feature you would seek in a silicone product, but smell alone cannot prove the material is fake. Packaging and manufacturing odors can temporarily transfer to silicone.
How long should I let a new toy air out?
If the manufacturer does not give a different instruction, 24–48 hours after proper washing is a reasonable observation period for a suspected packaging odor.
Can I boil the smell out?
Not unless the exact manufacturer says the complete product can be boiled. Never boil a rechargeable or motorized toy simply because its outer surface contains silicone.
Can I bake it like silicone cookware?
Do not do that with a sex toy unless the manufacturer explicitly says the complete product is heat-safe. Electronics, batteries, adhesives and seals change the equation.
Should I return it?
If the smell remains strong, the material cannot be verified, the surface changes, or the manufacturer cannot give you a satisfactory answer, returning or replacing it is a reasonable choice.
The RID bottom line
Do not use smell as a fake-material detector.
Use it as a reason to look closer.
Clean it correctly.
Air it out.
Verify the material.
Inspect the surface.
Ask the manufacturer.
If uncertainty keeps stacking up, you do not owe the product endless chances.