I still have my hockey gloves from my 1954 UBC university hockey days. They are pretty beaten up, but no bad smells, even while rotting in the basement. Never did have a smell problem with them when I played 4 times a week with my strip never completely drying out.. Must be the glove leather curing process used today. New chemicals that promote bacteria growth??? BTW, same applies to my 1952 baseball glove, still being useable and free of bad smells.