I love the way that these placemats look and the color is beautiful. However, we can't use them because their smell is soooooo strong. You're not supposed to have fragrances around while you eat (i.e scented candles or sprays). It takes away from the food. I have washed these twice and the smell is still extremely strong. My husband can smell them from the next room. I was planning on using them for Thanksgiving, but now they are just a waste of money.