Well after all of the reviews I was fully prepared in what I was going to receive,  I purchased my own brackets and I actually like the rustic quality of the wood.    The smell does not bother me, it actually smells a tad like cedar so it was fresh and woodsy smelling.

What I did not enjoy is that I fully expected the depth to be 8 inches as indicated in the description and it was less than 7”.    Which as most people know will not house an 8 inch plate.   

We are keeping them, however,  I am a little irritated that they are not 8 inches as indicated.