All natural rubber yoga mats have a scent that can be especially strong when the mat is new. The smell is not a result of off-gassing chemicals, as no toxic chemicals have gone into the manufacturing process. Your eKO mat's natural rubber smell will fade, but not completely vanish due to it's eco-friendly composition. To make the smell fade more quickly, leave your mat unrolled in an airy, shaded area and wipe the mat down with Manduka’s Natural Rubber Yoga Mat Restore.