Have you tried the old trick of filling it with crumpled up newspaper?

It sure is gorgeous and definitely worth trying to save.

I spent the good part of last year searching high and low for two wardrobes like that...it is stunning.

Try cleaning it with diluted vinegar and keep an open bag of charcoal inside it to absorb odors. Than try opening it to air for a few days and repeat til smell is gone. I have used this method on many dressers and desks with much success.

I am sure it is breaking some kind of rules, but I always gave my used furniture a washing and let it dry in the sun, then, if necessary, did the newspaper trick.

there are also charcoal bags you can buy on Amazon that are odor removers that work wonders.

I use the charcoal bags on my boat but for antiques I just buy a big bag for grilling. Both work well.

I had a dresser like that - bought it at this antique shop in a falling down barn and it smelled like overwhelming musty dampness. Filled the drawers with crumpled newspaper and left a bowl of vinegar in each one. The smell eventually left but it did take a while. If you can leave it outside in the sun for a day and then maybe even in a garage or shed or covered patio for a few weeks, that would probably help a lot. (Open all the doors, obviously). Good luck - it's beautiful!!!!

Wow! You guys are great. I am going to try each and every suggestion! I think it is going to take a great deal of work to rid that piece of its smell.

It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode where Jerry gets his car back from the repair shop and can not get rid of the odor. On top of that the odor seems to cling to anyone who gets inside the car. It was a funny episode! I keep thinking I can't spend too long in my bedroom because the odor might attach to me and I will carry it in my other room. haha

Hubby gets back back from out of town tonight. We will move that sucker to the garage. Hopefully the room has not absorbed too much of the smell!

I'd scrub with vinegar and leave baking soda and charcoal in each drawer.

very pretty.

As some of you have suggested, rubbing the exterior down with various products.... I had forgotten to mention the outside smells as well. It smells like the previous owner rubbed the entire armoire down with a strong cleaner or lotion that smells like a perfume.

So, I am wondering if there is a way to rid the wood of this smell that has been soaked into the wood itself.

What a beautiful piece of furniture! I've mentioned this here before but it's been a long time. I had a CL dresser with perfume spilled in it (gag), a headache trigger for me. Since I used odor absorbing gel tubs with success in rentals between tenants I thought I'd try it in the dresser. It worked! The gel tubs are even more effective with some air movement so in my dresser I cracked open the drawers and put 2 or 3 tubs in. (It's a large dresser and I wanted maximum ammo, lol.) Then I rotated the tubs around inside different drawers every couple days. Perfume smell was gone after about two weeks. Just a thought, you could open the armoire doors during the day, set a small fan on the floor on low to boost air flow inside it to help the tubs work better/faster. If you're concerned about odor getting in the room just set another tub near a register or cold air return. Or if that's too unbearable, just leave the armoire doors cracked open so there is some air movement inside. The brand I prefer is Natural Magic with Citrus Magic coming in second. I get them at Lowe's, H Depot or Ace Hardware. (I've tried several and would avoid gel beads and brands at dollars stores, IME they're not nearly as effective as those mentioned above.)

I'd wipe it down inside first with vinegar water and/or a few drops of Dawn in a bucket, let it dry, then do the Nat Magic and within a couple weeks you should be able to use it.

Moon, what if the smell is as strong or stronger on the exterior?

I'm wondering if the previous owner used lemon oil -- I use that occasionally on my antique wood furniture and it does a nice job of conditioning old dried out wood but it does smell very strong and perfumey. In that case, I bet wiping it down with a good strong degreaser like Lestoil or even goof off would remove the buildup (test first though to make sure it doesn't harm the finish and do it outside in a well ventilated area because goof off smells!)

If worse came to worse, I'd imagine you could seal the whole thing
inside and out with some kind of poly or shellac -- you'd have to test
it out to see what sticks. But I would make that a last ditch solution - time is going to be your best friend here. Move it to the garage, give it a good cleaning, and let it air out for a few weeks (maybe take it outside in the sun on nice days).

I see you just posted an odor is on exterior as well. If it were
me I'd probably not use vinegar on the exterior for fear of damaging the
finish. That's just me, tho, others will disagree ;). My method for cleaning gunked up wood finishes from CL or auctions is Formby's
Build-Up remover (light wintergreen scent, not obnoxious) followed with Howard's
Feed-N-Wax. Or, you could wipe it down with a few drops of Dawn dish soap in a bucket, wipe again with clean water, dry it off, and in addition to odor absorbers inside the armoire put a couple more in the room & see if that does the trick.

My friend, who has worked with and appraised antiques, swears by GoJo hand cleaner for cleaning furniture pieces. You might give it a try. I think she said she uses cheap paper towels or old rags. It especially works well to remove nicotine stains and such. You need to rub the finish and maybe even use a toothbrush on crevices and then wipe down with a damp cloth to remove. It's basically mineral spirits and propylene glycol so it's not abrasive. I'd do this both inside and outside.

Then I'd follow up with the newspaper, kitty litter, bowls of vinegar or other methods to further remove moisture and odor.

I feel for you. I purchased one that came out of a mountain cabin. Smelled of old fire and something unidentifiable inside only. At least it was on the inside only. And it went in a 10x10 room. I washed interior/exterior waxed and left it open with the windows open for weeks. When it was closed, I had an odor eater (can't remember which one) and dryer sheets. Now I keep a couple nice hotel soaps in it.

The good news is that it eventually aired out and is fine now.

You all are a wealth of knowledge! I am so glad I decided to post my dilemma!

Thank you ALL for the advice. I am going to read over these again and order some products and go to town. We have many sunny warms days in central Texas so I am going to put that sucker outside for a day after wiping it down and see how that works. I know putting rugs outside has eliminated many odors.

I will keep you posted!

Sheesh, for some reason I was thinking you were up north, where rain has been our constant companion this spring. Warm sunny days are great for this project. :)

Take it OUTSIDE .... remove the drawers and open the doors and air it out for a while.

Usually you will get incremental improvement with each treatment, so go from gentle to aggressive.

Wash ALL the surfaces (top, bottom, inside and outside of drawers including inside the drawer support area with mild soap and water, rinse it with clean water and let it dry. If that doesn't work, wipe it down with mineral spirits. (neither will affect the finish).

Get some clear shellac and paint all the unfinished wood surfaces to seal them and the odor inside. (the backs and undersides of things, supports, etc)

yes..take it outside if possible and air it. then rinse it

many great things have been suggested...another absorbing-odor-substance to know about-coffee:) take the one you used, put it in an open bowl(or several) and the bowls-inside the armoire. and wait.

it's beautiful.

You could fill it with mothballs and perfume for a while. :)

Kidding of course. I'd start with Lazy's suggestions if the weather is good and move on from there.

If the inside could take it, wash with TSP, mild solution. That's how I got cigarette odor out of one of my apartments. It was clinging to a film that was on the walls and cabinets and basically every surface. It might mess wit the stain on the outside.