UPDATE: 11/10/19 - Washed four times, twice with steam function. I dried them four times, twice using the steam function. You still stink. A few years ago I read an article about a man who bought underwear with this smell in China. He developed severe cellulite wherever his underwear touched his body. I won't take any chances. Maybe mine was done on FRI and stayed in the sock all weekend. Who knows, but it's not worth experimenting with chemistry to see how socks can affect me. i give them back Strong smell. We washed them twice. I haven't worn them in a while. I want to wash them at least two more times. The smell was there as soon as I opened them. We washed them with a normal load of other clothes and the smell settled into the other clothes. Not good! They make great socks. You certainly have the right price. But the smell made me nervous.