Review on Wooden Crochet Handcrafted Knitting Needles by Kristen Simpson

My product may have been defective as none of the other reviews listed the two issues I encountered. First the pros: The box that the crochet hooks came in is great. The hooks themselves are mostly smooth. Minuses! Problem #1: Unfortunately, my problem is related to the substance used to smooth and "polish" the hooks. I use the word "buff" extensively as these hooks are waxed rather than polished. Whatever the substance, it had a terrible odor (I think the mothballs that got wet were starting to build up in old dirty socks) and seemed to leave something on my hands when I held them. So I washed the hooks in warm soapy water. 3 TIMES. Eventually, the texture resembled wood more than wax, but the smell lingered. I put the hooks in a sealed bag with some cinnamon sticks. This seemed to neutralize the odor long enough for me to complete the project I bought this product for. Problem #2: While working on my project, I got an allergic reaction to the hook. So. Being stubborn, I was determined to finish the project. Anyway, the fingers of my dominant hand were red and swollen for two days. (Final note: To be honest, my skin reacts to things like weed, so it might just be my business. However, the smell bothered my whole family.)