I don't remember asking for it, but in the stack of mail when I got home tonight was a sample of fish oil, clearly labeled on the bubble-padded envelope. I guess some angry postal worker couldn't resist and the envelope was crushed and the product leaked all over the place. I made the mistake of handling it and now I can't get the smell of fish oil off my hands. I tried various hand soaps and household cleaners to no avail. Any suggestions?

Vinegar or lemon juice.

YIKES. Take a powder, sit down, relax! You know what they say, 'We are never upset for the reason we think."

Don't blame 'an angry postal worker who could not resist, etc etc'. Most postal staff, in my experience, are incredibly hard working, helpful enough to phone to alert of a special delivery, and smart enough to read smudged and carelessly written addresses. It was an accident, OK?

Yes, I know there is that expression, going postal...but a sample of fish oil, incorrectly packaged, poorly wrapped, traveling hundreds of miles perhaps, is likely to burst, break, get crushed in transit.

How to get rid of the smell? Relax, slice a lemon in half, rub it over your fingers (this sample cannot have much oil in it, surely) and then wash your hands with a mild soap.
Good luck with everything. I hope tomorrow is calmer.

Quit sniffin yer fingers.

I'm sure it's gone by now, but if not, and for the future, you could also try tea.

Drink it or soak in it?

I went out for pizza and the smell was gone by the time I got home. It added a little anchovy flavor to the Caesar salad.

EOS, are you my mailman? It was a bubblewrap envelope clearly labeled fish oil. I have no idea how it burst the contents. A thoughtful postal worker would have thrown it away instead of delivering a wet smelly package.

Soak it.

My grandpa used to encourage us to wash our hands in tea, so while I haven't done it with the specific purpose of getting a smell out of my skin, I suspect it works pretty well for oils.

I think the USPS has an ongoing weekly contests to see which employee can damage the most letters-n-packages (people dont count). I think they get extra credit for breaking containers of smelly liquids, delicate objects and antiques.

MisterNice

Instead of tipping him at Christmas, I order a gross of light bulbs in a flimsy box.

Did you ever stop to think it might not be his fault. The stuff goes in transit. The USPS doesn't necessarily have possession of it all the way. You also have to realize that it could have been the company's fault. I'm sure the last thing the guy wants is fish oil stinking up his vehicle all day. Nice hostility here. If fish oil not leaking is so important, here's a nice suggestion. They sell it everywhere. Go buy it.

Believe me. They will definitely deliver your mail, whatever condition the mail is, dry or wet. They will NOT throw it away, if the mailing address is still attached and identifiable. They are not allowed to throw smelly mail away either, I believe.

Over the years, I have received envelopes immersed with lotion and ointment samples in more than one occasion. I've also received my tax document (1099-INT) in pieces, which was resealed in the USPS "We-are-sorry" official filmzy/paper envelope. So far, I've received those USPS-we-are-sorry packaging for about 6 times in the last couple of years. It doesn't happen very often but it does happen. I mean the savaged mail and the delivery of it.

Well, fish oil does have a strong scent and will take a while to fade away. I agree, lemon may be your best saver.

I wish they had sealed my fish oil in one of those oops baggies.