To throw in a personal experience: I had a customer who specifically asked for organic natural latex. So I ordered two pieces, one for her and one for my stock. When I unwrapped my piece, it had a very strong processing smell to it, much more so than my regular natural latex. What could I do but let it sit. After a week or two, the smell could only be noticed when I put my nose to it. After three or four weeks, I couldnāt even smell which piece it was and had to refer to its label.
Interesting. Thanks for the info in this.
I built my own using the LI talatech slabs you mentioned (at a much lower price I might add) and neither my wife nor I have any problem with smells. In fact, there never was any even when I unboxed and unwrapped the individual slabs from their shrink wrap. Hereās me and a friend filling the encasement with the 3 slabs. A detailed description of what I used is on page 3.
https://forum.mattressunderground.com/t/mattress-cover
I would think that the pure ānaturalā latex would off gas compared to the blend. Youāre much better off going with the synthetic/natural blend latex aka ātalatechā for many reasons - durability, no smell, lower price. LI makes a very high quality, consistent, quality controlled product.
Good luck,
Mark
I have some issues with perfumes and other chemical odors also. I have 100% natural talalay and I do get a reaction in my nose, feels like burning, and sometimes a headache when I am switching layers around. I then vacuum the entire room and wash my hands well, and open windows after I am finished. Particles get into the air from the all natural. Bought this latex in November and I still have a slight reaction from it. I have a mostly synthetic dunlop layer from Spindle that does not smell and I do not believe it affects me. I think that if you buy latex and leave it intact in the mattress encasement, you probably wonāt smell it after a month or so or have the reactions that I have when touching and switching layers. That being said, if you want latex, I would advise you to make a careful selection from a local store, as Phoenix suggests, so you wonāt have to deal with opening up the mattress and exposing yourself to the latex. This is just my personal experienceā¦ but I am not that chemically sensitive, mostly to perfumes. ( my natural talalay is from Latex International)
Your best resource is to go straight to the Latex International manufacturer with your questions - KTT Enterprises. Talk to Dick or Maureen Coffey. They make/sell this stuff and will not hesitate to steer you away from the so called ānaturalā to the talatech blend.
Mark in Texas. Exactly where did you buy the LI talatech 3 inch slabs? The company in Connecticut doesnāt seem to sell mattresses directly. Just latex pillows.
Hi Mark in Texas,
Just for the sake of clarity and accuracy ā¦ KTT is not Latex International.
Phoenix
Hi John Smith,
Post #4 here includes some of the better sources for latex layers Iām aware of.
Mark in Texas bought his from KTT Enterprises who sells latex layers at good prices so they are a good source for those who have the confidence to build a DIY mattress and know the type, thickness, and firmness of the latex layers and the cover that will work best for them.
Phoenix
Hi Phoenix! Technically you may be right if you want to get into the executive thingie, but Bill Coffey, Dickās father/chemist, started the company, so I consider them (Dick, Nancy, and Maureen Coffey) Latex International. Dick and his wife are co-owners and Dick sits on the board.
Dick is often in the plant checking on this and that, so itās obvious to me that heās an insider. Doesnāt really matter, KTT has the best prices on their LI latex. Hereās their card which does say they are a manufacturer and supplier, factory showroom, etc.
http://www.latexfoam.com/about/
KTT Enterprises. Shipping to Texas wasnāt cheap but the quality and service was excellent. Iāve got more money than sense so Iāll soon be adding a 2" 14 ILD topper to the mattress. It will go under a very stretchy, thin cotton knit mattress cover and fitted sheet. If that doesnāt get me that in-cloud-feeling, nothing will. Iāll report back in a few days.
I got samples of 14 ILD, 19, and 24 from them too. Placing a hand on top of a sample is nothing like sleeping on it but itās kinda like Play Doh, itās fun to play with.
We LOVE this mattress. Best sleep Iāve ever had and itās so easy to put together, even a cave man can do it. 
Hi All,
Just wanted to chime in. We have never experienced any issues regarding smell with our talalay latex materials. If someone did have an issue or is hesitant, we are more than happy to provide someone with a raw sample prior to purchase.
Best,
Sara
Comfort Sleep Systems
Branford, CT
Thatās good to hear. I tried several mattresses out there about two and a half weeks ago. Been doing some research about the smell. Just found this web site the other day. Helpful.
[quote=āvallario56ā post=36009]Hi All,
Just wanted to chime in. We have never experienced any issues regarding smell with our talalay latex materials. If someone did have an issue or is hesitant, we are more than happy to provide someone with a raw sample prior to purchase.
Best,
Sara
Comfort Sleep Systems
Branford, CT[/quote]
Curious, whose latex do you sell?
I collect latex, must have a dozen samples of both Dunlop and talalay.
Hi Mark in Texas,
Iām not Sara but I do know that they use Talalay from Latex International.
Phoenix
[quote=āPhoenixā post=36066]Hi Mark in Texas,
Iām not Sara but I do know that they use Talalay from Latex International.
Phoenix[/quote]
I see the Phoenix has risen early this morning. Top of the morninā to ya.
Well, that makes 2 of us who donāt smell anything regarding LIās talalay. By golly, we might be generating a consensus around this here place. Without being accused of promoting any one or any thing, another quality control I like about LI is the lab/plant analysis they do on their talalay. Iām looking at a tab that was stuck to one of the slabs, the 19ILD, density=3.2, test results, etc. Pretty cool.
Can I promote my Lexus as being one of the best made, most reliable and best value cars on the road? How about avocados? I luvvvvvvvv avocados! Hereās the cheapest and best quality Iāve found. http://www.morrocreekranch.com/item.php?item_id=219
Ah oh, feel a spanking coming on fer going off topic, hah! 
Hi Mark in Texas,
I hadnāt gone to bed yet
The smell of any material including latex can vary to some degree from batch to batch and will also vary by the type of latex and its age not to mention that some people will be more sensitive to different smells and perceive them much more strongly.
Phoenix
John,
Iām also very sensitive to perfumes and VOCās in general (I notice them but donāt have any sort of reaction). With my latex I noticed a smell but after a month it has diminished greatly. What I can smell t hese days only happens once I pull off the covers to get into bed.
Now my in-laws gave us some latex pillows* and they put off an acrid smell for a couple of weeks.
*Solid piece latex, not shredded latex.
Hi Mark in Texas,
Thank you for your question. We use talalay latex from latex international (we are very close in proximity to the actual factory in CT). We have been selling latex for over 50 years. Hope that helps.
Best,
Sara
Manager
Comfort Sleep Systems
Branford, CT
www.comfortss.com
Thanks Sara. Was just curious. You have a nice site and product line up.
Huh? 
Nothing like being a slave to the ol forum. The 16 hour days, 7 days a week is gonna kill ya hombre!
BTW, revised my previous LI ownership post. Dick/Nancy are co-owners of LI and Dick sits on the board.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Itās certainly not in the plan to continue those types of hours indefinitely and I enjoy this type of intensive project that is challenging on both the technical and intuitive side of things (see post #4 here) but in the time I have itās been a labor of love and I would do it over again in a heartbeat.
Phoenix