It sure is weird.....I can smell all around in that cage and nothing has an odor. The door and mostly the hinges is the only thing I can pick up on a slight odor. I think its a combination of everything new that builds up after the door is shut for a while. I've been checking this for 2 weeks now and the new snake will be here very very soon. Overall, I feel it's ok. If something was real wrong...I would be able to directly smell it. I think I remember going through this with my first cage. I did hear a RHP could have some odor. My first one did let off a little for a very very short time but it wasn't the same. Well...if it was something bad, I would probably have a cool buzz about now, but I don't.