Some essential oil right on the inside surface of the harp should be
inoccuous enough. Doesn't have to be on the soundboard.
Both birch (if it has the heart cutout it's plywood, yes?) and cherry
have distinct smells. I suspect the birch plywood is what's getting
to you, or perhaps the finishing materials. Is it an aromatic smell,
like varnish, or more like stinky wood? Hmm...
Something we makers need to be aware of when choosing materials,
especially finishing materials, is the side effect of the smell.
Some people are especially sensitive.
Interesting...
Michael.
>
> I shouldn't but will tell you all about something really flakey I did
> last spring. My harp is cherry with a birch soundboard. I happen to
> think it smells weird, and it is close to my nose when I play. I
> pondered the problem for a while then decided to fine tune her aroma
> with incense. So I lit a stick and held it inside the soundboard, being
> careful of course not to touch the string ends. My harp also has a
> lovely little heart cut in the top of the soundboard, and the incense
> smoke drifted in a lovely little column through it. But - I dried out
> and warmed the soundboard irregularly. I was out of tune in the upper
> registers, in tune in the lower registers. I really scared myself, but
> jost turned the humidifier on and left the harp alone for a few hours.
> My harp healed herself. I now sweeten her breath with a fabric softner
> sheet in an open plastic bag - wouldn't want the oils to touch the
> soundbox or board. (I can hear the harp makers screaming.)
>