I've never heard of plastic absorbung odors. At least not model car plastic. ONCE i got a kit that smelled of moth balls, but never smelled plastic that was just soaked. Maybe it was something caustic, cause I've never heard of styrene absorbing odors. but hey anything is possible. Maybe washing it in something strong, like Simple Green, or New Dawn with grease cutters, would wash the smell away. I've never heard/smelt any plastic that absorbed odors. Maybe it was TOO porous, an absorbed them. Very intersting thing to have happen.....Hmmmmmmm.