How can I get rid of an old wood smell?

Tr y washing them with Murphy's Oil Soap and/or put a bowl of coffee grounds inside.

thank you I will try the Murphy's Soap.

the coffee grounds. fresh or used?

thx

All else failsHow to Eliminate Odors in Wood

Your best hope for sealing in any odors is shellac. It makes an excellent barrier coat over all wood species, and it sticks to almost anything. Zinsser makes a great product for this purpose, called Bullseye SealCoat. It’s a clear dewaxed shellac that you can apply to those drawer interiors easily with a brush. It dries quickly and should help to diminish mice, mildew, musty, smoke, urine smell. And since it doesn’t contain wax, you can apply other finishes like lacquer or varnish over it — they’ll stick just fine. SealCoat is also handy to have around the shop as a general purpose wood finish and sanding sealer. So, I’m sure you’ll find other uses for what’s left of the quart you buy.

Hi Ruth, have you thought about a coat of Kilz primer then paint? it would seal the wood, you could do it in a color close to the original color of the wood. Also, bacteria and germs can permeate porous wood causing awful “old-smell” odors. To eliminate the smell, kill the bacteria and germs by cleaning the inside of the drawers and all surfaces with a sponge dampened with vinegar, Murphy's Oil Wood Soap or any Anti-Fungal Detergents. Then let dry in a well ventilated area.J

thank you. the Kilz sounds like the answer