Tommy Mac Discussions › Forums › Fix-it Forum: Home Improvement & Do It Yourself Repair Forum › Odor in Bathroom Sink Cabinets › If your cabinet was made from particle board/mdf
its likely acting like a sponge for moisture and off-gassing its nasty formalgihyde (spelling?) resin/glues and will continue to do so no matter what.
You *MIGHT* be able to seal the smells with a shellac sealer like original BIN.
Here is the rub: The underside, back (against the wall) edges, drawer backs, etc. would still be unsealed – yet able to absorb the ambient moisture produced in the bathroom during normal bathing/showering activities.
A bathroom exaust fan run during any water activites, and for sufficient time thereafter would be a must.
Of course if the “sweet” smell comes from something else (like a spill or other nasty odor) which was sucked up by the vanity via the FLOOR contact point – nothing is going to solve the problem other than replacing the vanity.
Something as simple as condensation from the toilet carried along a tiled floor to the vanity base can be responsible for this – of course other liquids/combinations could be responsible as well.
One man’s sweet is another man’s stink.