Detergent smell in mortar & pestle?

We recently acquired a nice big mortar and pestle from a Mexican market that has what I can only describe as a detergent smell. It’s just rock and it doesn’t look like it’s coated in anything, so it shouldn’t have a smell, right? The smell is almost unnoticeable when it’s dry but when it’s wet it’s pretty strong. We tried washing it and we tried boiling it in vinegar water and it still has this smell. Any more suggestions for how to get the smell out? I’d rather not eat mystery detergent.

I can't think of an easy solution. If a porous natural rock was soaked in laundry detergent (or whatever) for a long time, I think it will take an equally long time to soak/boil it out.

I don't know that there's a magical solution except soak, boil and simmer.

BTW it looks like a very coarse rock. Is this for grinding grains?

Nice find Hal! In my experience with soap perfumes and oily coffee residue in porous clay objects and stoneware, I place the object in a bag of baking soda for a couple of days. The baking soda absorbs the odors. Try putting the mortar & pestle in a bag and fill with baking soda. Let us know if it works for you!

One bummer of a possibility is that it is cement, not volcanic rock....I know this from bitter personal experience. Here's a good explanation and way to evaluate it: https://www.mexico1492.com/blogs/noticias/how-do-i-know-my-molcajete-is-a-real-deal

I hope that's not the case, but it's a good thing to check for when buying one.