Don't feel stupid Dave, because more than soft items or clothing can absorb smoke.

I work for a delievery company and I once had a stop where i would pick up envelopes of home inspection papers going to the mortgage company.
The sender would leave them in a grocery store bag on his front porch and when i would pick them up the smell of the smoke would gag me. I was amazed that something as non porous as paper paper product can retain the smell.
Perhaps these people had a similar experience.