I'm new to vegetable gardening. A friend recommended using peat pots, but I don't like the fact that collecting the peat is destroying peat bogs. So when I saw Cow Pot, it seemed a good alternative.
I started my seedlings in small plastic trays, then transplanted to Cow Pots as they got bigger. I've noticed that as I moved my plants to the Cow Pots, my plants almost immediately started growing faster and looking better. I realized that in part (being new to this) I think I was overwatering the seedlings, and for some reason they weren't draining well enough in the plastic trays, even with the holes in the bottom. With the Cow Pot, you can see when the sides are wet or drying out. And I learned quickly not to keep them too wet, because they will disintegrate if you do.
And when you plant the pots, be sure the sides are covered with dirt so they don't wick water out the top. I have to cut or fold down the top lip when I plant them so the dirt covers the sides.
Regarding odor, I have at times picked up an odor from the pots, but not all the time. And it's very minimal when I have smelled it.
Overall, very happy with these and no negatives so far. My husband, who started a native plant nursery, is thinking about using them as well. And I'll be recommending them to all my gardening friends.