<p>We got the $99 Costco memory foam topper for D1 (she definitely is a princess and the pea sort of girl). S2 slept fine last year, but tried D1’s topper this summer and had to have one. I didn’t notice a smell when we put it on his bed. We covered the dorm mattress in a hypo-allergenic/anti bed bug mattress cover, then put the memory foam topper on top (it comes with a very nice cover) and then put the sheets over that.</p>