Care & Display Guide

Ethically Sourced Fur, Skulls & Pelts

Your Wicked Enchantments pieces are natural, one-of-a-kind items made from ethically sourced animal materials. Because they are organic, they require a little extra attention to stay beautiful for years to come. This guide covers care for our Animal Tail Keychains, Tanned Pelts, and Animal Skulls.

🐾 Fur & Tanned Pelts (Tail Keychains and Pelts)

Handling

• Handle with clean, dry hands. Natural skin oils and moisture can discolor or soften the leather backing over time.
• Avoid pulling or tugging on the fur against the grain, which can loosen hairs from the hide.
• For keychains, minimize prolonged contact with lotions, perfumes, or hand sanitizers — the alcohol and oils can degrade the fur and leather base.

Cleaning & Dusting

• Light dust: Use a soft-bristle brush (a clean makeup brush works well) and brush gently in the direction of the fur grain to remove loose dust and debris.
• Light spot cleaning: Dab — do not rub — a barely damp cloth on soiled areas, then allow to air dry completely at room temperature. Avoid soaking the hide.
• Avoid: Machine washing, steam cleaning, or submerging in water. These can shrink, stiffen, or rot the leather backing.

Drying

• If the piece gets wet, gently reshape the fur with your fingers and allow it to air dry away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
• Do not use a hair dryer, radiator, or direct sun to speed drying — high heat can cause the hide to crack, shrink, or become brittle.

Storage

• Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Aim for a relative humidity of roughly 45–55% — too damp encourages mold and rot; too dry causes brittleness.
• Avoid plastic bags or airtight containers, which trap moisture. Use a breathable cloth bag, pillowcase, or acid-free tissue wrap instead.
• Keep away from direct sunlight and UV light, which fades and weakens natural fur over time.

Pest Prevention (Moths & Dermestids)

• Moths and carpet beetles are the biggest threat to natural fur and hides. Cedar blocks or sachets of dried lavender placed near (not touching) the piece can act as natural deterrents.
• Inspect stored pieces every few months for signs of damage — small bald patches, shed hairs, or tiny larvae casings are warning signs.
• If you suspect an infestation, seal the piece in an airtight bag and place in a freezer set to 0°F (–18°C) for at least two weeks, then allow it to return slowly to room temperature before removing. (Consult a professional conservator for valuable pieces.)

Display Tips

• Display away from heating vents, fireplaces, and air conditioning units, which cause rapid humidity fluctuations.
• Rotate displayed pieces periodically to prevent uneven UV fading.
• Avoid hanging near open windows where condensation or rain splash could cause repeated wetting and drying cycles.

💀 Animal Skulls

Handling

• Always support the skull from the base — fine orbital bones, teeth, and nasal structures are fragile and can snap under point pressure.
• Use clean, dry hands or lint-free cotton gloves for display-quality pieces to prevent oil transfer to porous bone.

Dusting & Cleaning

• Dusting: Use a soft natural-hair paintbrush to gently dust crevices, teeth, and orbital sockets. A can of compressed air (held upright, used in short bursts) works well for deep cavities — hold the nozzle several inches away to avoid moisture transfer from the propellant.
• Surface cleaning: A barely damp cotton swab can be used to gently lift grime from smooth bone surfaces. Allow to dry fully before returning to display.
• Avoid: Bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or any harsh chemical cleaners on finished or display skulls — these can over-whiten, weaken bone structure, and cause long-term brittleness. (Merchant note: If your skulls underwent a degreasing or whitening process during preparation, note any product-specific restrictions here.)

Storage

• Store in a padded, breathable container — wrap individual pieces in acid-free tissue to prevent scratching and micro-abrasion.
• Avoid stacking skulls or placing heavy objects on top of them.
• Maintain a stable environment: aim for 45–55% relative humidity. Bone is hygroscopic — it absorbs and releases moisture — and wide swings can cause micro-cracking over time.
• Keep away from direct sunlight, which yellows and dries bone over time.

Humidity & Temperature

• Rapid temperature or humidity changes are the leading cause of cracking in natural bone. Avoid placing skulls near exterior walls, windows, or HVAC vents.
• In very dry climates or during winter heating season, a small room humidifier can help maintain stable humidity levels.

Display Tips

• Display on a stable, flat surface or a purpose-built skull stand. Avoid precarious positions where vibration could cause a fall.
• For wall mounts, use appropriate hardware rated well above the item's weight and into a stud or with wall anchors.
• A light coat of clear matte museum wax (such as Renaissance Wax) on smooth bone surfaces can protect against dust adhesion and minor moisture — apply sparingly and test on an inconspicuous area first.

General Tips for All Natural Pieces

• Low heat, low humidity fluctuation — the golden rule for all organic natural materials.
• Keep pieces away from kitchens and bathrooms where steam and grease are common.
• Natural materials will develop a patina over time — this is normal and often adds character.
• When in doubt, less intervention is better. Aggressive cleaning does more harm than gentle, regular dusting.

From the Wild to the Wicked

Our Fur, Bone & Natural Curiosity Sourcing Story

At Wicked Enchantments Furs & Folklore, we have always been drawn to the things that are a little wild, a little mysterious, and often overlooked. From soft pelts and weathered bones to skulls and other natural curiosities, we believe these pieces carry a beauty and story all their own.

We also believe you deserve to know where they come from.

Our real fur, pelts, bones, and other animal materials are sourced through a local fur supplier in Downer, Minnesota. He works with hunters and trappers from throughout the Midwest, purchasing whole carcasses that can then be processed and put to use. He also travels to fur-trapper auctions throughout the United States and Canada to source additional animals and materials.

What we especially appreciate about this process is the effort to use every part of the animal that can be used.

The pelt may become a beautiful display piece. A skull might find a home on a collector's shelf. Bones, teeth, claws, and other natural pieces can become artwork, jewelry, décor, or treasured curiosities. Rather than allowing these pieces to simply be discarded, they are given another purpose—and another chapter to their story.

There is something beautifully old-world about honoring what nature provides instead of seeing it go to waste. These animals once wandered forests, fields, and wild places, and we believe the pieces that remain should be treated with respect.

We understand that real fur and animal remains aren't for everyone—and that's perfectly okay. The strange and unusual rarely are. But for those who find beauty in the wild, the weathered, the macabre, and the wonderfully peculiar, we want you to feel confident knowing the story behind the pieces you bring home.

At Wicked Enchantments Furs & Folklore, we don't just see fur and bone.

We see pieces of the wild.

Pieces with history.

Pieces that might otherwise have been forgotten.

And we think there is a certain kind of magic in giving them a new story.

From the wild, to the wicked, to wherever they call home next.