I have a Gitzo GT2531EX explorer carbon fiber tripod which just developed the smell described above! This last week the airline lost my bag containing it, and sent it to mexico for a week before I got it back on the last day of my week trip (it never leaves my side again!). When I unpacked it I noticed that the internal leg segments have a strong, fruity, burnt plastic, smell, where it certainly did NOT have this smell beforehand. I wiped them down and a white paper towel picked up a lot of black / gray crap. The smell is still there, although I have yet to wipe down with alcohol. I'm guessing it is somehow related to the exposure to unpressurized baggage holds, or possibly to extremely low temperatures (aircraft baggage hold at 30,000 feet), or extremely high temperatures (mexico for a week, who knows where/how they stored my bag).
I imagine this is outgassing, or other leaching, from the epoxy out of which the carbon fiber is made. Has anyone successfully cleansed this stink from the tripod? Most of all I am concerned with developing a contact allergy, since epoxy residues can be quite toxic and irritant. I hope it can be cleansed, since I LOVE this tripod and want to carry it everywhere with me, but a strong chemical scent and concern for what I'm getting on my hands will significantly damp my enthusiasm for this $530 tripod...
~Gordon