No, it's fine. I have a cast iron dutch oven that's ben in my family for a zillion years. When you use it, wash it out with dish soap and water, don't ever, ever use steel wool, and towel-dry it soon after washing. I spray olive oil cooking spray (vegetable, canola, etc. work too) on the bottom and sides and rub a paper towel around to set it in and get rid of the excess. This creates a rust barrier. What you smell is probably rancid oil, but a wash will take care of that. I have gone long periods without using it, and the cooking spray never gets rancid. A good dutch oven is a wonderful thing to own.