1. Congrats. When I married my wife her father gave me her mother's old guitar. It's a 1978 Gibson J 50 -best dowry EVER! 2. Use the guitar and the smell will go away. Once the smell does go away, you will miss it. Just an FYI 3. You should post a picture of the guitar, I would love to see it. What is it? Acoustic, electric, make, model, year? Once we see it, we can help you name it.
http://imgur.com/wyjdMUl She is full-blood acoustic, no electronics used anywhere. The headstock reminds me of a classical guitar, but I don't know enough about instruments to have a full diagnosis. The model/year is pretty hard to find, I havent seen anything on it besides some manufacturing numbers. I'm gonna do some more internet research on her, but because its likely a beginner guitar from a small brand, it'll be pretty hard. Thanks for the smell tip, I'll definitely be using it a bunch this summer. Mostly because she came with a case, that's the only case I have right now and I'd be to paranoid to let any of my other instruments outside without one. Edit: A Franciscan E-40 is what I could get from it so far. Also, it's Japan made. Stuff I found on the internet was only questions from other people, too.
Definitely a classical guitar - The width of the neck at the nut gives it away (makes it easier to play single notes, and to be clear and articulate while playing). I'm confident you've been told this already, or know it already, but no steel strings for that lady: There's no steel adjustment rod in the neck, and it'll bow under the tension of steel strings. You could always call it Liona.