Thread: How does your brush smell?

I've been reading these forums for a couple weeks now. The tales of all the great smelling soaps, cremes, aftershaves, etc. have me very interested in trying all this out. For years, all I've used is an electric, or the old Gillette Atra I got at my college freshman orientation.

So, I go to classicshaving.com, order a shaving bowl with bay rum scented soap, and an extra cake of fresh lime, since I have no idea how long a cake of soap lasts. I'm on a bit of a budget, so I went with a less expensive brush, the Vulfix #VS/2 Pure Bristle Shaving Brush.

The package arrived at my door this morning. I anxiously ripped it open, went back to the bathroom, decided to try the bay rum soap first (even though I think I might like the fresh lime scent a bit better), opened up the box with the brush, and...

OMG! It Smells like a WET BOAR!!

The stench is overwhelming. Nothing I've read prepared me for this. I knew I may not like the soap, but I didn't expect the brush to stink.

Determined to get past this, I lathered up, holding my breath as the bay rum/wet boar scented brush passed under my nose, and proceeded to 'attack' my face with the trusty old Atra. I found it to be a very pleasant shave, but even after rinsing the soap out of the brush, it still smells like wet boar, which is prompting me to ask a few questions now...

Will the soap scent eventually overtake the wet boar smell?
Should I try to shampoo it out?
Do the more expensive brushes smell like wet badger?
When I decide on my first straight razor, will it have an unanticipated odor?

Thanks,
Gary

I don't have a boar brush but I'm told it's normal and that it washes out after a number of uses. So don't worry. If you want to speed it up wash your brush with warm water and handsoap a number of times or something similar.

Gary,

It smells like wet boar because, well, it is! One thing to remember about a brush, whether it is boar or badger. It's made of hair. So, bust out the shampoo and conditioner and give it a wash or two, or four. Let the shampoo set on the brush for 10 minutes, and don't be cheap. Put some product on there. If you have access to Borax (20 Mule Power), drop a teaspon into a cup of water and let it soak.

The smell will go away, but it probably won't be overnight. Using shampoo and conditioner on it should help a lot!

RT

I got one of those Rooney brushes from classicshaving and it does not have any noticeable smell.

Gary,

One other thing...DON'T put it in boiling water. Hot tap water is fine.

RT

Originally Posted by bigstooge

I got one of those Rooney brushes from classicshaving and it does not have any noticeable smell.

For what they cost, they shouldnt lol

buy a high grade badger brush...no smell and more comfortable on your face...

i have a vulfix #403 and while it is a lower end badger brush ($39.95 from classic shaving) it came with a slight smell. One washing with the shave soap i use and it no longer smells. It is starting to smell like my Sandalwood soap that i use.

I like the Vulfix, it is nice and soft, yet stiff enough to raise a good lather. It is a tad smaller than my other brush (which i broke the porcelain handle to by dropping it in the sink ).

Jmy. Ellis

I promise, that smell will wear off. I have a couple Omega boar brushes, and although I love them, they smell like a corpse at first. It will wear off, though.

I purchased a used Vulfix over on SMF and the previous owner had hardly used it, but mentioned having given it a Borax soak. Lucky for me, the brush came odor free. But I have read many postings about that initial boar/badger smell being pretty bad.

Sounds like the Borax did the trick. If I acquire another brush, that will be my first move.