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