After a week of shaving I'm glad to say the smell has died down. It's gotten to the point where I actually smell the soap/cream instead of the brush. Even lathering under my nose I just get a small hint of brush smell depending on how heavy the scent of the soap/cream is. Now, after I'm done shaving if I smell the brush I still get a hint of wet dog but it's not nearly as bad. And there's no reason to smell a brush so that's really not an issue.