Stinky Brush?

[pennhead]

I just acquired a Ever-Ready 200 brush. It appears unused, but I cleaned it anyway.

It has a funk to it that I can smell every time I use it, which has only been 3 times now. I don't remember smelling it the 1st time, but have smelled it since. It's not a soured smell... more like a something dead smell... or wet dog smell

Any ideas? It's not my soap, as my original VDH brush, purchased new, has never smelled this way.

 

[alejandro]

From what I gather, if your brush is badger hair, that is normal. The hair did come from an animal and will have a musky scent to it for about a week.

You can help alleviate the smell by soaking the brush in a solution of water and vinigar or borax.

Alex.

 

[strat1117]

I just acquired a Ever-Ready 200 brush. It appears unused, but I cleaned it anyway.

It has a funk to it that I can smell every time I use it, which has only been 3 times now. I don't remember smelling it the 1st time, but have smelled it since. It's not a soured smell... more like a something dead smell... or wet dog smell

Any ideas? It's not my soap, as my original VDH brush, purchased new, has never smelled this way.

That's just what new brushes smell like. You can try shampooing it if you want, but it will disappear with use.

 

[Legion]

I have found that the cheaper of my brushes have had more of the "wet dog" to them than the more expensive ones. I just get some less expensive soap or cream and make a few "practice" lathers with them. This gives them a good wash and also makes me more familiar with the characteristics of the brush.

After a few uses the wet dog goes away.

 

[Venom8431]

Get a couple of dogs that constantly get wet and that smell will never bother you again.

 

[A-Man]

I had an Omega boar that smelled AWFUL. But, like an above poster said, it should go away with use. My face no longer smells like wet dog after about 3 uses

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

From what I gather, if your brush is badger hair, that is normal. The hair did come from an animal and will have a musky scent to it for about a week.

Also true for a boar.

 

[pennhead]

Get a couple of dogs that constantly get wet and that smell will never bother you again.

I've got a couple of pugs who do that very thing on a regular basis, especially during the wet fall we're having. That's how I was able to identify the smell so easily

 

[dpmtherrien]

Whenever I get a new brush the first thing I do is shampoo it, and then use conditioner on it. Do that for a couple of days and that should take care of that funky smell. I usually use tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner, treats the brush real nice too.

 

[The Knize]

The smell will go away and is natural, I am told. I have only had three brushes, all badgers, of various qualities. Only the last one smelled much, if at all. But it reeked.

 

[dog]

My VDH brush didn't have much of a smell to it either. My Omega boar was HORRIBLE smelling. As others have mentioned I shampooed it multiple times before I even started to use it.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

My Omega boar was HORRIBLE smelling.

Same here, sign of a real boar...

 

[pennhead]

Thanks for everybody's input. It's good to know that it's normal, and will eventually dissipate.

 

[whereisandy]

Once again I am soooo thankful for a place like B&B where I can come and read up on questions and/or issues that I run across.

I had just gotten an Omega professional boar's hair from WCS. When I got it out of the box it was fine but as soon as the water touched it the stench was putrid.

It would have been a wet dog smell if the dog had rolled around in some petroleum based chemical for a while. I can only guess that it's the smell of the glue or it's one funky boar that they got the hair from.

I have a feeling that I will be washing this piggy with shampoo and treating it with conditioner for a while to get rid of the reek.

 

[Hudsy]

Glad that I found this thread, I just wish that I had seen it before I used my new C&E Best Badger this morning. I noticed a "dead smell" to it but I like the reference of "musky" better. Anyways, I am relieved to read that it will go away with use. I shampooed it after I used it to help reduce the smell. I may take it and do as someone suggested and practice lathering to help clean it even more.

Learning a lot around this site.

Thanks

Dave

 

[pennhead]

I'm still using the same brush, and today the smell was just about gone. I figure 1-2 more uses and it will be gone entirely.

Thanks for everybody's encouraging words!

 

[mliguori]

I not only shampoo my new brushes and do a handful of test lathers with different creams to get the smell out. Given time it will help.