Why do some brushes stink...

[coughdrop]

...and some don't? After reading a multitude of posts on this and other websites there simply seems to be no rhyme or reason: sometimes someone will get a brush that smells--& the levels of stank vary from person to person and brush to brush--and then again sometimes a person will get one that doesn't reek at all. And, oddly, sometimes these can come from the same manufacturers! How does this happen? Can someone please explain this 'stank factor' to me?

 

[Leche]

Well it's animal hair. Lots have virtually no detectable odor out of the box but when it gets wet it is what it is. Wet animal hair.

 

[Seraphim]

Some fur comes from up at the front of the badger, and some fur.......

 

[Bloodhound]

I have a NOS EverReady, that came out of the box with a mild musky odor...Then I got it wet!!!! WOW what a stank...I "showered" it 4 or 5 times...it was better but still had a strong smell. I soaked it in a diluted mixture of water and bay rum aftershave...then dried it and have been using it 3 to 4 times a week and it is smelling great...but for a time it was like having a wet pig in the bathroom....NO I DIDN"T MEAN ME!!!

 

[Drubbing]

Some badgers paid more attention to personal hygiene...

 

[Go West Young Man]

Smell is subjective, and this board has it's share of, um, dramatic personalities

 

[coughdrop]

Well, I've picked up a badger and, yeah, it smelled a little--I washed it & it was fine. Some people say they reek. I also have a boar that didn't really smell at all: again, some people say they really stank and some, I've read (like me), found nothing stanky about their boars. Maybe different companies' brushes just stink more or even maybe the brushes sit for a while somewhere, thus somehow lessening the stank? Don't really know; I was just wondering why the wide variety of reactions to the smell? Some seem to and some don't, even, maybe, in the same line, apparently? Strange. Maybe it's as Chris says, overly dramatic people.

 

[Fozz7769]

It is to do with the amount of cleaning / sterilzation or lack of that was done when manufactured.

or

It is the residue of a substance used to protect the brush in storage.

I guess you could get a double whammy & get a dose of both....

Either way, it aint no big. Get the shampoo out....

 

[DESkydiver]

Have you ever smelled a wet dog? That is a household pet, just imagine a wild outdoor animal like a badger... what if it got too close to a skunk?!?

Wet animal hair tends to be somewhat odiferous... put on your nose clip if necessary and wash it a few times...

 

[JCD]

Some fur comes from up at the front of the badger, and some fur.......

TOO funny

 

[Bloodhound]

I have been around a couple of badgers...dead...and they smelled something terrible...we all know pigs have an odor...just takes time for that hair to start smelling good, like the soaps we use...mine smell like Amber, Cade and Bay Rum...

 

[Mad Prophet]

I just got an Omega 49. Lathers like a champ. Unfortunately it reeks something terrible. I tried soaking in in vinegar, but now I have a noisome combination of vinegar and the "original" smell. I've been using the brush with a variety of soaps and creams, but the stench molecules are laughing at them. Anyone have any tips for getting the stink out of a boar brush?

 

[SRock]

Well it's animal hair. Lots have virtually no detectable odor out of the box but when it gets wet it is what it is. Wet animal hair.

Exactly!

 

[Confilo]

...and some don't? After reading a multitude of posts on this and other websites there simply seems to be no rhyme or reason: sometimes someone will get a brush that smells--& the levels of stank vary from person to person and brush to brush--and then again sometimes a person will get one that doesn't reek at all. And, oddly, sometimes these can come from the same manufacturers! How does this happen? Can someone please explain this 'stank factor' to me?

Correction: In most cases the level of stinkiness vary from Badger to Badger or Boar to Boar.
Wetshaver in general tend to be a nice smelling bunch

 

[SRock]

Correction: In most cases the level of stinkiness vary from Badger to Badger or Boar to Boar.
Wetshavers in general tend to be a nice smelling bunch

 

[BrianL]

To lessen the wet dog smell, try using a dog shampoo. You can also just wait it out the funk goes away on its own as you use it.

 

[bhsher]

Some fur comes from up at the front of the badger, and some fur.......

Now, that is funny!

 

[KWyKJJ]

My superbadger was enough to gag over when I first got it wet. I bought dog shampoo with baking soda at walmart and it took the funk right out of it. I highly recommend it.

 

[GoldenMonkey]

Smell is subjective, and this board has it's share of, um, dramatic personalities

LOL...true. Hyperbolists of strong opinions and loquatiousness coupled with the desire to express vociferously...

 

[sproosemoose]

I like the smell of my badger brush, it's smells like a pet!