#11
(This post was last modified: 05-26-2016, 09:02 PM by CrowneAndCrane.)
(05-26-2016, 08:45 PM)Hobbyist Wrote: Getting rid of the funky smell can take some time. My DFS Envy White still has a slight odor after several uses. I have only owned 5 badgers and all had an odor except for my Thater. I assume Thater is cleaning the hair before they tie the knots or after, but whatever they are doing I like it.

Yea, my Savile Row didn't need a huge amount of defunking either. It's always nice when that happens.
#12

Member
Austin, TX
The funk of any badger I have owned is nothing compared to some of the boar or horse brushes I have though...

The Zenith I just picked up from jankdc smelled like a daisy when I opened the box. Not sure how they do it but I didn't get any funk whatsoever. There must be a way, just not enough will Smile

wyze0ne and clint64 like this post
Kevin
#13

Member
Detroit
Same experience here with a Zenith boar. No funk whatsoever!

clint64, ANG69 and kwsher like this post
- Jeff
#14
We need a sticky here on how to treat new natural hair brushes.

Some stink more than others. Depends on so many things, but as Nathan states it's the badger hair farm, that probably treats the hair with some anti-bacterial solution to avoid pest and bacteria. It will vary from farm to farm.

Best advice if you can't stand the smell: Hand lather it in a strong scented shaving soap/cream and wash the knot in a mild shampoo with added conditioner. Do this until the funky smell is gone or at least is tolerable.
Cheers, Claus from Denmark
#15

Member
Toronto, Ont. Canada
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2016, 06:42 AM by Mickey Oberman.)
My son's cat had a violent altercation with a skunk.  The skunk won.
The poor cat could not stand himself and was not allowed in the house.
On Jeff's veterinarian's advice he bathed the cat in tomato Juice.
It took 3 baths over 3 days but it worked.
The cat has now regained his self respect and feline pride.

Do you suppose????

On the other hand I have a Vie-Long horse hair brush that I purchased about 4 years ago.
From the outset I did not like its floppy nature but even worse was its stable smell.
I read that horse hair brushes were made from the mane and tail hairs of a live horse.
Good. No animals killed.
I know very well which end mine came from.

I tried everything including the tomato bath. All that did is make it and me smell like a bottle of ketchup.
I still have the brush it still retains its same anti social characteristics.

Moral - Sniff before you leap. Some things are forever and ever and ......

Mickey

Matsilainen, Freddy, wyze0ne and 1 others like this post
#16
Some time ago I learned about a botanical disinfectant called Benefect. Five to ten minutes soaking followed by a few lathers with Tabac dealt with my most smelly brushes, including Simpson's, EnvyWhite, and Epsilons. I am closely monitoring the treated brushes and after more than dozen shaves on each I do not detect any adverse effects.

Hope it helps!
Alex

Blade4vor likes this post
#17
(This post was last modified: 10-15-2018, 11:32 AM by PrestonCutshaw.)
I am seeing this thing for the first time that people treat hair with some anti-bacterial solution to avoid pest and bacteria. But I think better than using this solution, one should try to stop the infestation of pest so that no pest gets a chance to infect people or even their things. If they suspect the signs of infestation, they should not delay in hiring professional Pest Control Greenwich CT services that will help them to be safe and live at a place that is pest-free and pests won't even infect them as well their products which will stink so badly.
#18

Member
Idaho Falls, Idaho
I LOVE the porcine perfume, equine effluvium, and badger bouquet on new brushes. But moth balls? Nope. Let us know how it turns out for you.
#19
(This post was last modified: 10-13-2018, 04:00 PM by MntnMan62.)
I have two Envy Shave Luxury Silvertips, a Golden Nib Silvertip, some pure badger and four boar brushes, three of which are Omegas. I have not smelled moth balls in any of them. At most it has taken 3 or 4 lathers to make the normal animal funk disappear from all of them. And I have not read about anyone complaining about such a moth ball smell before on any of the 5 shaving forums I've perused lately. So this must be a new thing and suspect others are correct that it has something to do with pest eradication. And since most of the animal hair knots these days are coming from China, I don't suspect anyone will be listening to our complaints about this new moth ball odor. The best you can do is wash the brush in Dawn dishwashing liquid a few times since it is so mild and safe. Then lather up a few times with a strong smelling soap. After that, just use the brush and any odor will likely disappear completely. My newest brush, one of the Envy Luxury Silvertips I just lathered it up once with a sandalwood soap and rinsed it and then started using it. After that first lather I have two shaves with it and I'm still smelling a bit of funk, but not too bad. I'm guessing that after my next one or two shaves the funk will be gone. I'm also happy to say I have finally cured my BAD. I now have no brushes that I wish I had. My 12 brush rotation (4 each of boar, badger and synthetic) makes me happy. It's a nice feeling not to feel compelled to check out new brushes, although I'm sure some fine shaving brethren will show me brush porn that will make me yearn for something new. We are nothing if not enablers for our fellow shavers.

Lipripper660 likes this post
#20

Member
Los Angeles
Every time I receive a new badger hair brush I soak it in distilled water for about 30 minutes squeeze the water out and do it again. Let the brush completely dry then the next day smell it. If necessary soak it again. I have never had the smell problem with any of my brushes.


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)