Any Omega brush users? I might need some help here...

[milli]

I recently purchased an Omega #10048. I've been reading plenty of reviews on Omega brushes and almost all are very positive. I do really think the Pro 48 is a very nice brush for a measly $15. I'm just wondering...ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE SO FOUL-SMELLING?!! Dear Lord is it ever a funky brush... I know it's boar hair, but it smells like someone dragged a pig carcass out of a chemical sludge pool, yanked hair out of it's ass and made my brush with it. What a nightmare the Omega factory must be to work in! I've been making lather and soaking it in hot water for a week now, but it's just absorbing a bit of the fragrance of the cream while still maintaining it's rather powerful, pungent funk. Again, it's a very lovely brush and makes great lather even out of the box, but it REALLY challenges my gag reflex every chance it gets. Do any of you know if this degree of stink is normal? Any suggestions as to how to combat said nostril-stinging stench? Thanks a bunch!

[Prof. Moriarty]

Whip up a lather several times with your shaving soap/cream is one way as far as I know. Read this thread it will help you out:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/267309-Boar-Brush-smells-like?highlight=removing+smell+brush

And yes brushes made from animal hair can have a really bad smell to them, it is an animal after all. Stop by and introduce yourself in the newbie section sometime.
Anyways hope this helps.

[ImTheGluestick]

I found that shampoo got rid of the smell better than anything else, including dish soap. Just my experience, though!

[GianquiMan]

LOL...some brushes are worse than others. Good advice above. Keep using/washing it and the smell will be gone eventually.

[johnnypipe]

Warm water, not hot. Mix two parts warm water with one part white vinegar. Let the brush soak in this for about 20-30 minutes. Rinse well with warm water then use whatever shampoo you like and give it a good shampoo. Rinse again in warm water and be sure all the shampoo is out. Shake the brush several times and hang upside down overnight. Then soak it in warm water for about 10 minutes and make a good lather with your favorite shave soap. Mix up a good lather in the palm of your hand to be sure the brush is full of lather. Rinse again in warm water until there is no more soap in the brush. Shake out well, hang upside down and let it dry for two days. You should be good to go.

I do this on every new boar brush I buy no matter what brand it is. It has always worked for me.

[echotron]

johnnypipe is Correct ... It Works!

I did about the same procedure as his suggestion with my Omega and my VDH boars - neither one smelled bad from the first use! (Yes, my nose works just fine!)

[johnnypipe]

This process also works well to clean the scum out of a well used badger brush.

[TCP]

Warm water, not hot. Mix two parts warm water with one part white vinegar. Let the brush soak in this for about 20-30 minutes. Rinse well with warm water then use whatever shampoo you like and give it a good shampoo. Rinse again in warm water and be sure all the shampoo is out. Shake the brush several times and hang upside down overnight. Then soak it in warm water for about 10 minutes and make a good lather with your favorite shave soap. Mix up a good lather in the palm of your hand to be sure the brush is full of lather. Rinse again in warm water until there is no more soap in the brush. Shake out well, hang upside down and let it dry for two days. You should be good to go.

I do this on every new boar brush I buy no matter what brand it is. It has always worked for me.

What he said!

[Comet]

Dawn dish soap is great for defunking

[milli]

Thanks everybody. I'm applying the suggestions. I have had boar brushes before but none from Omega. And none quite as pungent.