My wife bought me the same brush. I wash it with Tea Tree soap. No problem with smell and it works well with Route 66 soaps.
Tom, I have to tell you for $15 shipped it's one of the nicest brushes I have. Competition is so good right now we the consumers are winning!! Kerry
My experience is if I am in a rush or not focused put down the straight and pick up another razor. At least it doesn't sound like there will be any scars.
The sad part is there really wasn't any reason to rush. I think that I did because I didn't want to leave my wife handling the baby by herself for too long. Don't know why I felt that way, as she has had plenty of practice, but that is what was going through my head. Luckily, I caught myself before the cuts were too bad. You can't even tell now. I am glad it wasn't a pain stick, as I probably would have had a pretty decent cut on my upper lip.
February 16 Weber Polished Head DE Feather (3) Kent BK4 silvertip badger Route 66 Lumberjack Alum, Thayer's Lavender witch hazel, unrefined shea butter, and Alt Innsbruck
Day 15 - repeater focus The type C2 is the third repeater in my focus and will be using it for the next week or so. Today it was a pleasant 2 pass DFS.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 Soap: Barrister & Mann Bay Rum Brush: B&B Essential Boar Razor: Seyguswith UFO Godzilla Red Bronze Blade: Feather #1 Post: Small Batch Shave Tonic
February Focus - German blades February 15 Razor - Merkur 23c Blade - (3) Brush - BoS Omega 10066 Soap - Mitchell's Wool Fat Post - Cold rinse, Alum, The Veg A late night Happy President's Day. The weekend sale has ended, successfully for me I might add, and I now have two days off to sit and do nothing. Yeah, like that will happen. I started today with the final shave on the Merkur Super Platinum blade. BoSFat for the marvelous lather to start. I ended up only doing two passes today. The main reason was because of the final result the past two days after three passes. No BBS, so I focused on a two pass DFS and got it. I'm also confident another pass wouldn't have improved it significantly to help the rating. No nicks/weepers again but again not as smooth as the competition and just a lackluster performance compared to the two top blades so far. I'll give it four steins since I did get the DFS in two passes. My overall impression of the blade after three shaves is.........ho-hum. Not a terrible blade, but definitely not top tier. Middle of the road is more like it. In the hands of a newbie who just purchased his first Merkur razor and used the blade that comes with it I suspect it can be quite harsh and disappointing. Technique overcomes a multitude of sins in blades and I'm glad I didn't try this one early on. For the "old timers" this is a serviceable blade. Beyond that, I"d pass. 
So, where's Samurai been? Hello 30DC! I have been on a whirlwind tour of the South! Every night. DFS. When traveling, LA Toja. Know this. And all is quiet Callaway County, Kentucky, US of A! Have a terrific Tuesday! Edit: pic is outside of Paris, TN, Monday at 3pm.
Thanks Charlie, yes we had a wonderful day as well. We'll be married 17 years next month. Life is good.
Straights Focus February 16: Homemade PS Oil VDH Boar Brush Mitchell's Wool Fat Ralf Aust 5/8 Stirling Unscented PSB Clubman AS A nice one pass with clean up on the jaw line this morning resulting in a CCS. I am heading back to work after a few days off to enjoy with my family and new baby. The Clubman has me ready. Have a great Tuesday.
2/16/16 Gillette Old Type Gillette Silver Blue (2) Vulfix Super Badger (660) Chiseled Face Trade Winds Georgetown G12 Scuttle Pinaud Clubman Original 2 passes with very nice reduction, followed by some minor touch up with the lather on my face after the second pass. A cool water rinse and a little more light touch up in my problem areas and I thought I had caught the baby. The Clubman stung less than usual today. Chiseled Face Trade Winds provided plenty of slick and creamy lather for the shave and I had enough for an additional couple of passes if I'd needed it. A comfortable injury free near BBS provided by the Gillette Silver Blue in my Gillette Old Type with an assist from Chiseled Face Trade Winds. About 30 minutes after the shave I realized that I could have used some touch up in an area of my neck that I usually have no problem with. I'll put that miss down to lack of focus. I hope everyone has a great Tuesday!