The William Marvy Company started in business producing barber shop poles; they still do, they're the only company in America that still does. In the 60s, they started to introduce barbershop supplies, like Mar-V-cide (the blue sanitizer that copies Barbicide). Today, the also sell mugs, brushes, etc. They put their name on it, but it's a genuine Omega product. The amount of smell and the length of the smell on a natural brush really is a YMMV thing in two respects; first, some smell worse than others. Second, some people are more vocal complaining about it than others. I have over 100 bristle brushes at this time, and the most foul brush I have ever used was the 'Disco' brush from India; that took about 5 latherings to get under control. By "under control" I mean that there was no discernable scent that I could make out when I lathered it up on my face. I find that an Arko stick molded into a puck is the most effective smell remover there is. Respectfully, people who say they've had a brush for weeks and it still stinks should maybe consider no longer sniffing their brush. Just an idea.
Thanks Zach, I didn't know that about the Marvy brushes. I have never had a bad smelling brush, and after a few uses my brushes smell like soap. Maybe I am jinxing myself and then next one will be a real stinker, but I have been lucky so far. In regards to VDH. I have one that goes through shedding periods. Due to that, it has never been my main brush, but sometimes I go back to it to experiment with lathering techniques. It may go 5-6 lather batches without losing a hair and then lose several hairs each time I make lather for a while.
