Bought as a back-up for the same exact brush. It's that good! With the choice of 2 synthetic, 2 finest badger, 2 silvertip badger, and 3 boar brushes, this is the one that I use 95% of the time. The diameter of the knot, the loft, and the size and shape of the handle are nearly perfect in my opinion. It does come with a bit of a farm-like aroma, but it goes away either with use, or via a break-in process. To break it in, I soak it in a cup of warm water almost continuously for a couple weeks. I remove it once in the morning and once in the evening to rub the bristles against a bath towel for around 10 minutes, replacing the water each time. I occasionally lather up some Proraso menthol shaving cream to help it take on a more pleasant aroma. By the time I go to use it, the bristles have softened up nicely, and the smell gone. The bristles continue to soften up a bit more over the course of the first month or so of use. The bristles provide just the right amount of back bone to whip up a nice lather and provide a good facial scrub. Definitely soak it in warm water for 10 minutes or so before use to soften up the bristles. To further soften the feel, press the brush firmly into your face to flatten the bristles while lathering. The brush is silky smooth when used with a painting stroke. The only thing that would improve this brush is if it had a slightly heavier, solid resin handle, but having one would probably more than double the price. For the price, it's definitely a 5-star brush. Price aside, it's still easily 4 stars! Repeat Italian Barber customer. Each and every interaction has been top notch!
