After following the recommendation from other shavers I decided to purchase this brush. I really love it and it has become my favorite brush. The brush is nice and large (good for both face and bowl lathering) and soft yet also nice and firm. Well recommended and for this price it's really a bargain.

This brush is superb against my other brushes. Bristles break-in quickly and an excellent lather achieved.

Very good for everything! Buy it, it's a very beautiful brush, even for a beginner!

I have become a huge fan of the Semogue brushes. This was the first boar brush I have bought and used. Once the brush "broke" in, the bristles were soft but the knot was still stiff. The lather quality using both face and mug lathering was exemplary - very thick and smooth. I easily get 3 passes from this brush and an almond-sized scoop of shaving cream. I don't think the smell of the brush is an issue and generally goes after a couple of uses. I would definitely recommend it.

I got an EJ badger when I started DE shaving a year ago and used that for a while quite happily, although it wasn't quite what I wanted as I prefer to face lather. I read all the reviews here and on various forums and ordered this Semogue 1305 brush back in May. The service was excellent as I knew it would be and the brush looked absolutely lovely. I have used it every day since and although it has soften up quite a lot since I started using it I didn't find it a problem initially. It did have a slight smell which has long since gone and all I can say is this is worth more than the asking price and is a superb brush, I can't fault it.

This Semogue is one of the best brushes ever made if you ask me, when broken in it will be super soft and feel lovely on the face. The handle is great too.

Now I love these Semogue and Omega Boars. But Badger is softer they say. So what? Softer. Are we men or mice (I chose that word in place of others more appropriate in less PC times). Boar works better with soaps and when a good boar, like this is loaded with soap and applied to your face, tell me honestly, what is the difference between it and a badger brush. I'll tell you. About 10 to 50 Quid. This is a lovely brush that only needs soaking in warm water to break in. Its fine with creams and IMHO better than my badgers with hard soap. Its only problem is that the green bit on the handle discolours in hard London water.

Fantastic brush, my first boar too. Great feel and finish to the brush itself, and it lathers like a beast. I would recommend this brush. It lost a star though because it does take a while to 'break in' unlike a badger. Having said that, the price is fantastic and it's worth the effort.

An excellent brush, very soft, breaks in easily, well constructed, not expensive, durable, very nice "vintage" design and made by a very traditional Portuguese company. What more can you ask for.