As the title of my review says, this is a "fantastic knot". I bought this knot to install on PAA Atomic Rocket brush which had been ignored due to the plisson style knot that it came with. Nothing wrong with the knot, but plisson knots are just not for me. I set the new knot at 18mm depth, leaving a 50mm loft and the end result was nothing less than amazing. With the configuration mentioned, this knot provides awesome backbone, scrub, and does not hog the lather. If you have a knotting project like I did, and are considering this knot, I say to you "Go for it". I have purchased some so called "High End" brushes from artisan makers that cost me a pretty penny and I must say, this knot gives those brushes a run for their money. As for the smell, I soak my knots in Dawn dish soap for 10-15 minutes in 180 degree water that I heat up in a kettle. After which, I use my wife's high end shampoo(she hates it) and work a lather with it for 5 minutes then rinse. I then proceed to use her conditioner (she's ticked off at this point) and let it sit for 30 minutes after which I rinse it and hang it so it dries naturally. This process has worked really well for me and the odor is really faint at this point, just be cautious of the Mrs. if you decide to do the same. Happy Shaves Everyone!