My Shofar Smells

[theguitardood]

Smells like ground up bones every time I blow it. Yuk. How do I get rid of the stink?

[PostTribber]

Smells like ground up bones every time I blow it. Yuk. How do I get rid of the stink?

...see a dentist, soon! :P

[Ivy]

Good question! Those things do stink, and I don't know the cure either.

[A_Pioneer]

Sun wind and rain + time, then it will be fine. Not cured enough. Kosher it.

Shalom

[Bananna]

Can they be rubbed with Olive, clove and myrrh oil or is that a bad idea?

[Charles YTK]

I got rid of the smell in my Yemen Shofar in one dose. I have "Holy Oil" from Israel which is made with frankincense and Myrrh and olive oil from the mount of olives (in part). It smells wonderful. We use it for anointing. I poured a few drops inside and tipped it back and forth until the inside got coated. The olive oil base causes it to migrate over the entire surface. Now when I blow it, you smell frankincense. It has been treated only once in 5 years.

[jgonz]

There's a man who makes shofars and None of them smell. He's quite a character (I got to meet him last Feast of Tabernacles :)). His website is http://www.shofarsrus.com/ He prefers that you call him so he can hear the tones in your voice before he suggests a particular shofar for you. He makes them out of all sorts of horns... So interesting!

[Henaynei]

There's a man who makes shofars and None of them smell. He's quite a character (I got to meet him last Feast of Tabernacles :)). His website is http://www.shofarsrus.com/ He prefers that you call him so he can hear the tones in your voice before he suggests a particular shofar for you. He makes them out of all sorts of horns... So interesting!I HOPE he doesn't use cow horns!!!:D

[HadassahSukkot]

LOL.. I'd hope he'd rather use Cowbell...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/antsinmypants/silly%20stuff/animated/cowbell13uz.gif


On a serious note, from his website, looks like these are his specialty:

Ya'akov specializes in quality, handcrafted shofars made from raw kudu (Yeminite), eland, blesbok and gemsbok horns from Africa. Each shofar is sterilized, cleaned, made into a shofar, sealed inside and outside, and tuned to play as many notes a possible for that shofar. All larger kudu shofars will play a minimum of 6 notes and some as many as 12.
You have gotten some good advise Guitardood... the olive oil is probably your best solution, as well as airing it out in a dry environment outside.

One I had purchased (kudu) about a year and a half ago, came and it had a smell to it similar to the smell one will experience when a Farrier comes to visit the stables... LOL (clipped and seared horse hoof)

Airing it out helped loads. Haven't used Olive oil on it, but once I have it again in my possession, I will :)

[ContraMundum]

LOL.. I'd hope he'd rather use Cowbell...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v209/antsinmypants/silly%20stuff/animated/cowbell13uz.gif


On a serious note, from his website, looks like these are his specialty:


You have gotten some good advise Guitardood... the olive oil is probably your best solution, as well as airing it out in a dry environment outside.

One I had purchased (kudu) about a year and a half ago, came and it had a smell to it similar to the smell one will experience when a Farrier comes to visit the stables... LOL (clipped and seared horse hoof)

Airing it out helped loads. Haven't used Olive oil on it, but once I have it again in my possession, I will :)


The Cowbell skit! I love it!

"Guys...I got a fever..and the only prescription is more cowbell!" :wave:

[HadassahSukkot]

The Cowbell skit! I love it!

"Guys...I got a fever..and the only prescription is more cowbell!" :wave:


LOL! Exactly (it is my most favorite!)

[ContentInHim]

I got rid of the smell in my Yemen Shofar in one dose. I have "Holy Oil" from Israel which is made with frankincense and Myrrh and olive oil from the mount of olives (in part). It smells wonderful. We use it for anointing. I poured a few drops inside and tipped it back and forth until the inside got coated. The olive oil base causes it to migrate over the entire surface. Now when I blow it, you smell frankincense. It has been treated only once in 5 years.
Thanks for this tip, Charles. I've got oil from my last trip and we all ordered shofars and they really stink but those who can blow it sound wonderful! I'll pass this tip along! :hug:

[HadassahSukkot]

Btw, for those lost on the Cowbell (http://youtube.com/watch?v=n_PILVkA0MY)comments..--

[Sephania]

Actually I got lost on the women blowing shofars comments......................

Anyway, for that nasty smell, have you run hot water through it when you got it? You need to do that with borax mixed in. What you are smelling is the decaying flesh inside the horn. Also mint oil helps to mask any remaining odors.

Here are some other tips that may be useful

clean UR Shofar (http://www.shofars.org/cleaning_the_shofar.htm)

the hydrogen peroxide one is probably the cheapest way and could be very effective. But the nerf ball and earplug sound like fun too! :)