This is the second time I buy this cleanser. I sometimes have a stripping feeling after using it, but it quickly goes away after I use a toner. It doesn't irritate my skin. Overall, I've really noticed a difference since I started using low pH cleansers. It does smell of tea tree, which I didn't like at first but I've now got used to it and it's not too strong. For me, it smells like clean. You don't need much product so it will last a long time. So far, it's the best gel type cleanser I've tried.