A method for smear-ripening a cheese is disclosed. The method includes a step of applying an envelope on a freshly brined cheese which is in direct physical contact with the surface of the cheese and which is permeable for metabolites produced by microorganisms and for microorganisms themselves and for components of the cheese and for gaseous elements, in particular surrounding air, followed by ripening the cheese within the envelope. A cheese obtained by the method is less susceptible to develop an off-odour after storage in a packaging material, in particular an air-tight packaging material, than a comparable cheese that was not produced according to the above method. Furthermore, such cheese typically contains a residual smear layer of not more than 10% of a comparable cheese.