Oh boy can Merlin tell you stories on what a horrible monster I am about his lovely, long, curly,haired ears. He has one that since he was a puppy that gives us problems about every 2 months. I now just do an alternating weekly ear cleaning. one week mineral oil and massage it deep both ears, the next an alcahol outer ear cleaning getting the brown yuck out . He has one ear that just forms wax more than the other and moisture forms behind it and causes the infection and smell.
He also is the master of disappering if I even THINK about ear cleaning time. Hides less for a bath. Good luck.