Arko vs Mogno: The Konomi Code Challenge
- Thread starter Dovo1695
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- #83
This is really interesting to me, and I recall having heard this elsewhere. It certainly makes sense given it's rectangular bar soap shape. I'm curious if creating the lather in one's hands and then applying to the face is common in Portugal or elsewhere in the Portuguese speaking world? Was this kind of lather making ever common in the US at one point in time?
I thought Linha Granado was intended for use in the same way. Here’s a 2017 mention from @malocchio :
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- #85
Interesting. My theory is that lots of folks used their hands rather than a brush in the days before canned cream. Research time. 
Arrived today have to wait until the FFFMM is over to give it a try...
@RumpleBearskin - April Fool’s Pass is when we’ll both break out the Mogno.
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- #88
You have more self restraint than I do for sure. When I get new shaving stuff I have a hard time not shaving the minute I open the package. Speaking of boxes, I think Ach Brito has some of the best packaging design in the business. The only problem I have is how to print a Mogno sticker for a screw bottom shaving stick. The rectangular design doesn't translate well to a tube; it needs to be scaled down quite so it doesn't wrap around. I need to work on my photoshop skills or find someone good at that sort of thing.
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- #90
Oops! I messed up a bit using the shaving cream as a basis for this label. I'll have to change that. Give me a few minutes.Nice! I've got to head over to Staples to get some more printable sticker stock.
Let's try that again with the proper product type...
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- #93
Beautiful! I hadn't even noticed the "creme de barbear". I would have been thrilled with even the previous version, but this is even better! 
The Mogno. It burned
Seriously? I still haven't tried mine yet. MWF on deck for tomorrow, but I was thinking Saturday would be my first Mogno experience...
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- #96
That's a wicked bummer. Have you identified the culprit in the ingredients list?
Stumped. Will try again next Thursday and see if the extra airing out helps.
The FFFMM finally ended and I got a chance to try my Mogno today. Yea! No burning or discomfort of any kind.
I tried the "hand lather" thing (make a lather with the bar in your hands and then apply to your face) and it certainly worked, but it was messy and hard to "adjust" the consistency. And it felt wasteful since I had to rinse my hands before picking up the razor.
For the third pass I applied the bar directly to my face and then used a brush to face lather. Much nicer. If I had my "druthers", I'd press it into a bowl. But it's one hard bar and I don't know how easy that would be. Might have to try grating it...
Loved the slickness and agree it's on par with Arko. Residual slickness as well, though I re-lathered for each pass.
I am one of those that actually like the smell of Arko (notice I did not say "scent" ), but I also liked the scent of Mogno (notice that I did say "scent" this time). Very clean, but not "soapy".
And the post-shave feel is much, much nicer. I don't have a problem with Arko, but the Mogno felt much nicer in terms of hydration and softness of my skin.
Bottom line: Yes! A great alternative to Arko, though a little less convenient to store and use in it's natural form.
I tried the "hand lather" thing (make a lather with the bar in your hands and then apply to your face) and it certainly worked, but it was messy and hard to "adjust" the consistency. And it felt wasteful since I had to rinse my hands before picking up the razor.
For the third pass I applied the bar directly to my face and then used a brush to face lather. Much nicer. If I had my "druthers", I'd press it into a bowl. But it's one hard bar and I don't know how easy that would be. Might have to try grating it...
Loved the slickness and agree it's on par with Arko. Residual slickness as well, though I re-lathered for each pass.
I am one of those that actually like the smell of Arko (notice I did not say "scent" ), but I also liked the scent of Mogno (notice that I did say "scent" this time). Very clean, but not "soapy".
And the post-shave feel is much, much nicer. I don't have a problem with Arko, but the Mogno felt much nicer in terms of hydration and softness of my skin.
Bottom line: Yes! A great alternative to Arko, though a little less convenient to store and use in it's natural form.
Glad to read your experience was better than mine, Alan.
I’m surprised how many people find ARKO! to be drying. Once I started giving it the water it craves (when it feels like nothing on Earth is slicker, get some water on the brush to mix in a few more times), it stopped feeling “drying” even after bad shaves.
I’m surprised how many people find ARKO! to be drying. Once I started giving it the water it craves (when it feels like nothing on Earth is slicker, get some water on the brush to mix in a few more times), it stopped feeling “drying” even after bad shaves.
I've used Arko, and as much as I enjoy joking about its rather potent and divisive aroma, I find it to be a really good shave soap (especially for the price). However, it is pretty drying for me, as well. Even when I've wound with with really wet lather (to the point where it looks like I killed a soap monster in my bathroom after I finish shaving), my face feels dry and itchy once it dries off. To remedy this, I end up using an aftershave balm.
Of course, my skin may be nothing like yours. It may be that your skin is less susceptible to drying out than mine. That just means you're lucky enough to be able to use Arko by itself without any post shave balms. Of course, that also means you miss out on the world of Aftershave Balm Addiction Disorder.
