De-scent Arko

[es99]

Agree with others that the performance is fantastic. Also agree with others that the scent leaves something to be desired. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it.

I've left it open to air out for a week or so, but the scent is still pretty strong. Anyone tried milling it and letting the shavings air out for a while?

Does the scent ever significantly dissipate?

 

[Foyle]

I don't think Arko will mill as it's so soft. I guess you could try freezing it first. I think it takes quite a bit longer than a week to air out. You could try putting it in a container with some baking soda to absorb it's offensive urinal cake oder.

 

[the_edski]

Unwrap and forget about it in the garage for a month or two is the only real way. Otherwise, love the lather and slowly learn to embrace the scent!

 

[Viseguy]

... learn to embrace the scent!

+1

 

[shave/brush]

I don't fine the scent that bad. I have it in a puck and I left the cover off for a couple of days and it seemed to me the scent was reduced quite a bit. I was disappointed because I like the scent.

 

[rxonmymind]

I left in the garage unwrapped for a month. Didn't help. Pif'd it.

 

[Pudu]

There are waaaaayyyyy too many good options out there to try to make a urinal puc.. uh, I mean a soap you want to like work for you.

Move on.

 

[LuciusAR]

I actually quite like the scent of Arko. It was a shock to the system at first but after a few weeks of usage I came to rather enjoy it.

If you can't get past the smell then perhaps Arko just isnt for you?

 

[Eeyore]

The fool-proof Arko descenting procedure

Open garbage container
Discard Arko stick
Unpack Palmolive Classic stick
Lather away

Seriously, both sticks are in the same price range, and both are excellent lather makers. So if you don't like the scent of the one, pick the other.

 

[BrianC]

What I did with some success was:

Freeze the stick
Mill it into container (don't mash down, leave in flakes)
let sit for about 2-3 weeks and stir every so often

Over a period of time the scent seemed to die down quite a bit and only smelled more or less like....soap.

After that I pressed it into my container of choice.

 

[flutewhistler]

I was able to grate mine using a carrot peeler. I then stuffed it into a Brute deodorant push-up. The scent is still pretty strong, like Ivory soap on steroids. You might want to mix it with another grated soap that you like. For example, I mixed a Palmolive stick with C&E Nomad, and it's wonderful.

 

[es99]

Thanks everyone! I am by no means attached to it... tossed it in with my last order figuring I'd give it a try. I think I have actually come to dislike the scent more over time. It reminds me of the nasty mosquito candles, and maybe if citronella actually kept bugs away for a decent period of time, I'd use it as a bath soap, lol.

It is sitting in a tupperware with a ton of baking soda (i have it partitioned off) just as an experiment. But it is definitely not something I feel the need to make myself love. My palmolive and speick sticks--not to mention Tabac, Proroaso soap, stirling soap, MWF, Cella, etc.--will always upstage it at this point.

 

[bassopotamus]

I've never understood all the fuss about Arko's smell. When mine was new, I just thought it smelled soapy, and now that it has been sitting unsealed for a couple years, it doesn't smell like much of anything.

It is easy enough to grate. I just used the big hole side of a cheese grater, like you'd use for mozzarella.

That said, if you don't like it, there are tons of other good soaps out there, and the investment was only a couple bucks anyway. I think Arko performs well, but there are plenty of other soaps that match or surpass it.

 

[jwilock]

Agree with others that the performance is fantastic. Also agree with others that the scent leaves something to be desired. I don't hate it, but I definitely don't love it.

I've left it open to air out for a week or so, but the scent is still pretty strong. Anyone tried milling it and letting the shavings air out for a while?

Does the scent ever significantly dissipate?

Aweek won't do for any soap. Leave it unwrapped and put it away somewhere, even the garage if you really don't like the smell, for a couple of months or so. It will be left with just a mild soapy scent by then.

 

[jwilock]

There are waaaaayyyyy too many good options out there to try to make a urinal puc.. uh, I mean a soap you want to like work for you.

Move on.

But none at about a dollar and a half per stick!

 

[Mr Moo]

I don't have any comparisons, because Arko is my first shave soap. I've not had a problem with the smell, in fact I had to go upstairs and smell it to remind myself what it's like.
It's definitely more of an industrial type smell than a sexy aroma, but I don't find it offensive, and my wife hasn't made any negative comments

Martin

 

[Quigg]

Unwrap and forget about it in the garage for a month or two is the only real way. Otherwise, love the lather and slowly learn to embrace the scent!

Yep, that's exactly what I did.

 

[Eeyore]

But none at about a dollar and a half per stick!

Palmolive.

 

[Pudu]

True, but that little extra cost can buy you a non-urinal smelling garage for 2-3 weeks.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

..... Also agree with others that the scent leaves something to be desired...

I see your a fan of extreme understatements

Good on you brother that you're giving it a try! I gave up long ago.