I keep reaching for ARKO shave soap

[Z man]

The other day I happen to be walking through my town here in France and stumbled upon a small Turkish grocery store. My first thought was , "I wonder if they carry ARKO shave sticks" You bet they did and for a whopping 2 euros! I proceeded to buy one and I believe I made the best 2euros investment in our great hobby.

The last 3 days I have used ARKO and my shaves have been super. This coming after my disappointing trumper soap purchase. I sliced the stick and molded it into an empty wooden soap bowl. Yes, the scent takes some getting use too but the lather, cushion and glide easily makes up for this short coming. I easily whipped up plenty of thick lather with my duke 3. In fact, I thought I was using a cream the lather was that thick.

The after shave feel is as good as mdc and mwf ,if I dare to say, at a fraction of the cost. Is it because of the tallow? This has kind of changed my thinking. I will be looking into cella, klar kabbinet and artisan soap makers such as tsf and jabonman in the future. The products from the three t's are becoming less reliable and more expensive. In honesty, I have not used D R harris soap in over ten years but is its performance much better than say cella which can be had for a fraction of the cost?

Just some of my thoughts
Wishing everyone a great Sunday
Andy

 

[jansob]

I know how you feel....I love the scents of my other soaps and creams but Arko is just so damned easy to lather and works so well that it's been my choice for a week now.

 

[norton]

The other day I happen to be walking through my town here in France and stumbled upon a small Turkish grocery store. My first thought was , "I wonder if they carry ARKO shave sticks" You bet they did and for a whopping 2 euros! I proceeded to buy one and I believe I made the best 2euros investment in our great hobby.

The last 3 days I have used ARKO and my shaves have been super. This coming after my disappointing trumper soap purchase. I sliced the stick and molded it into an empty wooden soap bowl. Yes, the scent takes some getting use too but the lather, cushion and glide easily makes up for this short coming. I easily whipped up plenty of thick lather with my duke 3. In fact, I thought I was using a cream the lather was that thick.

The after shave feel is as good as mdc and mwf ,if I dare to say, at a fraction of the cost. Is it because of the tallow? This has kind of changed my thinking. I will be looking into cella, klar kabbinet and artisan soap makers such as tsf and jabonman in the future. The products from the three t's are becoming less reliable and more expensive. In honesty, I have not used D R harris soap in over ten years but is its performance much better than say cella which can be had for a fraction of the cost?

Just some of my thoughts
Wishing everyone a great Sunday
Andy

Arko is under-appreciated. Folks like to complain, and it makes for some fun on the boards, so folks beat it up over the scent. I've tried many other shave sticks and Arko is the only one I keep.

Since you mentioned Cella - wonderful performer. Ironically, its the sweet cherry/almond/marzipan scent that made me get rid of it. If it came in an unscented or a eucalyptus, I would try it again.

DRH soaps are among the best - you pay for the advertising and fancy bowl, but they do perform very well, and have great scents.

All part of the fun.

 

[FL shaver]

I'd also put Arko and Cella with Arlington based on performance. Great soaps with pleasant scents. Cushion and glide. What more do you need?!

 

[sychodelix]

Cella and Arko are both Terrific soaps. Don't forget about Spieck and Tabac either. They are both excellent as well and smell terrific.

 

[RedRocks]

I've been using Arko almost exclusively since I was PIF'd a stick back in July! It is not even half way used, but I have some more backup in the cupboard. I think I will try smooshing a stick into a mug & see how that works.

~Frank

 

[mharris127]

I've been using Arko almost exclusively since I was PIF'd a stick back in July! It is not even half way used, but I have some more backup in the cupboard. I think I will try smooshing a stick into a mug & see how that works.

~Frank

I can almost guarantee that your Arko will work even better smushed into a puck/mug than as a stick. If I attempted to use one as a stick it would be smushed in half from the pressure of me holding it.

 

[demaro]

Arko does not have the most refined scent , but the shave and the lather it produces is amazing !! I am also a fan of Cella and Tabac as mentioned above..

 

[Spoonylove]

Its all I have now. One Arko stick. I'm pretty such this will last me till they aren't produced anymore... Then I'll just get another stick from my brother because he bought a dozen.

 

[superkreep]

Arko generates amazing lather. Incredible, wonderful, fantastic lather. It smells like industrial cleaner. For some that is awful, for others it's fine. If you air it out, it's ok. I like it. YMMV.

 

[ustacood]

Anyone want about 70 Derby blades for two sticks of Arko?

Brent

 

[Mandina]

Hey Brent,

While I don't need any more blades, I do have more Arko sticks than I could ever possibly use (especially since they are part of my 20+ soaps rotation--and Arko is a good as the best of them, IMHO). Please send me a PM if you're interested.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Good man, a great soap, and always the one that travels with me!

 

[Der_Kaiser]

I bought a stick a few months ago and squashed it into my old spice mug with the idea I would use it exclusively until it was finished, big mistake! The stuff is indestructible I thought the small stick would've lasted a month at the most but I was defeated by the power of the Arko! Last week I scooped it out of my mug and squashed the remainder into an empty hair wax tub, there's still a fair wedge of it left. I really admire the 3017 guys, I just can't manage it. I'm using Proraso red at the moment but I will make a fresh assault on the Arko when I feel brave enough.

 

[bryan1980]

I normally use creams almost exclusively, but I have about a dozen sticks of Arko. I've also got a few sticks smushed in to a mug, but I actually like it better in stick form, I've found. I used it this morning. I had a few days of growth, so it was easy to load enough on my face. Hard to beat that tallow glide!

 

[Proinsias]

It's lovely stuff.

Hard to justify the cost though, over twice the price of Palmolive here!

 

[infotech]

Just wait until you try the Palmolive shave stick. You might end up late for work trying to decide which one to use...

 

[sulkhogan]

I keep telling myself that I must try Arko, but I cannot justify buying anymore more soaps right now Maybe some day.

 

[redrako]

My first time using Arko was one of those "Wow" shaving experiences. When I used Arko two days ago, it was one of those "Wow" shaving experiences. Over time the strong scent mellows right out, it preforms superbly and is ridiculously inexpensive.

 

[Toothpick]

i just tried Palmolive today, reallllly want to try Arko next. I was gonna post a WTT 20 Astra SP DE blades in the BST but haven't been a member for 45 days yet. I REALLY WISH THERE WAS A SHAVING SUPPLY STORE IN MY AREA!!!!!!!