I have been DE shaving for about 5 years and for some reason never got around to trying Arko. I finally have a stick on the way. I am going to be pretty upset if it is the best soap I have ever used (as so many of you claim) and I put it off for 5 years. Will update upon first use.
My first Arko shave stick is on its way.
- Thread starter Matt555
- Start date
I bet you will love it and regret not trying it before now.. Let us know how you like it..
First off: Hello to a fellow Southern Californian! Where are you located?
Back to the topic: Performance wise, its hard to beat for the price. Now, lets hope Arko has chosen you as one who enjoys its scent! I'm definitely glad it chose me.
Back to the topic: Performance wise, its hard to beat for the price. Now, lets hope Arko has chosen you as one who enjoys its scent! I'm definitely glad it chose me.
It took me 40 years to rediscover DE shaving - and then another 6 months to discover Arko! Both trips were worth it!
~Frank
~Frank
I've yet to try Arko as well.... I'll check back to see how you like it so I'll know what to expect 5 years from now 
.
Ben
.Ben
OldSaw
The wife's investment
Even if it's not the best soap you have ever used, I'm sure it will be the best cheap soap you have ever used.
- Thread starter
- #7
That is what I am worried about. All that money spent on dozens of dozens of soaps and creams looking for the right one over the years. If it turns out this $2 stick beats them all, I will lose it!
I am in northern California.
Arko is a pliable soap right? I can just squish it into a dish? Or do I have to grate it? I don't really like using soaps in the stick fashion.
Smash away
I bet you'll like it a lot.
On the plus side if you don't like it, it works well to take the new paint smell away when you re-decorate.
On the plus side if you don't like it, it works well to take the new paint smell away when you re-decorate.
Good luck with your first use!
I have 3 sticks on it's way. Know it smells like lemonish deturgent but also heard Arko lather really nice.
I got my first one last week and have to say that it does lather very well, and the smell is not bad at all. Certainly not the urinal cake smell I have heard people describe it as. I think it has kind of an institutional smell which to me is reminiscent of the 1970's. I would say to try it as a stick as well. That is how I have used mine so far. Plus it is pretty neat to see the lather appear on your face like magic when you start in with the brush.
Last edited:
My mistake, Im not sure where I saw Southern California. Regardless, HI to a fellow Californian.
Yes, it is. It can be easily smushed into a puck using a shaving mug and a large prescription bottle. As for the scent, if it is objectionable you can air out the puck in the medicine cabinet for a month or so.
- Thread starter
- #16
Got my stick today! Have not had a chance to shave with it yet, but I could not keep myself from playing with it. I cut off a quarter of the stick and squished it into a container. It lathered up just like a soft Italian soap....no problem.
As for the SCENT! Not bad...but not good (it could grow on me though). I don't smell the urinal cake everyone talks about. It just smells like a very, very strong Ivory or Dial soap to me. Don't know why they scented it so much. Whatever though. I will report back after I can get a shave in with it.
As for the SCENT! Not bad...but not good (it could grow on me though). I don't smell the urinal cake everyone talks about. It just smells like a very, very strong Ivory or Dial soap to me. Don't know why they scented it so much. Whatever though. I will report back after I can get a shave in with it.
- Thread starter
- #17
Drum Roll Please!
First Arko shave completed! The lowdown-breakdown
1. Lathers just like an Italian soft soap (I smashed it into a container). No problem. A few seconds and my brush was overflowing with lather.
2. Shaved pretty well! I don't think I ever would have guessed it was a $2 soap. It was slick and I got a good shave.
However.........
I am simply not a huge fan of the scent. It is not horrible like so many people say, but it is just too strong. Like a super strong ivory soap smell or something like that. Why did they scent it so heavily? The scent has stayed lingering on my face after the shave as well, which I don't like. However, I don't like any soap scent lingering on my face after the shave (no matter how good it smells) because I wear cologne. This is why I don't use Tabac. I can smell it on my face for a good 6 hours!!!
Last thoughts.....
A really good soap for anyone who can stand the smell. It would be great for a newb because it lathers so easily. I guess the only downfall is that it does not seem like a "luxury" product because of the scent. But that is subjective I guess.
First Arko shave completed! The lowdown-breakdown
1. Lathers just like an Italian soft soap (I smashed it into a container). No problem. A few seconds and my brush was overflowing with lather.
2. Shaved pretty well! I don't think I ever would have guessed it was a $2 soap. It was slick and I got a good shave.
However.........
I am simply not a huge fan of the scent. It is not horrible like so many people say, but it is just too strong. Like a super strong ivory soap smell or something like that. Why did they scent it so heavily? The scent has stayed lingering on my face after the shave as well, which I don't like. However, I don't like any soap scent lingering on my face after the shave (no matter how good it smells) because I wear cologne. This is why I don't use Tabac. I can smell it on my face for a good 6 hours!!!
Last thoughts.....
A really good soap for anyone who can stand the smell. It would be great for a newb because it lathers so easily. I guess the only downfall is that it does not seem like a "luxury" product because of the scent. But that is subjective I guess.
Similar threads
