I always get a great shave with Arko soap and creams! I echo Crackstars enthusiasum..... Pete
Agreed, Arko stick is fantastic. So good and so inexpensive.
The scent won't be to everyone's taste. Out of the wrapper it was even a little strong for me, and I like eating the most stinky cheeses!
It did smell a lot like latrine puck, too much so. But as I'm learning, you can't judge the scent of a soap right out of the wrapper. In some cases, it's like 10 times more potent out of the wrapper than it is after a period of mellowing.
I learned this with both Arko and Tabac. After sitting in my open old-timey scuttle for over a month, it now has a nice, slightly sweet citrus/lemon scent that is redolent of tasty Pez candy when whipped up. Very refreshing and delightful. It's miles from the overwhelming toilet puck scent it had right out of the wrapper.
So if the scent conks you over the head at first, don't despair. Just give it some time in the open and you may love the scent as much as you will love the performance.
Jeff, if you can read this, (since you wrote your last message in 2006) there is a Turkish Barber in Montreal, that uses Arko shaving sticks, (and sell them too) Commando Cream (Originally made for us, Turkish Soldiers) and Straight Razors and Barber Scissors, as it is the custom in Turkey. All their equipment comes directly from Turkey too. The owners (Ali, Alim and Osman) are really good friends of me, just tell them Emir Ali (me) sent you and tell them "Hi" from me if you ever go. (I'm back in Turkey since half a year)
I can guarantee you the best shaving experience you will have in all Canada! As they are very experimented barbers on the Turkish soil already.
They are at the corner of Champagneur and St.Roch in the Parc Metro (I still have their business card) and their number is 514 - 227 5861.
The name of the place is "gold scissors" that is a direct translation of the nickname of a legendary turkish barber of the 50's in Istanbul.
I hope I was helpful.
Emir
it is obligatory to serve in the military in turkey and it is obligatory to shave every morning in the military.
so the arko commando is intended for the turkish soldiers.
I'd say I'm in the middle Arko camp though, as I still can not find love in my heart for the smell.
tryphon, commando's a hell of a cream, but that soap stick is the bomb!!!!! Wait til you smell that clean, soapy scent, and wait til you lather up with it! I use it by placing it in a big mug, and with a brush i just scrub myself up a mountain of lather. I believe you'll love it.
Jeff