What other shaving soap LATHERS like Arko but doesn't smell like it?

[CoinToss]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I couldn't find anyone addressing this obvious question.

I used Arko stick for my first time today, and I was amazed. I've used about a dozen different soaps and creams, and nothing has lathered like Arko and been so slippery (in a good way). It not only lathers easily, it makes a superior lather. It really made for a better shave.

I don't hate the scent, but I'd rather find soaps that work as well but have a fragrance I prefer.

Arko may be my first tallow-based soap. I'm not positive. Do I just need some other tallow-based soap, or something specific?


--Gerald

 

[VT_Hokie]

Forget tallow. Right now. Forget everything you've ever read where anyone told you that if a soap doesn't have tallow in it, that it's second rate.

I see that you enjoyed the slickness of the Arko lather. You're right, it is very slick. That being said, I can rattle you off a list of at least 10 soaps that will perform at least just as well, if not better than Arko for you.

You like sticks? La Toja and Palmolive are where it's at for slickness. Speick and Valobra make viable alternatives as well, but I'm partial to the slickness of the first two. La Toja is, in my opinion, one of the top 3 soaps in the world regardless of price.

Doesn't have to be a stick? RazoRock Classic, Artisan and La Famiglia series. Calani, I Coloniali, D.R. Harris, Mike's Naturals, MdC, MWF, Cella, all produce a very nice and slick lather for me.

 

[CoinToss]

Thanks for the reply, but my experience differs. Of your list, I've tried D.R. Harris (cream), Speick (cream), and Cella, and none of them made such a rich lather, and I don't think quite as slick either, even though I've liked all of them. The others I haven't tried. I'm most inclined to try the MWF since it seems to have such rabid fans here. The MdC seems over-pricey unless it's "extraordinarily extraordinary"! For richness as well as slickness, any you especially recommend of what you listed? (I don't care if it's a stick.)

 

[VT_Hokie]

If you had trouble getting grade A lather from Harris or Cella, I'm not so sure you'll be thrilled with the fat right away. It can be fickle and tough to get down.

Of the one's that I listed, I would say that my favorites would be the La Toja, La Famiglia, Calani and MdC.

 

[NeverOne99]

Tabac.

Interestingly, this was listed in the "similar threads" section at the bottom of the page when I was reading your post:

What-lathers-like-Tabac-but-doesn-t-smell-like-it

LOL, Everything on here is so YMMV...

 

[nwjs]

Since you emphasized slickness, have you tried the new Proraso? It seems to be exceptionally slick to me. Don't know how else it compares to Arko but might be worth a try, given that it's also lower-priced. Of course, tub Proraso is not strictly a soap, rather a dehydrated cream...

 

[OldSaw]

If you're talking the same price range, then there really isn't any. Try Tabac and Irisch Moos.

I think you are right in wanting to stick with tallow. Generally speaking, in my water and on my face tallow products outperform everything else. So if you are finding that tallow works for you then stick with it.

 

[CoinToss]

Don't care too much about price. (IIRC, MdC is way pricier than the norm. But even, say, DR Harris doesn't strike me as too out of line.)

 

[CoinToss]

NeverOne99's Tabac thread is interesting. I like what ChiefBroom has to say about MWF. It's that kind of enthusiasm that makes me want to try it.

 

[mustaphaturk]

You can try other Turkish soaps like Derby, Gzd, Twex or Camelot. They have same lather but scent is different. I think you will love all of them and they are nearly same price.

 

[Searlands]

MdC is pricey, however I rekon my glass jar/bowl would last me easily a year if not longer. Like Arko, very easy to lather and what a quality lather it is! You can also include MWF, but is more than Arko.

I have not tried Palmolive, but I believe it's priced is similar and it's performance is also similar to Arko?

BTW I'm a massive Arko fan, but also love my MdC and MWF.

 

[Mandina]

Of my 20+ soaps, RRxxx is the slipperiest--more than any other soap, I have to keep grabbing alum block to maintain my grip on the razor. For the money, though, Arko can't be beat (although it sounds as though its Turkish competitors perform similarly).

 

[rockviper]

Easy to answer this one...... Arko which has been left open for a few weeks
(Sometimes simple is best)

 

[mustaphaturk]

there is a review i found new, it may helpful
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...cks-(All-Turkish-shave-sticks-reviewed)/page5

 

[noahpictures]

Tabac
Mitchell's Wool Fat

 

[ImTheGluestick]

I've heard Klar Kabinett comapred to arko, and it's in the same price range/oz.

 

[oc_in_fw]

Speick's lather is superior to Arko, and it smells better.

 

[CoinToss]

there is a review i found new, it may helpful
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...cks-(All-Turkish-shave-sticks-reviewed)/page5

Helpful indeed! Interesting thread, lots of good info.

Seems that besides the Turkish soaps, it's Tabac and MWF that really appeal to those who find Arko's lathering especially good. I've noticed that through lots of prior reading on B&B, as well as on this thread. I guess I should also try a DR Harris soap, not judging fairly based on the creams.

 

[jwilock]

I'm sure it's been asked before, but I couldn't find anyone addressing this obvious question.

I used Arko stick for my first time today, and I was amazed. I've used about a dozen different soaps and creams, and nothing has lathered like Arko and been so slippery (in a good way). It not only lathers easily, it makes a superior lather. It really made for a better shave.

I don't hate the scent, but I'd rather find soaps that work as well but have a fragrance I prefer.

Arko may be my first tallow-based soap. I'm not positive. Do I just need some other tallow-based soap, or something specific?


--Gerald

Try Arko that's been left around for a few months, preferably opened up a bit. Put it under the sink, or out in the garage, or wherever you can so the "new scent" doesn't bother you. It will fade quickly. Then you've got something that performs exactly like Arko but doesn't smell like Arko.

 

[njpaddy]

Don't judge the Harris soaps based on your experience with the cream. I didn't like the cream and sold it but the soaps are my favorites.