Thread: The Arko surprise

Regarding the scent, I don't think this factoid has been mentioned yet in this thread, and may be useful to those considering Arko:

The scent changes over time on an opened stick. The sharp lemony scent fades over several days, leaving that more relaxed, soapy, Ivory-like scent that some describe above.

Some people won't like either scent. Me, I don't mind the lemony one, but I actively _like_ the more neutral soapy one.

Arko is just great stuff.. For the price it's fantastic.. It can b put up against soaps double it's price ..it's lathering it's just amazing...the smell does go away as stated..

I shaved today with my Arko Maximum Comfort 3 from a tube and one of my favorite razors -- a Heljestrand MK 133. The Arko is quite a workhorse: it performs well with different brushes (badger, boar and horse). More importantly, it performs well in arid, Arizona weather. The Arko lathers easily, yet it does not dry up too quickly.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

The scent changes over time on an opened stick. The sharp lemony scent fades over several days, leaving that more relaxed, soapy, Ivory-like scent that some describe above.

As an ivory soap user, it was absolutely the first thing I noticed about arko. "smells like ivory soap". It's a decent soap, though. If it's not lathered enough, the lather can be a bit hollow, but it shouldn't be a big deal because it's easy to drive the lather into the stratosphere with it. There are some more expensive soaps and creams that I like better, but not much travels better than the stick, and it's plenty good and then some for what it costs.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

Regarding the scent, I don't think this factoid has been mentioned yet in this thread, and may be useful to those considering Arko:

The scent changes over time on an opened stick. The sharp lemony scent fades over several days, leaving that more relaxed, soapy, Ivory-like scent that some describe above.

Some people won't like either scent. Me, I don't mind the lemony one, but I actively _like_ the more neutral soapy one.

This is true ! ........I didn't believe it when I first read it but I've had a stick that was opened 2 years ago (a legacy from a Turkish holiday when, like a lot of tourists I bought a shavett with a brush shave stick and bowl) and just opened a brand new stick my mate brought back a couple of weeks ago and indeed they do smell different

For the record I really like the "aged" smell, so much so I have found myself washing the rest of my body with the spare lather lol

Think I'm going to have to open all my stock up and let it mature

lol share the wealth

Originally Posted by mike1011

Ive just had a friend return from a holiday in Turkey, his mission “Acquire a stock pile of Arko shave sticks”. I am happy to report that the mission was a resounding success and I am now stocked up for the foreseeable future Over there is costs about 30p (50c) ish a stick !

I liked the lemony scent but its soo intense to start out my eyes were watery the first two times I used the soap.

Originally Posted by deepweeds

Regarding the scent, I don't think this factoid has been mentioned yet in this thread, and may be useful to those considering Arko:

The scent changes over time on an opened stick. The sharp lemony scent fades over several days, leaving that more relaxed, soapy, Ivory-like scent that some describe above.

Some people won't like either scent. Me, I don't mind the lemony one, but I actively _like_ the more neutral soapy one.

Arko sold for $0.35/stick in Turkey in 2007 according to my in-depth research. I am left to wonder:

1. why is the performance still a surprise; and
2. how long has it been in production?

To me it is a fruity smell and more like the smell of a urinal mint. Not trying to be funny, but that is what I get from it. I don't really mind it and it is a really good soap.

The scent does go away in an unwrapped stick pretty quickly and it doesn't linger around after the shave. I always have one in my shaving kit for travel and I use it at home too.

Will N.

Originally Posted by MisterMoo

2. how long has it been in production?

I'm not sure exactly how long, but there have been cave paintings found of stone age man depicting shaving with a flint blade and a stick of Arko. So it's been in production a bloody long time