Thread: New favorite shaving soap

Originally Posted by evnpar

I wish that it were "lemony," as I really enjoy the natural scent of lemon. Arco has a chemical, artificial scent, more like household cleaners. I prefer to not shave with anything that smells chemical, although some of the newer AOS creams I've tried have a "chemical" scent, which is probably why Obie doesn't care for AOS Oud. However, the only thing of importance is that we enjoy our shave, and Arco is certainly a terrific soap for someone on a limited budget or new to wet shaving.

Yes, there certainly are many interpretations of the same scent and people have their preferences in that. Yes, enjoyment of the shave is what counts. I always have Arko in my rotation of soaps/creams as a reminder not to get too carried away with high end soaps/creams. Same goes for using my well broke in inexpensive Omega boar brush. Helps keep me grounded.

Bob

Aloha!

Arko is one of my "travel" soaps. I have one of those over-priced plastic twist-up tubes from Amazon filled with an Arko stick and it goes with me to hotel rooms worldwide. Don't ever seem to use it at home. Too many other soaps to use when in home-base.

Some say they can't abide the lemon scent but I never had an issue with it. And the suds are good. I might prefer Palmolive stick to Arko ever so slightly, but they are really both about the same. You can't argue with the price. My grandfather (RIP long ago) was fond of any soap that was cheap and made any kind of suds for his face for his Solingen straight. He used to shave Ivory soap into his mug simply because it was in the house and it was cheap. If Arko was out back in his day, he probably would have used it..... maybe. On second thought, probably only if the Ivory soap in the bathroom ran out! The man would pinch a penny until Lincoln's head popped.

-Zip

For cost and performance, ARKO is as good as it gets. The scent does not bother me.

Im going to have to dig in the back of the cabinet and drag out the Arko. Its been a while. Thanks for reminding me its back there. Arko 8s a decent soap IMO. Just the other day i gave the Tabac another try and it went in the trash afterwards. I kept the n8ce glass jar and lid but the soap had to go.
Glad you found something that works for you and xont break the bank.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Im going to have to dig in the back of the cabinet and drag out the Arko. Its been a while. Thanks for reminding me its back there. Arko 8s a decent soap IMO. Just the other day i gave the Tabac another try and it went in the trash afterwards. I kept the n8ce glass jar and lid but the soap had to go.
Glad you found something that works for you and xont break the bank.

Yea, this is where personal tastes come. Me, I loves me my Tabac. Would have traded you an Arko stick for that used Tabac puck.

Bob

Arko my travel choice as well. Don't need to bring a brush, just whip it up in your hands and rub on face = really quick. Add a shavette and I'm ready to go.

A funny note about the scent- my wife that thinks everything stinks and can smell things I can't (like centipedes) actually likes arko and wanted a stick to keep in her bathroom. She thinks it smells like 'extreme clean.'

I think its funny that my attitudes towards soaps have changed over time. I used to be on the hunt for the ultimate soap and all with its luxurious qualities and post shave feel. I have a bathroom closet full of soaps and creams. I have realized for myself that I don't have very strong opinions about shaving soaps anymore. I do however have strong opinions about my edges and shaving practices. I don't have sensitive skin, I haven't been offended by most scents, I usually can get any soap to lather well enough and slickness, cushion, glide and all that jazz for me seems to be more of a question of water quantity and quality for any given soap. I probably could slap on motor oil on my face and I would call it good. Ok enough exaggeration. For me its whatever soap gets me from lather to shave the quickest and most efficient way. I don't want to figure it out anymore, is my water good, does the brush stink is it the soap? Whatever. I gravitate to products that are just ready to go through a mindless prep process and I find myself going to the same 3 soaps over and over Tabac, Haslinger and Castle Forbes they just work no questions conditions or excuses and fast. Not to say all other soaps don't have merit many have much more merit some less I acknowledge that. Its just a mindset I have fallen into and that about sums it up. I still like reading reviews about soaps and it does spark my curiosity from time to time but in the end all I have to do is look at my bathroom closet and well you know. So SAD.

Just packed my bag for a week-long trip before reading this and guess what I chose to bring along?--Yep, Arko. Love it on the road. A nice complement to it afterwards is the Arko classic aftershave balm. I'm taking it as well.

Yep, bought a high end soap, for a bigger let down than Williams Mug. But the Williams is still in my rotation, the other went down the shower drain.
Some mighty expensive bath soap...!!
Arko
Derby
LaToja
All good stuff, and cheap.!

Bob, we would have both been beyond the cost of new just with shipping. I thought about seeing if anyone wanted it but then you can buy new for about the same cost. Sorry.