Arko Shave Stick

desmoface · Post by **desmoface** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:46 am

I received a stick of this with my Derby blade order, and I have to say, it's not bad - Compared to 'MY' gold standard, Tabac.

Steve

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 5:48 am

Arko is what common shave soaps of generations ago used to be, simple, effective and cheap.

joe mcclaine · Post by **joe mcclaine** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:06 am

Another fan here.

Performance, price and scent are excellent.

I like the happy chap on the wrapper too.

That's me, that is.

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 6:18 am

I agree with Steve, it's "not bad". Mine was about to be relegated to the shower until I decided to create a hybrid by blending equal amounts of Williams and Arko together, into a single stick. Their fragrances are very similar to my nose, and they each perform OK, so the final product is OK and neither one has to end up in the shower.

Mike R · Post by **Mike R** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:01 am

I find it to be a solid performer. Like Tabac, there's a definite division on the scent . . . luckily for me I like it.

The packaging appeals to my cheesy side, too.

Mike

gil3591 · Post by **gil3591** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:20 am

arko is great and very good value. you can press it into shape that makes a wonderful hand soap

Shave4Fun · Post by **Shave4Fun** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:00 am

I really like ARKO...including the clean smell.
I get best results with a rough beard growth and rubbing the soap onto my face while the whiskers hold it for lathering. I grated some into a bowl and it didn't work as well. Don't know why.

Regards,
Roger

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:04 am

I mash it into a cup, bowl or plastic container and lather directly on top of the soap.

LouisIII · Post by **LouisIII** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:33 am

Squire wrote:I mash it into a cup, bowl or plastic container and lather directly on top of the soap.

The barbers who use it lather on it like a puck...but without mashing it. Bit messy. ps excellent cheap/European/tallow/stick. Arko, Palmolive, Speik, Wilkinson Sowrd. They're the best soaps around imo.

Squire · Post by **Squire** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 9:50 am

Palmolive is another good one, wish we had it widely available locally.

desertbadger · Post by **desertbadger** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:24 pm

Palmoilve and Arco are soaps that perform well above their purchase price.

Regards,
David

ShadowsDad · Post by **ShadowsDad** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:56 pm

I have no problem with the scent of either Williams or Arko. Arko is the better soap of the 2 however (IMO). Bought in bulk from Amazon, it's in the same price range as Williams, maybe even less expensive. It's not the highest quality soap, but it's really good for the price.

Arko is a keeper as far as I'm concerned.

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 5:19 am

Arko would be acceptable if I was posted on a lonely island or outpost and was told I had nothing other than Arko to use. I could easily adapt to that necessity, if there were no alternatives.

jww · Post by **jww** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 6:33 am

Squire wrote:Palmolive is another good one, wish we had it widely available locally.

+2 - as I have in the past, I applaud the performance of this fabulous budget soap stick -- it travels with me a lot when I am flying for business. It's reliable -- great lather all the time, every time. And oh-so cheap too!

Bastardos · Post by **Bastardos** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:40 am

I'm half way through a stick of arko gifted to me from a fellow De shaver. Like the OP I consider Tabac 'Gold'.

I hate the scent of arko but it's an above average performer all things considered. For similar pennies a Palmolive stick is better IMO with a better scent.

Moving on I'm about to start on a DRHarris Arlington puck tomorrow, life is too short to worry about the scents & cents of budget soaps.

billyboy · Post by **billyboy** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:31 pm

I keep telling myself I have to put the stick into a push up shave stick container. Arko is a great value and lather. Just hate shave sticks that have no way to hold them other than to unwrap them.

river1 · Post by **river1** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:15 pm

Squire wrote:I mash it into a cup, bowl or plastic container and lather directly on top of the soap.

Yes, I do the same thing and also throw a tube in my kit whenever I travel

Nitrox · Post by **Nitrox** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 4:50 pm

Squire wrote:I mash it into a cup, bowl or plastic container and lather directly on top of the soap.

I also do this and find the Arko an amazing soap. I don't know what all the fuss is about the scent though. Okay, it doesn't smell like 'fancy'

expensive soaps but the scent is pleasant and clean smelling. The lather is what really makes this soap shine.

Rufust445 · Post by **Rufust445** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:38 pm

ShadowsDad wrote:I have no problem with the scent of either Williams or Arko. Arko is the better soap of the 2 however (IMO). Bought in bulk from Amazon, it's in the same price range as Williams, maybe even less expensive. It's not the highest quality soap, but it's really good for the price.

Arko is a keeper as far as I'm concerned.

I have no problem with with the scent of Arko or Williams either. Making something that looks like lather from Williams is no problem for me, but shaving with it is a problem.

Arko is the best soap I've tried by itself so far. Williams laced with KMF unscented and whipped up in a bowl is one of the best lathers I've tried, period.

melyus · Post by **melyus** » Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:33 am

Arko ,Arko, Arko little traditional Turkish shave stick
cheap and effective soap..