Just got my first Arko...what's all the fuss about?

[musicman1951]

We all have different noses. When I was purchasing vast quantities of cologne samples at the start of my collecting I happened upon Eucris - a very popular and well respected cologne. I don't know if it was my nose or the cologne's reaction to my metabolism, but on me it smelled like someone rolled around in rotten fruit, died there, and this scent was produced three days later. It made me sick to my stomach and after trying to wash it off with three different soaps, I actually considered taking a belt sander to my wrist.

And plenty of people like the scent. So we're not all the same. It makes life a little more interesting.

 

[demaro]

Arko is the best value in wet shaving imho. It a hidden gem and a diamond in the rough. Nothing fancy with the scent , just a fantastic lather and an outstanding shave .

 

[LRod]

I love everything about it!
Waited way to long to ever buy it and all because of the "toilet puck scent" comments.
Been using it for like 6 months and it's become my #1.
Now I have a bunch of other soaps & creams that barely get used.
Money wasted and shaving enjoyment time lost!
Just received 2 more pucks today from Amazon!

 

[Doc Dan]

Arko leaves my skin a little dry. I want something that leaves my face feeling good, but not sticky.

 

[ODJ]

Next thread after first shave:

“I have 36 Arko sticks on the way and 50 in the shopping cart”

I already ordered a case of 12 sticks!

 

[PLANofMAN]

You have 'The Veg,' aka Lilac Vegetal.

On some people it smells like gunpowder and courage. On other people it smells like the results of facing gunpowder and courage.

You have Arko.

To people it either smells like a stronger version of Ivory soap, or it smells like concentrated lemon pledge mixed with pure citronella.

I'd rather not smell like cat **** and lemon pledge. And the damnable thing about it, is I'm not sure if it's because I don't have a good sniffer, or if it's because I do have a good sniffer.

 

[ODJ]

I know I'll ruffle some fathers with this one, but I'd take Arko over MWF any day. MWF to me smells like a nursing home.

 

[PLANofMAN]

I know I'll ruffle some fathers with this one, but I'd take Arko over MWF any day. MWF to me smells like a nursing home.

How odd. MWF never smelled like disinfectant to me. More like a powdery lavender.

 

[ODJ]

How odd. MWF never smelled like disinfectant to me. More like a powdery lavender.

Exactly.

 

[Beefdrippings]

Arko (puck) just smells like lemon scent to me. Lemon scented soap. Nothing objectionable to my nose anyway

 

[Doc Dan]

Arko smell similar to Faultless Lemon scented Spray Starch. it isn't exactly like that, but it reminds me of it. Not bad, could be better.

 

[luvmysuper]

Not everyone, but there are a large number of people who perpetuate this "Arko smells like a urinal puck" thing who have never even been within 50 feet of an Arko stick.
If your a normal person with pretty normal skin and a normal sense of smell, Arko is a fantastic soap that does a fantastic job for a fraction of the cost of some "Artisan-smartisan" soaps.
It's a slight Citronella scent that just smells clean, not like a disinfectant, or a urinal puck or furniture wax.
I truly feel bad for folks who have skin that reacts poorly to it, or olfactory disorders who think it smells strong.
I can't imagine anyone who would buy a soap that is advertised to reek of "dirt and mildew" complaining about Arko, but it happens.

 

[Jan Sobieski]

Arko is fantastic (as long as it remains low-cost) and would probably be my desert island soap. The attacks on Arko are almost as stupid as those against Lilac Vegetal.

 

[PLANofMAN]

Not everyone, but there are a large number of people who perpetuate this "Arko smells like a urinal puck" thing who have never even been within 50 feet of an Arko stick.
If your a normal person with pretty normal skin and a normal sense of smell, Arko is a fantastic soap that does a fantastic job for a fraction of the cost of some "Artisan-smartisan" soaps.
It's a slight Citronella scent that just smells clean, not like a disinfectant, or a urinal puck or furniture wax.
I truly feel bad for folks who have skin that reacts poorly to it, or olfactory disorders who think it smells strong.
I can't imagine anyone who would buy a soap that is advertised to reek of "dirt and mildew" complaining about Arko, but it happens.

At least since they've largely switched over to those gel filled mats, the comparisons to urinal pucks have died down. Soon there might be a generation of people who won't know what lemon scented urinal pucks smelled like.

 

[GeronimoWSB]

How does Arko work with a straight? My Tabac is no longer and bought a case of Arko to try, I think it smells like a urinal pick but the first few uses have came out too notch with safeties.

 

[Doc Dan]

How does Arko work with a straight? My Tabac is no longer and bought a case of Arko to try, I think it smells like a urinal pick but the first few uses have came out too notch with safeties.

I can answer that for my face. Arko is okay, but not by any means top tier with a straight razor. It is not the worst, but not the best. I think Proraso super formula is better. La Toja stick or creams are definitely better. However, I keep a puck around for fun. It's not a soap I'd toss into file 13.

It has good cushion and the slickness is okay. Where it fails for me is the residual slickness. This just isn't as good as i want and when I touch up and area I am sure to re-lather or face the consequences.

 

[tyoung]

Arko cemented it's place as one of my top favorites this morning. Slept terribly, woke up groggy and didn't load enough Arko for my head shave. The lather was loose and runny but still provided a crazy slick, comfortable shave. Then proceeded to load too heavy for my face shave and didn't add enough water. It was thick and pasty and still was plenty slick (just harder to rinse out of my razor) I love soaps with this kind of range, anyone can make whatever lather they like and it still works great.

 

[steelwindmachine]

anyone put Arko up against Grooming Dept.?

 

[Herrenberg]

Not everyone, but there are a large number of people who perpetuate this "Arko smells like a urinal puck" thing who have never even been within 50 feet of an Arko stick.

For me, urinal puck was a considered conclusion, but it was also hyperbole. Not exact, but at least a second-cousin relationship to truth.

The most accurate description I can make of Arko scent, for my perceptions, is "dollar store citronella candle."

 

[luvmysuper]

For me, urinal puck was a considered conclusion, but it was also hyperbole. Not exact, but at least a second-cousin relationship to truth.

The most accurate description I can make of Arko scent, for my perceptions, is "dollar store citronella candle."

It absolutely has a citronella thing going. Some folks say it smells like Ivory Soap, and I don't get that sense at all.