Arko! Possibly the only soap i ever use from now on.

**SilverKarn** · 04-21-2011, 07:56 PM

Seriously, my GF bought me the 15 pack from Amazon for a gift and i used it 3 times so far. First time i couldn't gauge the experience because i sliced some of my lip off, but the other two times i used it was AMAZING.

This is BY FAR the best soap i have ever used, by the time i'm done wiping the stick on my face and building the lather, my whiskers are so soft the razor takes them off easy as arm hair. The smell is not overpowering or offensive, but that could be because my sticks were made in 2009, they may have had time to "age" and lose some scent.

For me, Arko outperforms ALL of my other soaps. And since i have 15 sticks to use, its going to be a long time before my other soaps get touched. I may use my Tabac because i love the smell, but i cannot get a comparable shave with it. If you haven't tried Arko you NEED to find some and give it a try AT LEAST ONCE

Gonna shave AGAIN tonight with the same setup as my last 2 shaves: Arko, Super Adjustable set to 7, C&E BBB, Shark SS blade.

Its like a hot knife through butter!! Its like i floated to a different realm of shaving!!

Still afraid to use my Flair Superspeed since thats what i took the chunk of my lip off with though.....

**delisle** · 04-21-2011, 08:00 PM

Ah yes, I am of the same mind. I have a ton of other soaps that I can't get rid of. I never ever thought I would have just one soap.

**Bluebriz** · 04-21-2011, 08:04 PM

I'm waiting for a stick from Amazon in the US, but looking forward to trying it out!

**Arctic** · 04-21-2011, 08:39 PM

Arko is great stuff. I've got 24 soaps and use Arko about half the time. None perform better than Arko. Few keep up. It's not that it makes lather most effortlessly, that award goes to Provence Sante, but that it protects the face best once made. The way my face feels after a shave with Arko is amazing. Not the same as after a shave with MWF but equally nice.

...Aren't you the guy who likes modern Williams? It's not surprising that a guy who can lather Williams can unlock the potential of the Arko stick.

**cessnabird** · 04-21-2011, 08:43 PM

I have a stick of Arko I have not used yet, it seems to be getting very good reviews here lately. I can't wait to try it.

**Beerman** · 04-21-2011, 09:11 PM

Other than the scent, it's hard to find fault with this product. I'm CONVINCED if they could change the scent to something more appealing, they'd sell a bunch more.

Personally, I don't mind the scent. It's not as appealing as most other products in my rotation, but I don't find it revolting. The quality of the shave MORE than makes up for what the scent lacks.

Beerman

**Skyrider55** · 04-21-2011, 09:12 PM

I was just PIFed a stick of Arko. Thanks Mattymatt. I tried to use it yesterday. The stick seemed quite hard and I couldn't get much on my face. When I hit it with the brush I didn't get very good lather. I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't want to mess with it so I whipped up a bowl of Bigelow. Do you have to soften the soap first? What is the best way to get good lather with the stick? I don't mind the smell but it's not great.

**SilverKarn** · 04-21-2011, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Skyrider55

I was just PIFed a stick of Arko. I tried to use it yesterday. The stick seemed quite hard and I couldn't get much on my face. When I hit it with the brush I didn't get very good lather. I was in a bit of a hurry and didn't want to mess with it so I whipped up a bowl of Bigelow. Do you have to soften the soap first? What is the best way to get good lather with the stick? I don't mind the smell but it's not great.

How hard is the stick? I can mold mine, its VERY firm, but with a little force it starts to smoosh kind of like paraffin wax.

If its hard i suggest possibly putting 1/4 inch of water in a bowl and standing the open end of the stick in it for a bit before you shave.

Swirl the stick on your face until you think you have too much, then try lathering with a semi wet brush.

**delisle** · 04-21-2011, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by SilverKarn

How hard is the stick? I can mold mine, its VERY firm, but with a little force it starts to smoosh kind of like paraffin wax.

If its hard i suggest possibly putting 1/4 inch of water in a bowl and standing the open end of the stick in it for a bit before you shave.

Swirl the stick on your face until you think you have too much, then try lathering with a semi wet brush.

That is the winning formula!

**Hodari D.** · 04-21-2011, 10:08 PM

i signed up for the subscription for 12 arko sticks through amazon. received my first box of 12 sticks today. i decided to stock up on this stuff. it doesn't hurt the wallet and it's really really good.

**Skyrider55** · 04-21-2011, 10:12 PM

Thanks. I'll give that a try next shave when I'm not in a rush. It sure feels creamy. Can't wait! I love trying new stuff. Maybe I mill some in bowl.

**noahpictures** · 04-21-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by SilverKarn

...I may use my Tabac because i love the smell, but i cannot get a comparable shave with it. If you haven't tried Arko...

Arko and Tabac in the same sentence?

Originally Posted by Arctic

...Aren't you the guy who likes modern Williams?

Yes he is

**djh** · 04-22-2011, 03:27 AM

Arko is a great soap- I doubt that anyone would argue that point. The scent is what causes mixed emotions............ but when performance is paramount, it is hard to think of a better value soap.

**demaro** · 04-22-2011, 04:51 AM

I use Arko quite a bit as well. I rotate it with TOBS , DR Harris , and Proraso for the most part. The Arko gives me just as good of a lather and shave as the other higher end soaps. Can't beat the price , either .

**Chadtheguru** · 04-22-2011, 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by Skyrider55

What is the best way to get good lather with the stick?

1. Take all the paper off the stick.
2. Find a bowl.
3. Press the stick down into the bowl. (Use some pressure, it'll go.)
4. Lather it up with your brush like any other soap.

I heart Arko.

**demaro** · 04-22-2011, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by Chadtheguru

1. Take all the paper off the stick.
2. Find a bowl.
3. Press the stick down into the bowl. (Use some pressure, it'll go.)
4. Lather it up with your brush like any other soap.

I heart Arko.

This is what I do as well !! Awesome !!

**SilverKarn** · 04-22-2011, 05:38 AM

Originally Posted by Arctic

Arko is great stuff. I've got 24 soaps and use Arko about half the time. None perform better than Arko. Few keep up. It's not that it makes lather most effortlessly, that award goes to Provence Sante, but that it protects the face best once made. The way my face feels after a shave with Arko is amazing. Not the same as after a shave with MWF but equally nice.

...Aren't you the guy who likes modern Williams? It's not surprising that a guy who can lather Williams can unlock the potential of the Arko stick.

LOL, i completely missed this. Yes i get great shaves from Williams, better than most of my "better" stuff, including Proraso and Tabac.

Originally Posted by Chadtheguru

1. Take all the paper off the stick.
2. Find a bowl.
3. Press the stick down into the bowl. (Use some pressure, it'll go.)
4. Lather it up with your brush like any other soap.

I heart Arko.

IMHO putting Arko in a bowl totally defeats the purpose, rubbing the raw soap on your face from the stick really beats your whiskers until they turn from copper wire to peach fuzz. Then you get the explosion of lather once you put the semi-wet brush to it.

**gsurko** · 04-22-2011, 06:38 AM

I find myself using Arko more and more.I think the scent is just fine.

**bc9** · 04-22-2011, 07:11 AM

I got to try my 1st stick of Arko this week thanks to a local B&B member, I've never used a stick before of any brand.
To me the scent is just like Ivory soap, not a good or bad thing. The lather...wow...slickest lather of any of the of the 1/2 doz or so soaps I've tried!