Arko, how do you stand it?

[Face&Head]

A kindly vendor threw a gratis stick of Arko in an order he shipped to me recently. Unfortunately, I already had the "urinal cake" aroma association in my head when I started to face lather with it in the shower this morning. I have no idea how it lathers or performs as i couldn't wash it off may face soon enough; I still have that hideous smell in my nose. I quickly rinsed my brush 3X and grabbed a tube of Spieck (the only thing I had in the shower at the time) to get the job done. I know some guys love it and it's certainly inexpensive, but I think, like haggis, it must be an acquired taste.

[mmack66]

For me, the performance more than makes up for the strong soap smell. Plus, I bought 15 sticks for less that what a lot of other soaps cost for 1 puck.

[rockviper]

I took my Arko stick on vacation with me to Panama at the start of the month. SWMBO had no preconceived ideas about it said "nice" one morning when I was shaving. That was her first exposure to it.
Some folks don't alike the scent and let it "air out" elsewhere in the house for a few weeks. It lathers very easily but like many things here, it's a YMMY product.

[AndreasDK]

I prefer it to my MWF.

[PavlovsDog]

I can't stand the putrid stench. Others have claimed the smell settles down once it's been open a while, but I just can't see how it could improve enough to become acceptable.

Sure it's dirt cheap and it lathers well, but the other 14 soaps and creams I own lather well also but also smell nice when I'm shaving.

I would have tossed it by now, but since there are plenty out there that seem to like it, I will probably give it away to someone eventually.

People will talk about price, but without seeming flippant, I'd sooner pay the price for a better scent. Even my most expensive cream purchase to date (T&H Grafton) probably works out to be better value on a 'per shave' basis, than the canned foams I used for many years prior to discovering the joys of Traditional Shaving products.

[greenhorn]

on its end.with a 4711 chaser.

[vegaskid74]

As "Rainman" said to Charlie in the phone booth regarding a stench of another sort, "I don't mind it." Let it air out a bit and you're left with a mild soapy smell and performance on par with most quality soaps at a tiny fraction of the cost.

[desmoface]

The fragrance is nothing to write home about, but it does perform suprisingly well. I also bought a box of the stuff, just can't argue with it's performance.

Steve

[PavlovsDog]

But is the performance that much better than something else that does smell good?

[vegaskid74]

But is the performance that much better than something else that does smell good?

No, but as noted, Arko performs on par with soaps costing 10-20x as much. The scent isn't its strong suit, but if allowed to mellow, it isn't half bad either. Oh, and like another fellow mentioned, you'll get better lather quicker with Arko than the mighty "Fat" (MWF). If Arko smelled like MWF, I'd use nothing else at any price.

[atison]

Please don't let the scent stories on here keep you from trying this soap. I may have gotten an "aired out" stick, but I find nothing offensive to the tone of what others are saying. All I smell is a faint ivory soap scent. Worst case if I am wrong and a "fresh" stick smells like your ears deep into a urinal, then just let it sit in your garage for a week.

Truly great soap with such a nice light clean smell from my experience.

[Face&Head]

No, but as noted, Arko performs on par with soaps costing 10-20x as much. The scent isn't its strong suit, but if allowed to mellow, it isn't half bad either. Oh, and like another fellow mentioned, you'll get better lather quicker with Arko than the mighty "Fat" (MWF). If Arko smelled like MWF, I'd use nothing else at any price.

Well as my Grandfather used to say I'm an "altakaka" (Yiddish for "old fart") and I just don't think I've got enough years left for that stick to mellow enough for me to give it a 2nd try. To show my love, I'm planning on giving it to my son without explanation.

[desmoface]

Well, yes, for me anyway. For me, it performs better than Floris and D.R. Harris soaps, both of which aggrivate my skin. They sure smell better than Arko, but light my face up good.

Steve

But is the performance that much better than something else that does smell good?

[gsurko]

I think Arko smells fine. To me it smells of a great shave.

[demaro]

I don't think it smeels bad. It smells like ivory soap and lemon pez mixed together

[jamesspo]

To each his own. I totally dig the scent. It's very calming/pleasing to me. I keep a stick at my desk to take an occasional wiff when I need some stress relief . I think reactions to smells are highly varied across individuals. I know a person that *loves* the smell of skunk - no kidding.

[vegaskid74]

Well as my Grandfather used to say I'm an "altakaka" (Yiddish for "old fart") and I just don't think I've got enough years left for that stick to mellow enough for me to give it a 2nd try. To show my love, I'm planning on giving it to my son without explanation.

And as my grandfather used to say, "Suit yourself." That and "Shut up and sit down kid." They sure don't make grandfathers like they used to. My kids love going to grandpa's house because they get treats and loose rules. My grandfather was a good man who took me fishing and such, but I never doubted that he could still get the belt off in a hurry if need be.

[Rufust445]

This morning's shave was a quickie just to get through the day with a Schick twin blade disposable. What made it a CCS was the Arko stick.

Even now, sometime after the shave, I can detect a hint of Arko when I cup my hand to my face and nose. It masks the oh-so subtle scent of Nivea ASB, but is certainly tolerable, and detectable only when I cup my hand to my face.

Cheap and effective, that's my kind of product. Same goes for the Schick twin blade disposables, <10¢ per razor with coupon. I think the Arko stick can make almost any razor/blade effective.

[rearviewmirror]

I stand it by wrapping it in a plastic bag and then throwing the bag in the garbage.

[talibeard]

Actually I like the scent a lot. YMMV and all but there are enough good soaps out there with different scents so just pick another!