Cult of Arko

[vferdman]

I just opened my first ever arko stick and WOW, do I love the scent! SWMBO really liked it too. Here's hoping my first shave with it (tonight) goes well so I can join this cul.... Ahem, club :)

If you like the smell of a freshly unwrapped Arko stick consider yourself practically part of the cult. I know of no one so far that has not liked the shave. The initial reaction to the smell is the only thing that keeps some from succumbing to the cult right away. Even those eventually come around if they had at least one shave with Arko. Smell does diminish with time (thank GOD!).

Welcome. Submit your poetry to this thread after the shave.

[Spoonylove]

I honestly don't get the hate of the smell. It smells like a lemon to me, and I love lemons.

[syngent]

K so i have a little problem, i used the arko again today its really good stuff honestly i dont pick up the lemon, well not yet, it drove me nuts the first couple of minutes as i picked something up in the scent that i was familier with but couldnt place if you get right up on the stick i get the soap, but back off a bit and the scent is reminds me of openning a new box of running shoes between the pleather smell and the frsh scent on the insoles, im getting the feeling a scent like this or williams or wilkonson for that matter is like chicken of the shave world, because everything tastes like chicken lmao

[vferdman]

K so i have a little problem, i used the arko again today its really good stuff honestly i dont pick up the lemon, well not yet, it drove me nuts the first couple of minutes as i picked something up in the scent that i was familier with but couldnt place if you get right up on the stick i get the soap, but back off a bit and the scent is reminds me of openning a new box of running shoes between the pleather smell and the frsh scent on the insoles, im getting the feeling a scent like this or williams or wilkonson for that matter is like chicken of the shave world, because everything tastes like chicken lmao

the smell you are familiar but couldn't place wont's be a urinal at the supermarket would it? I don't pick up lemons at all in Arko. I love lemons and if that's what I picked up in Arko there wouldn't be an issue. A freshly unwrapped Arko stick definitely reminds me of a urinal puck. After a thorough airing the smell goes down a few notches and changes character from urinal puck to cheap US soap like Ivory, which although not luxurious or fancy is totally acceptable. My stick just sits on an open shelf in the bathroom half naked. The smell is getting better every day. At this point I am beginning to enjoy it since it no longer associates with public toilets, but rather with a wonderful shave lather. I hope I don't get the urge to shave next time I smell the real urinal puck.

And this is why we have this thread....

[seventhirteen]

I just had a DFS with Arko and a '76 Super Speed. Wow.

[leonidas]

.... below are the ingridents on the FUME tub.... i don't see tallow, but i do see the evil paraben................

cetyl cetearyl alkol, ceteareth-12, postassium hyrdoxide, sles 70, glycerine, aculyn 28, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, allantoin, methylparaben, euxyl-k100, perfume and water

[Buxwheat]

Thanks for the tip that someone posted about using a dab of a cream on top of some Arko pressed into a bowl. I did this yesterday with some Bigelow and today with some AOS Sandalwood. Got all the benefits of the Arko (slickness and great lather) w/o the smell.

[miatapaul]

I have tryed it and get good lather, but I am a bit underwhelmed by it's performance. Not terrible, but not all that. Also I figure soap is so cheap when you factor in the cost per use that it really does not seem to make sense to worry about the price of the soap. I happen to actually enjoy the scent, it is not great, but quite fresh and bright. Better than some more expensive soaps I have tried. So I will stick with my Cella, Tabac, Mitchells Wool fat, and Institut Karite Shaving Soap.

[Jayk]

I took a trip to Mache Istanbul yesterday to pick up a few sticks of Arko. I though it was going to be a cheap trip, but I could not resist a Turkish coffee grinder and Ibrik (coffee pot). So this morning I had my first go with Arko. I was a bit skeptical rubbing the soap on my face, but wow, the lather just exploded right away. Amazing performance and I do not mind the smell(though I will mill it into a dish for bowl lathering) . I am officially a inductee of the cult . Now to top of my morning with some Turkish coffee.

[D.Jackson]

Arko , is tallow based .. Smells like Ivory detergent with a hint of lemon .. Wonderful stuff !!

Yes, this was exactly what I thought too. I opened my first stick this morning. Scent definitely reminds me of ivory soap with lemons in it. I've heard the PEZ remarks too, and I agree. To me, it reminds of those little sweet-tart candies you used to get when you are a kid. The yellow ones of course. I definitely don't hate the scent. It's ok, and doesn't bother me at all, but its certainly not typical of what I like my shaving soaps to smell like. I think once the stick is open for a while, and the lemon scent fades a bit, it will be pretty good.

The shave was pretty spectacular though, I must say. I will have to use it 3-4 days in a row to really decide, but today it was excellent. Good lather, nice and slick, but still has a good cushioning factor. No irritation at all. I usually compare everything to Tabac or Irisch Moos soap because they are my top performers, and so far this Arko performs just as well. If its still good after the 3-day test, then I think I will definitely be a member of the ARKO cult!

[pipskicks]

I am in love with this shave, the smell while not my favorite, is completely tolerable to me and not even unpleasant.

I figure I could cut these up, put some cologne in it, mash it up, and then at least you'd have some other smelling great lather :)

[InHotWater]

I visited Istanbul last summer(my brother lives there). I saw a couple vendors selling Arko, and some other shaving products near the Grand Bazaar. I meant to go back and buy some, but I was distracted by all of the interesting sights, and culture of the city of Istanbul. Luckily Arko is easily purchased in the states via mail-order. I can't really criticize a product that is this affordable, and gives great shaves. I always try to keep an extra stick for when the current one runs out :)

[pipskicks]

I visited Istanbul last summer(my brother lives there). I saw a couple vendors selling Arko, and some other shaving products near the Grand Bazaar. I meant to go back and buy some, but I was distracted by all of the interesting sights, and culture of the city of Istanbul. Luckily Arko is easily purchased in the states via mail-order. I can't really criticize a product that is this affordable, and gives great shaves. I always try to keep an extra stick for when the current one runs out :)

If you want to be cheap they just had 15 sticks for $14.50, I don't have a whole lot of storage room but that's crazy cheap!

[Fingerinsocket]

I received my case of Arko, and boy was I excited. The "scent of shaving" penetrating the well taped box from Amazon. I opened the box to see a big picture of Arko-man grinning, as if saying "Hi Colin, welcome to the new world order of shaving."

So.... I had my first shave with the Arko that has been slightly mentioned in this thread. I opened the wrapper and loved the scent. (though I could smell it through the box) I think I like the scent better when directly pressed against the nose. Then the shave, I think lather bomb is a bit of an understatement. I rubbed the stick against my wet face until a film appeared then face lathered. WOW does this stuff lather. That's why the Arko man is grinning, he gets a better shave than those who choose NOT to use Arko.

Arko is just great. I don't see, or understand why EVERYONE dosent use Arko. I guess its a good thing though, more Arko for me. If you don't like your Arko, send it my way.

If this truly is a cult, which it may or may not be, it would seem Arkolyte would be a better term.

My name is Colin and I'm an Arkolyte.

[liv2ryd]

I just received 3 sticks of Arko from Bestshave.net...good seller by the way. I smashed 2 sticks into a container...I know...heresy...and saved one for traveling. Before receving, I was a little worried about the scent, but I have to say I think it smells great. I can't wait to lather it up tomorrow!

[Haggises]

I am ready to be assimilated, assuming the donkey that USPS apparently put the package on makes it to my house without expiring.

Are there any initiation rites I should learn beforehand?

[7 O Menthol]

I am ready to be assimilated, assuming the donkey that USPS apparently put the package on makes it to my house without expiring.

Are there any initiation rites I should learn beforehand?

I believe a deep inhale of the lemony goodness after first breaking the wrapper is in order.

[Haggises]

I believe a deep inhale of the lemony goodness after first breaking the wrapper is in order.

Based on some of the remarks here, should I make sure there is a soft landing first?

[7 O Menthol]

Based on some of the remarks here, should I make sure there is a soft landing first?

My best honest-to-God description of the smell would be as if someone took some lemon pez and sprayed them with lemon pledge. It's definitely a lemon first scent with a touch of candy and a touch of cleaner.

That being said, I happen to love the scent but it's obviously not for everybody. As others have indicated, you'll be able to get a definite read on the smell through the wrapper once your burro gets here.

Good luck!

[Maxime D.]

As much as I reach for Arko I've started to fall in love with the Palmolive shave stick It's slicker than Arko and the smell is reminiscent of the Palmolive I smelled as a kid.

+1

It's a shame they don't sale it in North America, god bless ebay !