Say hello to those Shave Sticks (All Turkish shave sticks reviewed)

I got a parcel today. I don't order much usually but Shave Sticks are my thing and I would like to try as much as I can. Here's a lot that I got and did not try yet.

Left to right:

• Camelot Classic
• Tweex
• Derby
• Arko
• GZD Berber

Arko is probably the most popular of the lot. Derby is often compared to Arko and Tweex seems to be starting on the market. The other two, I never heard...

The Camelot guy looks pretty shady! Derby is an excellent stick. (To me) it provides the same lather as Arko, but with a much less polarizing smell!

I was thinking the same thing about Camelot. And I thought the GZD was just vintage arko from a time when toothy smiles (and eyebrow wax) were out of style.

I'm anxious to read your reviews.
I haven't tried Camelot, but of the remaining four, I prefer Arko, with GZD coming in a close second.
Tweex is too perfumey.
Jury's still out on Derby. It lathers well, but I'm not sold on the scent.

Luc, I am shocked to learn that this is your first stick of Arko.

Anyway it should be an interesting comparison. Which one is first?

You're giving new meaning to the term "Turkish Delight"
Where did you pick up the Camelot from?

Havent tried half of these, awaiting the reviews!!

I enjoy sticks also, especially in the summer months.

Looking forward to your reviews of the lesser know products

Haven't tried the Camelot,but to get a cardboard carton with a Turkish prisoner taking a shave ,it's worth every penny ! so far I put GZD Berber as #1 out of the others,that stick is bombs away for huge billows of good ,rich ,thick and super easy to create lather,and smells just like arko,the derby smells like arko and lemon...

It's should be a good review IMO... I will try to compare to what I know (La Toja, Palmolive Euro, Palmolive Australia).

mblakele said:

Luc, I am shocked to learn that this is your first stick of Arko.

Anyway it should be an interesting comparison. Which one is first?

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Yes, I had the Arko for a while but never opened it. I've been busy with my vintage Palmolive that had tallow... I have no idea which one should go first. I think I should take some notes and use them for a week at the time to get a good base...

rockviper said:

You're giving new meaning to the term "Turkish Delight"
Where did you pick up the Camelot from?

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eBay was where I got the Camelot. I didn't get it for the cheapest price (I'm sure) but the seller combined all the sticks into 1 lot so it was easier for both of us.

What does Derby smell like?

Phil

Pkrankow said:

What does Derby smell like?

Phil

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Derby has a strong laundry detergent-like scent. But it doesn't seem to fade much with time.
Unlike Arko and GZD which are quite strong when opened, but dissipate considerably after being exposed to air for a while.
They become quite mild and pleasant.

the_edski said:

The Camelot guy looks pretty shady! Derby is an excellent stick. (To me) it provides the same lather as Arko, but with a much less polarizing smell!

Click to expand...

Yeah, he looks like the guy that drives up to you in mall parking lots and says he has brand new stereo equipment for sale.

I've got some GZD on the way. Arko Man is still the best looking. SWMBO says so - so it true. Period!

~Frank

Aren't these all made in Turkey? Are the made by the same company?

Luc,
I bought a similar lot of sticks off Ebay too, and the seller did combine shipping for me. I guess I'll have my work cut out as I test some new shave sticks. I read a few posts saying the Derby performed well, and I already like Arko quite a bit.

Wow, Turkey loves their shave sticks. Funny to see the variations of "creepy lather guy" on the different wrappers.

Luc, I've never heard of the Camelot. Where does it come from? And could you post the ingredients list along with some lather pics please?

And what's the scent of the Camelot?

Here's something to start with... The Camelot shave stick as it seems to be the 'mystery' stick... I can start shaving with this one if everyone is curious. I was going to do 1 week with Arko first and base the other sticks on it to compare as most (except me so far) used Arko.

Anyways...

The shave stick is from Turkey. It's made by Adnan Akat cosmetics in Istanbul (www.aakozmetik.com). Standard 75 grams stick and it's good for 12 months (sure, sure)...


Camelot Shaving Soap ensures a comfortable easy shave forms a luxurious lather.

The ingredients list: Potassium Stearete, sodiumstearate, Potassium Tallowate, Potassium Cocoate, Aqua, Sodium Tallowate, Parfum, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Potassium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Sodium Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Citronellol, Coumarin, Alpha-Isomethylionone, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Alcohol, Citral, Eugenol.


Finally, Here's the stick once I take it out of the box. No wrapper, nothing. The stick is shipped like that in the box (like GZD). It's a bit disappointing to be honest as a wrapper is better than this IMO...


Now the scent... The ingredient list says citronella but this doesn't smell like citronella like Arko. The soap is soft like Arko, I can press it and leave my fingerprints in it easily. It feels like a piece of fat about to melt in my fingers (Seriously). My fingers were oily after I took the picture... It's not that hot here... yet... Back to the scent. There's a bit of citrus, a bit of, mmm, can't put my finger on it. I know that scent... I cannot figure it out right now. It's nothing offensive or too strong. When I use it, the scent will probably be stronger a bit.

No lather pictures yet, I will take some when I do my tests before I shave.