I've the rare pleasure to be in Ankara for 2 days and it's true that Arko is to be found everywhere here in Turkey. There's the stick at around 60¢, holding its own against Gillette crud, but also plenty of Arko creams and deodorants. I had to hold back and not buy any, since I still have 11 sticks to get through (which only cost me a piffling $1).
But I picked up a bottle of the Turkish classic lavender cologne made by Rebul for less than $5 (also rather pervasive). This stuff is legendary in Turkey, and what caught my attention was an anti-counterfeit badge on the box. Even at this price, there's clearly a counterfeit market sufficiently impactful that they go to the expense of applying anti-counterfeit measures.
Rebul was started by a Mr Reboul from France in the late 1800's and the original store still exists in Istanbul. A great story here: https://www.rebul.com/corporate/products.asp
The packaging has a rather high-end feel, although the bottle itself is a little cheaper looking (especially the cap). But the smell is excellent and certainly gives every impression that Rebul remain one of the few who still uses real lavender.
But I picked up a bottle of the Turkish classic lavender cologne made by Rebul for less than $5 (also rather pervasive). This stuff is legendary in Turkey, and what caught my attention was an anti-counterfeit badge on the box. Even at this price, there's clearly a counterfeit market sufficiently impactful that they go to the expense of applying anti-counterfeit measures.
Rebul was started by a Mr Reboul from France in the late 1800's and the original store still exists in Istanbul. A great story here: https://www.rebul.com/corporate/products.asp
The packaging has a rather high-end feel, although the bottle itself is a little cheaper looking (especially the cap). But the smell is excellent and certainly gives every impression that Rebul remain one of the few who still uses real lavender.