Review (5/5): ...If Ivory soap and lemon PEZ had a love child
Arko is a great economy shaving soap. The smell was not offensive at all to me and actually has grown on me somewhat since I started using it. I can best describe the smell as clean and lemony; if Ivory soap and lemon PEZ had a love child Arko shave soap would come out. This tallow based soap produces an amazingly thick lather but it takes a bit more work to do so than with a glycerine based soap or cream. While this soap can be lathered on the face straight from the stick that seemed kind of awkward and messy for me because the whole stick got wet so I just cut a chunk off, put it into a shave bowl then lather my brush from there. The price is great and the stick lasts a long time. I award Arko all five stars, 4.5 for the soap's overall quality and price and the remaining half star for the retro, swanky lathered-face guy on the wrapping. In my opinion, Arko is definitely worth a try. For ease of comparison, TOBS is the gold standard I judge other products to due to its feel, smell and value. Arko, despite its wrapping and non-regal smell, shaves as good as anything I have ever used. Enjoy, hope this helps.