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The 'new' Arko (or a variant of)?

Blackie

Blackie

The guy from over the ditch
My brother decided to send me a tub of his favourite (best ever!) soap.
Duly opened the package and found...a tub of Derby soap. Ooooh, Ahhhhh, what the hell is this?
It smells sort of Arko like, comes from Turkey (I guess). Just a plain white round puck of soap that smells like...soap (sort of).
So, it's fairly close to Arko to me. Maybe quite not the original urinal smell that we all know and love!
But, it lathers like a champ. Had a couple of shaves with Timeless .95 OC, and the Blackbird OC using the Derby and it's fine.
Just a plain boring soap that smells and looks like soap. Does what it says on the tin sort of thing.
Gives plenty of slip and slide. What's not to like?
Cheap as too (otherwise my brother wouldn't buy it).
Any of you tried Derby shave soap? It's worth a crack Nigel (as they say).
 
Blackie said:
My brother decided to send me a tub of his favourite (best ever!) soap.
Duly opened the package and found...a tub of Derby soap. Ooooh, Ahhhhh, what the hell is this?
It smells sort of Arko like, comes from Turkey (I guess). Just a plain white round puck of soap that smells like...soap (sort of).
So, it's fairly close to Arko to me. Maybe quite not the original urinal smell that we all know and love!
But, it lathers like a champ. Had a couple of shaves with Timeless .95 OC, and the Blackbird OC using the Derby and it's fine.
Just a plain boring soap that smells and looks like soap. Does what it says on the tin sort of thing.
Gives plenty of slip and slide. What's not to like?
Cheap as too (otherwise my brother wouldn't buy it).
Any of you tried Derby shave soap? It's worth a crack Nigel (as they say).
Click to expand...
I’m told Derby smell better than the urinal Arko stick or tub.

@Cris used his Derby soap on and off, always remind his childhood.

 
I think that @gthomas04 alternates between ARKO! And DERBY. His changeover date is probably coming up soon.
 
rhodes96 said:
Derby for me is " just another urinal stick citrusy scent"
Performance is decent for what is, similar to Arko

Tried it
Better than nothing.
Left it in a hotel room.
Click to expand...

>Left in a hotel room.

Summarises my experience with Arko.

it was given to me by a friend of mine to try, I tried it.. the smell was a mix of urinal cakes and laundry soap.

I re-gifted it.
 
My only issue with this one, as well as Arko, is the post shave feel. Everything else about the lather is fine and I don't care about the smell. If it's a problem, just let it air out for awhile - they're good as an air freshener.

But at the end of a shave, I always feel like my skin is really dry - the soap is just too harsh on the skin - probably the pH is too high. While it's not really a problem if I use ASB, I still prefer to use a soap where this isn't a problem at all.

It's the opposite issue to my other cheap hack - Dove soap with shea butter. There, the lather and shaving experience isn't anything to write home about but the post shave is fantastic... better than anything else I've ever tried. Presumably because it's a syndet rather than a "real" soap.
 
RazorPlay said:
My only issue with this one, as well as Arko, is the post shave feel. Everything else about the lather is fine and I don't care about the smell. If it's a problem, just let it air out for awhile - they're good as an air freshener.

But at the end of a shave, I always feel like my skin is really dry - the soap is just too harsh on the skin - probably the pH is too high. While it's not really a problem if I use ASB, I still prefer to use a soap where this isn't a problem at all.

It's the opposite issue to my other cheap hack - Dove soap with shea butter. There, the lather and shaving experience isn't anything to write home about but the post shave is fantastic... better than anything else I've ever tried. Presumably because it's a syndet rather than a "real" soap.
Click to expand...
RazorPlay said:
My only issue with this one, as well as Arko, is the post shave feel. Everything else about the lather is fine and I don't care about the smell. If it's a problem, just let it air out for awhile - they're good as an air freshener.

But at the end of a shave, I always feel like my skin is really dry - the soap is just too harsh on the skin - probably the pH is too high. While it's not really a problem if I use ASB, I still prefer to use a soap where this isn't a problem at all.

It's the opposite issue to my other cheap hack - Dove soap with shea butter. There, the lather and shaving experience isn't anything to write home about but the post shave is fantastic... better than anything else I've ever tried. Presumably because it's a syndet rather than a "real" soap.
Click to expand...

Agreed!

Arko, derby, godrej shaving round etc are all harsh on the skin due to high alkalinity.

Adding acids or superfatting helps counter this effect but I feel most artisans don't understand the limit/balance...Adding too much just makes skin oily/greasy.

A shaving soap should not be harsh/drying nor too fatty/oily. There should be a balance, which I find is achieved in most good quality triple milled soaps.

This is also why I personally have no interest in chasing the next best soap base, cos they are just getting more and more greasy feeling on the skin.
 
Which shave soap has left your face greasy after a shave?
Curious as I have not experienced a single soap leave my face greasy during post shave.
 
rhodes96 said:
Which shave soap has left your face greasy after a shave?
Curious as I have not experienced a single soap leave my face greasy during post shave.
Click to expand...
He could be right about triple-milled soaps though. I've been really enjoying that DRH Windsor you sent me. It got me thinking about hard soaps, which I hadn't given any attention for a long time. I just remembered this morning, I have an untouched bowl of Czech and Speake Oxford and Cambridge in my soap drawer. About time I pulled it out and gave it a run... :unsure:
 
RazorPlay said:
My only issue with this one, as well as Arko, is the post shave feel. Everything else about the lather is fine and I don't care about the smell. If it's a problem, just let it air out for awhile - they're good as an air freshener.

But at the end of a shave, I always feel like my skin is really dry - the soap is just too harsh on the skin - probably the pH is too high. While it's not really a problem if I use ASB, I still prefer to use a soap where this isn't a problem at all.

It's the opposite issue to my other cheap hack - Dove soap with shea butter. There, the lather and shaving experience isn't anything to write home about but the post shave is fantastic... better than anything else I've ever tried. Presumably because it's a syndet rather than a "real" soap.
Click to expand...
 
rhodes96 said:
Which shave soap has left your face greasy after a shave?
Curious as I have not experienced a single soap leave my face greasy during post shave.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming this is directed at me...

A few that I can remember right now:
Grooming dept
Wholly kaw
Dec. Grooming
Shaving shop/the club
(Haven't used A&E as I don't like overly strong scents)

Surprisingly PAA wasn't, despite the ingredients of CK6. But their scents were just way too much for me!

Mystic water, Mike's, soap commander are some artisan soaps which nailed their recipes and have stuck with them.

They work great and don't leave my skin feeling greasy.
 
nav1 said:
I'm assuming this is directed at me...

A few that I can remember right now:
Grooming dept
Wholly kaw
Dec. Grooming
Shaving shop/the club
(Haven't used A&E as I don't like overly strong scents)

Surprisingly PAA wasn't, despite the ingredients of CK6. But their scents were just way too much for me!

Mystic water, Mike's, soap commander are some artisan soaps which nailed their recipes and have stuck with them.
They work great and don't leave my skin feeling greasy.
Click to expand...

Interesting all the above soaps you mention I use regualry and have no greasy feeling post shave. I guess we can put this down to YMMV.
 
Gargravarr said:
He could be right about triple-milled soaps though. I've been really enjoying that DRH Windsor you sent me. It got me thinking about hard soaps, which I hadn't given any attention for a long time. I just remembered this morning, I have an untouched bowl of Czech and Speake Oxford and Cambridge in my soap drawer. About time I pulled it out and gave it a run... :unsure:
Click to expand...

I bought one of those recently and haven't started to use it yet, that will be probably happen later in the year. I believe they were made by Valobra.
 
Hos said:
I bought one of those recently and haven't started to use it yet, that will be probably happen later in the year. I believe they were made by Valobra.
Click to expand...
That's right, and as far as I can tell, it's the only way you can get Valobra soap now that they've shut down (at least for the duration). The O&C is still in stock at Mensbiz.
 
I have a stick of Derby & Arko, I like them both. I find that they are very similar in performance, but Derby is not as scented as Arko. Both are very cheap and great performers.
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rhodes96 said:
Interesting all the above soaps you mention I use regualry and have no greasy feeling post shave. I guess we can put this down to YMMV.
Click to expand...

I find my skin gets more and more greasy with these soaps as the day goes on.

Milled soaps tend to leave the skin feeling good and it remains that way. No excess greasy feel or oily look.

I guess my point is that we use different products for different purposes so why pay so much extra for a soap base that just adds more and more butters/oils when you can spend that extra on actual specialised skin care products?

For example, my wife uses fancy serums and a very traditional herbal oil prepared in the south of India which is very costly but delivers excellent results.

Shaving soap should give a good shave, have a pleasant scent and not dry the skin. If it achieves these factors, I'm a happy camper.
 
nav1 said:
I find my skin gets more and more greasy with these soaps as the day goes on.

Milled soaps tend to leave the skin feeling good and it remains that way. No excess greasy feel or oily look.

I guess my point is that we use different products for different purposes so why pay so much extra for a soap base that just adds more and more butters/oils when you can spend that extra on actual specialised skin care products?

For example, my wife uses fancy serums and a very traditional herbal oil prepared in the south of India which is very costly but delivers excellent results.

Shaving soap should give a good shave, have a pleasant scent and not dry the skin. If it achieves these factors, I'm a happy camper.
Click to expand...

Depends what you expect from a shave soap and your skin. I have combination skin. To combat this a beautician friend recommended that I always keep my facial skin hydrated after washing/cleansing or shaving.
For myself all shaving soaps no matter how many secret ingredients, leave my skin after a shave under hydrated to some degree. Some do leave my skin feeling better than others. Post Shave I like my skin to feel firm and hydrated .I always use a splash as an astrinegent, and balm/moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated long term. By doing this my skin does not produce excess sebum trying to counter the dehydration from the shaving process. So no dry or oily skin and blemish free.
 
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