Shaving stick roundup

Arko, GzD and Derby shave stick are in my lather drawer, being similar and yet different.

Arko is a case of love it or loath it - most people arge that it works great, but the scent is what divide people. Described variously as a urinal puck or natural fresh, the scent do do away if you leave the stick unwrapped for a few weeks. Good cushion and glide, and since it's a tallow stick it's gentle on the skin too.

GzD is for those who want Arko performance but not the scent. A little softer means it's easier to apply, and the glide and cushion is as good as the Arko and with tallow in the mix it too will look after your skin. The scent has been compared to laundry soap though, but it fades quickly once the stick is unboxed - the GzD did not come wrapped in foil.

Derby is yet another tallow stick, and the more costly of the trio. One sniff and you know where the extra coin goes - I've yet to hear anyone liken it to a urinal puck. It's softer than the Arko but harder than the GzD, and like both the Derby creates ample lather with plenty of glide and cushion. A solid performer, even if not quite as good as the Arko in my eyes.

All can be had for less than two bucks a stick at my favourite Turkish Shaving Webshop - the Arko and Derby can also be had from many other quality online stores.

Nice review,thanks

I only know the Arko stick which I love everything about. The scent to me is very nice and traditional.

I love my La Toja stick - great lather and scent - which I originally got for travel. I can't help from using it on occasion at home. Same with my Wee Scot brush I Bought for travel.

Arko, La Toja, Palmolive and Speick are in mine.

I Like (or Love) the Arko scent but then, I LOVE WILLIAMS.

Just bought some more WILLIAMS for 1.29 a Puck.

Preferential Valobra Sir Irisch and Moos.
The current Toja, does not look very good, but lathers easily the best of La Toja, old formulations.

QEDman shave sticks produce a lather as well as any other, and have a wonderful variety of scents.

You chaps and your soaps!
I am enjoying my shave sticks that I have made from the soaps I prefer although they aren't nearly as inexpensive as the ones you mention, Hans!

I am lovin' Speick Stick!

Speick and Arko are in my travel kit.

I'm really worried about all the urinal puck sniffers on here. Next thing you know they will be telling me that my Myrsol Limon looks like pee.

I am not familiar with GzD. Is the an acronym or the name of the soap?

La Toja, Speick, Valobra, Palmolive

---

(09-16-2013, 10:17 AM)schickter Wrote: I am not familiar with GzD. Is the an acronym or the name of the soap?

It is the name.

I'm partial to La Toja, Arko, and DR Harris Marlborough myself...Arko reminds me of summer nights in Arkansas in the 70's - sitting on Grandmas porch with the Citronella Bug Candle burning...I miss ya Grams!

Marlborough's smokiness reminds me of brush burning we did in the spring, and La Toja is just plain awesome to shave with!

I love my Cella Stick (homemade)

I have all 3 of these but my experience is a little different.

All 3 smell very similar to me. It's a lemony, citrusy, citronella note. They aren't the same but very similar. In terms of hardness I rate (from hardest to softest:

1. Derby (by far the hardest)

2. Arko

3. GzD

Like you, I did find that they all lathered about the same, which is really well.

I enjoy all 3, but when I buy again it will be the Arko because of the deals I can get on Amazon.

love the Arko.... +1

I like Palmolive, Mike's, and Irisch Moos.

I have these three sticks coming to me. They are all NOS, but I am going to use them. I'll report on the experiences later.

Very nice, John! Enjoy them, I know I would!

Hans, I mostly turn my sticks into pucks mashed into bowls anymore, does that count?

If so I use palmolive, valobra, speick, arko, and boots.

If I travel I'll take a cream or open a new stick.