Arko Shaving Soap Stick vs Henson AL13

“I understand Arko. Let's address your points: Smell: It's all down to personal preference. I personally don't mind the smell. Plus, it does fade a bit as it ages. Lather: Yes, this is a product best lathered with a brush. If you're having difficulty lathering, you possibly haven't rubbed enough on your face. Arko should be easy to lather. Container: Again, Personal preference. I unwrap enough the paper to shave with before I get in the shower. If the 'Arko man' on the wrapper is not your cup of tea a simple search for shave stick containers will give you some alternate options. I use a vintage metal Colgate shave stick container in my travel kit. You can always mash or grate it into the container of your choice if the shave stick format is not to your liking. Price: I'm not sure what to say here. It sounds like you paid a premium on purpose. Arko is cheap if you buy in bulk. If you wanted to try it before committing to a 12 stick box, the premium is worth it. Right? We're still not talking huge costs. Here in the UK a single Arko stick on Amazon is still cheaper than Proraso. Even if you compare cost per gram. This may vary depending on your location. In Italy for example, Proraso will be much cheaper. Finally: If you don't like Arko, don't buy it. No one is making you. Other shave sticks are available. Other cheap wet shaving options are available as well.”

“The AL13 was my first safety razor after switching from cartridges, been using safety razors for 4 or so years now. The Henson is a great razor IMHO, very mild but with proper technique you can get a smooth shave that is superior to cartridges by a wide margin. The learning curve was steep but well worth it. Bottom line is I would recommend this razor. Build quality is excellent and Henson achieves impressive tolerances. I'm actually thinking about buying the titanium version.”