Wednesday's Shave GEM Heavy Flat Top (G-Bar) GEM S/S PTFE Omega 10066 Boar Arko Shaving Soap Dickinson's Witch Hazel Clubman Special Reserve When you need excellent bang for your buck, Arko delivers in spades. The scent is subjective, but I find it pleasant and the lather just plain works. Two passes with the GEM Heavy Flat Top provided an uber comfortable and efficient shave this morning. After a plentiful splash of the Special Reserve, I was set to go for the day.
Thank you, Joe! After I saw your post last night, it reminded me that I haven't used Arko in a while.
Cheaper handle used on the Trafalgar line maybe? Since you own brushes from both lines, I thought I'd ask. Nothing I have found online gives any account of the differences.
I think part of it is the handle. I also think the Trafalgar line allows Simpson to have a line of less expensive synthetic brushes without hurting its regular line. Either way the T3 is one of my favorite brushes. You've inspired me to break it out next week.
Love the look of the G-Bar, Andrew. It seems to be in great shape. I agree with you about the Arko- yes, the scent is 'subjective'...
I happen to have both lines as well, Andrew, and I would agree with Clint's opinion completely. I also have the T2 (as opposed to the T3) and find it a less dense knot than the CH2, fwiw. The Trafalgar is a better 'deal', the CH2 has the much more sophisticated resin pours and the iconic lettering. Mine is just the basic Simpson 'Ivory', though.
To be honest, I definitely prefer both L'Orange Noir and Platinum to the American Blend. American Blend was Fine's first (and to many their signature) scent. It is a dupe of YSL's Rive Gauche and has many, many fans. It is a fave of @PLAla's for sure. I find it to be a pleasant, powdery barbershopish scent. Others can probably describe it better than that!
