Special Edition Soaps Fights The War On Con Funk!

While geek culture has become cool (we were all so ahead of our times) there are some stereotypes that keep hanging on. One of them, perhaps the most embarrassing, is that certain geeks just aren't on speaking terms with hygiene. Rather than just sit by in silent embarrassment, or to try and explain to people that not all geeks are like that Emily Hawk and Doug Menke decided to stand up and do something about it.

They formed Special Edition Soaps, and they're sending out an S.E.S. to you.

Yes this is S.H.I.E.L.D. issue soap. There may or may not be a Hydra symbol beneath it...

What Is Special Edition Soaps?

I've talked about S.E.S. before, but that was when they were called Natural 20 Soaps. The short version is that they are a company who makes high-quality, all-natural soaps that come in a lot of different geeky flavors (they're also ideal for shaving, according to this shaving life hacks guide). Do you want soap that smells like a lime and looks like a huge 20-sided die? They've got that. Do you want a Tardis-shaped soap that's all-natural and long-lasting? They have that too. How about an R2D2 that's full of dice?

Yeah they have that too.

There's also hand soap.

So where can you acquire some of these amazing soaps? Well you can go to Special Edition Soaps' Etsy page to browse their archive of great and geeky soaps. If you're not the sort of person who likes to shop online though you can find Special Edition Soaps at conventions like C2E2 (and a full list of the cons they appear in can be found on the Special Edition Soaps blog). And if you have any questions, comments, or you just want more information check out the Special Edition Soaps homepage.

Also don't forget that there's a March giveaway on Improved Initiative! All you need to do is go to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page and pledge at least $1 for the month of March. If you do you'll get the satisfaction of supporting Improved Initiative as well a free book!

Natural 20 Soaps: A Confirmed Critical Against Con Funk

The words "Gaming" and "Hygiene" are not often associated in the collective, pop culture consciousness. While gaming has come out of the basement, so to speak, and is experiencing a lot of popularity now that being geeky is considered sexy, there are still some folks who didn't get the memo. Fortunately there is Natural 20 Soaps, a company dedicated to fighting con funk wherever it raises its revolting, protuberant head.

Yes that is soap. Yes you can buy it right now.

Seriously though, take a look at their Etsy store right here and see some of this. We could wipe out the smelly gamer prejudice overnight if word got out a little quicker.

How It All Began

Natural 20 Soap, which is run by Emily Hawk and her business partner Douglas Menke, was inspired by two, separate conversations. The first conversation detailed a sneaky idea of putting a d20 inside a bar of soap, using it as bait to trick those possessed by con funk to wash in order to get the prize inside. The idea might have died there, except that a customer at Emily's knitting store asked if there was a kind of soap that would wash wool without harming it. Finding no affordable options on the market, Emily decided to produce her own in the shape of an adorable sheep. Along the way she and Doug also decided to take up the standard for hygienic geeks everywhere by bringing us Natural 20 Soaps, which sold its first soap in December of 2013.

And are we ever glad they did.

What Makes This Soap So Special?

Well, aside from the fact that it comes in a huge variety of patterns, shapes, and colors, from sheep-shaped soap and D20s to the stripes of Jayne Cobb's hat (seriously, check out the store!), these soaps are made using natural ingredients. They're nourishing for the skin, they get you cleaned up quickly, and best of all they can be made to one's specifications. Whether someone's looking for a vegan soap, a soap in the shape of a Templar shield, or just a soap that's so geeky only the gifter and the receiver will get the reference, Natural 20 Soaps can make that happen.

This cake is a lye.

With sleek, plastic cases that keep soap protected before it's used, and with new designs always coming out, Natural 20 Soaps has great presents for those who just don't know what to give the gamer in their lives. As of right now they're planning a superhero line up, and there's been talk of making soap with secret messages inside them using water soluble paper. For updates on what's going on with the company, and more importantly what conventions you'll be able to find them at, check out the Natural 20 Soap blog right here!

As always, thanks for dropping by Moon Pope Monday. Know something interesting, weird, or hilarious that your fellow geeks will find too cool not to share? Tell us! Also, if you want to keep up to date with everything Improved Initiative has to offer then enter your email in the upper right hand box, or follow us on Facebook and Tumblr. For those who'd like to help keep the site going feel free to leave a donation in the "Bribe the DM" button, or become one of our monthly patrons by checking out our Patreon Page!