In People’s Pharmacy this afternoon I discovered that my neighborhood was, indeed, more than a zip code. It’s a bar of soap. Dedicated to “cleaning up the world one bar at a time” Austin Natural Soap has concocted a 78704 soap “a colorful combination of our most popular Austin soaps – Hippie Hollow, Barton Springs Eternal, Tie-Dye, and Night on 6th.”

Annette Towns has been hand making these soaps since 2000 and sells a variety of of Austin and Texas-themed soaps. The most intriguing is Chili Pepper; the most dubious-named, Cowboy. (Although its description of lime and cedarwood is more appealing than my image of sweat, chewing tobacco, and manure.)

I think I’ve found the perfect stocking stuffer for friends and relatives not fortunate enough to live in Austin. You can purchase the soaps online, through People’s Pharmacy, at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market, or at Austin’s 12th Annual Victorian Christmas on 6th Street, November 25th and 26th.