2008

Translucent Soap With Democrats emerging from months of political purgatory and President Bush’s approval ratings

setting a historic low, a Boston-based company is tapping into the national political zeitgeist with soaps named Soapbama and

Scrubya to support Senator Barack Obama’s presidential bid and help ‘clean up’ after the current administration.Soapbama

and Scrubya are the creations of documentary filmmaker Kavita Pillay. Depressed by the results of the 2004 election, Pillay

tuned out of politics and spent a winter of discontent focused on an array of crafty hobbies. A soap making class at the

Boston Center for Adult Education lead to the realization that soap was a metaphor for cleaning up. Soon after, a cold-

processed, vegetable-based, politically-inclined soap with the tagline of "Add water, Lather Liberally, repeat till November

‘08" was born. Whereas all Scrubya proceeds go towards ‘cleaning up’ after the current administration, Soapbama was

developed as a way of supporting the Obama campaign. A translucent soap scented with eucalyptus spearmint essence, Soapbama’

s taglines include "The Choice Is Clear", "The Soap With Hope" and "The Only B.O. That Really Cleans Up". All Soapbama

proceeds will go towards supporting the likely democratic nominee as he prepares to take on Sen. John McCain.Pillay began

developing her soap venture in early 2005 but the opportunity to spend 15 months in India as a Fulbright Scholar and another

five months at a film school in Prague prevented her from devoting time to Scrubya until the fall of 2007. Pillay initially

produced the soap out of her own kitchen, but soon formed a partnership with a Washington state based soap maker in order to

meet growing demand. The current line includes three politically themed scents: Neo-Con Coriander (bergamot coriander with

green tea exfoliant), Wake Up and Smell the Damn Coffee (featuring coffee ground exfoliant and a blend of clove, nutmeg and

cinnamon essential oils) and Cameliza Rice (a camelina and rice oil based soap with a dandelion-like essence). Weighing 4.7

oz. each, the soaps start at $18 for a set of three and are available online at scrubya.com.Scrubya proceeds to date have

gone to the Nobel Peace Prize winning Physicians for Human Rights, who have earmarked all Scrubya earnings towards their

Campaign Against Torture. Next up, Pillay is looking to use Scrubya to support organizations involved with gay marriage

rights and environmental advocacy. Having temporarily put aside her documentary career in order to focus on Scrubya and

Soapbama, Pillay is enjoying her stint as an accidental entrepreneur. "I wish that we had had a more inspiring President to

guide us through this moment in world history," says Pillay, "but in some twisted way, I will always be indebted to President

Bush for being a source of creative inspiration to me."