I became a Real Gamer™ with Dr. Squatch’s Call of Duty soap

There are few things as synonymous with Call of Duty players as Doritos, Mountain Dew and 12-year-olds swearing at you on the mic. But I would throw something else into the mix: hygiene. While we generally use the term “sweaty” gamers to describe people who are trying very hard to win, the traditional meaning of that word — as in, someone who’s perspiring — certainly could also apply to Call of Duty players.

Thankfully, Dr. Squatch has got you covered with a newly launched line of collaborative Call of Duty products. Naturally, the men’s hygiene company has introduced two moisturizing soaps and two deodorants inspired by iconic Call of Duty characters Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley and Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish.

So, as any games journalist would do, I jumped at the opportunity to sample the bars of soap. And I have to say — I was pleasantly surprised for a few different reasons.

First, though, let me get this out of the way: yes, this is a gimmicky product. I’m no dermatologist, but I’m sure any (cheaper) bar of soap will realistically do the average person just fine. That said, this is certainly a fun and quality product if you’re a fan of Call of Duty — even a lapsed one like me. (I played a lot of Warzone and Cold War during COVID before the world returned to “normal.”)

Right off the bat, it was amusing to see how well the soaps fit each character. For a legendary Scottish soldier known for efficiently cleaning house, we have the “Sarge Soap,” which sports a military green-inspired look and scents of Scottish juniper, pine and moss. Accompanying that is the “Ghost Grit,” a swirling black and grey bar consisting of rugged, earthy scents of pepper, leather and smokey charcoal.

Both soaps are a bit grittier than I’m used to, but I soon found myself appreciating that. And naturally, they’ll feel a bit smoother the long you’re showering and wetter you remain. More importantly, though, I appreciated their usefulness, gimmick aside.

I’ve used them several times now, including, most notably, during a 6 a.m. shower at home before a long travel and event day, and I definitely noticed that it kept away the BO. Compare that to the following day when I used the hotel shower without the COD soap and found myself admittedly stinky by the time I got to the airport after a lot of walking around and sweating.

I will say, however, that I don’t really like the scent of the Ghost Grit. The mix of heavier, more “rugged” smells almost reminds me of one of those overbearing air fresheners you might hang in a car. (And perhaps subconsciously, that just makes me think of sleazy car salesmen.)

On the flip side, I really dug the Sarge Soap. The more pleasant scents are lovely to take in while I’m actually showering, making me more than happy to get any lingering whiffs. Your mileage will vary, of course.

It should also be noted that both soaps come with codes to redeem for exclusive Dr. Squatch calling cards in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. I don’t generally care for this sort of cosmetic thing in online games, but of course, many others do, and these being exclusive certainly adds some novelty if that’s your thing.

Ultimately, though, it boils down to price. You can get a two-pack of the Sarge Soap and Ghost Grit for $21.50, which is slightly more than the $8.98 you’d pay for a normal Dr. Squatch bar. (Given the Call of Duty collab, though, it’s actually not that much of a premium.) Alternatively, you can get Soap and Ghost‘s respective bar and deodorant duos for $27.55 each, or a four-pack containing each of the collab’s products for $52.20.

Since I haven’t tried the deodorant, I can’t comment on that, but I will say the soaps are worth trying if you’re into Call of Duty and are willing pay a bit more for soap. They do actually have some solid tie-ins to the games (especially through the actual DLC) and, most importantly, are quality soaps. While I wish there was a way to only get the Sarge Soap, that’s a personal preference, and you definitely shouldn’t let that stop you if you’re interested in these.

Now, get gaming (and washing), soldier. 🫡

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