Recently I came across these super cool bath soaps in the shapes of various gemstones. Called soap rocks, they resemble real gem stones in such a likeness that you might swear they were the real thing. Best of all, most of the soap rocks I’ve read about are either completely or mostly all-natural, without harmful additives you’d normally find in commercial soaps.

Soap rocks are said to not only not break, but also not to melt—which is fabulous if you’re used to such things. Even my awesome Burt’s Bees and Lush Cosmetics soaps that I love and adore so much do break down on me eventually; I always chalked it up to their all-natural ingredients and lack of yucky ingredients that hold them together. Not so, says soap rock makers; natural soaps can still be unbreakable and un-meltable, too. (That doesn’t mean that I’ll be giving up the soaps I love anytime soon, however!)

Most makers of these soaps also do not use animal products or animal testing, either. This is important to many people—including yours truly—since testing on animals is archaic, cruel, and an unreliable way to discern the safety of a product. If it’s been tested on animals, not only do we know that the company has no qualms with sewing the eyes of bunnies and baby kittens shut; we also know that the product probably isn’t safe for us, since it hasn’t necessarily been tested on humans. All the soaps are biodegradable as well. (I hope so; they’re soap!)

Though a bit on the high side at about $10 each, rock soaps not only look really fun to use but they’d also make a really great gift. Think about it—using your best friend’s zodiac sign or favorite gemstone, you can pick out the perfect soap for his or her personality, giving an otherwise basic gift a nice, personal touch. You can also go by each gem’s purported benefits or metaphysical qualities—for example, aventurine for emotional healing or monetary gain, or rose quartz for love and harmony. If your friend is big on crystal healing, soap rocks might be the perfect gift to help him or her visualize—or to even simply bring a smile on.

Soap rocks are also scented, so don’t expect plain glycerin soaps (though I have found some unscented varieties for those with sensitivities or who just don’t want to smell like soap). Some common soap rock ingredients include olive oil, lavender, aloe, chamomile, and mineral earth.