Ida's Soap Box

Essential oils are temperamental to work under any circumstance. While a natural essential oil scent blend may change a bit when combined with virgin oils in a cream, these blends are especially unpredictable when making cold processed natural soap. Why doesn't my new soap bar smell the same as the last one? After all my years of soapmaking in never ceases to amaze me just how much the actual soapmaking process changes the scent of an essential oil blend.

Somehow natural bar soap has come under fire as being a source of bacteria. Although sharing a bar of soap with your family may seem to be less hygienic than liquid soap, is that really true? As you place your soap bar under the faucet to create lather, you are actually cleaning the surface of the soap. How often do you clean the top of your liquid soap dispenser?

A facial cleansing oil is a gentle way to dissolve away all the dirty skin oil that has combined with bacteria, makeup, dead skin cells and other debris from your face and replenish it with clean, nourishing oils that help balance the skin’s natural oils.

Every few months we receive an email questioning the origin of the name of our company. We often receive a question like, “why did you give your company such a sad name?” So . . . why did we name our company "Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve?" The majestic beauty of the nature that surrounds me in the Chagrin Valley was and continues to be, my inspiration for "all things natural."