Ida's Soap Box

Saying a soap is "handmade" says nothing about quality of the ingredients or the knowledge and skill of the soapmaker! Chagrin Valley is not just another soap company. We are committed to healthy skin, healthy people and a healthy planet.

People often ask, "Do you make glycerin soap?" or "What is the difference between between your soap and glycerin soap?" The term "glycerin soap" is a misleading term. All true soap made from scratch is glycerin soap.

Although no one really knows when soap was discovered, there are various legends surrounding it’s beginning. According to Roman legend, soap was named after Mount Sapo, an ancient site of animal sacrifices. After an animal sacrifice, rain would wash animal fat and ash, that collected under the ceremonial altars, down to the banks of the Tiber River.

A quality bar of handmade soap will often "sweat" in humid weather due to the high content of natural humectants. A humectant is a substance that readily absorbs moisture from its surroundings. When natural soap sits out in humid conditions, the glycerin in the soap will draw the moisture out of the air and onto the soap.