Ida's Soap Box

If you are asking the question: Do you use lye (sodium hydroxide) to make Chagrin Valley Natural Soap? The answer is... of course. No lye . . . No soap! If you are asking the question: Is there lye in a bar of Chagrin Valley soap or shampoo? The answer is "No."

Are you looking for natural soaps made with real organic ingredients? Sadly, reading labels provides little help and can be very confusing. Soap is a special case when it comes to labeling—it seems there are no rules. The FDA does not require the ingredients to be listed on a bar of soap and these days the word “natural” has little meaning and the word “organic” has been hijacked as a marketing tool. So how can you make good choices?

Truth in labeling is important to Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve. Educated, informed consumers make the best choices. We Make Our "Organic" Soap and Shampoo as Organic as Possible. Since it is impossible to make real soap without lye and organic lye does not exist, there is no such thing as a "100% organic" soap or even "organic" soap based on the three tier system of the USDA National Organic Program.

The versatility of vinegar has been known for thousands of years. The Babylonians were the first to flavor vinegar with herbs and spices and in 400 B.C. Hippocrates described its medicinal properties. From skin and hair care, to the kitchen and cleaning cupboard, vinegar is one of the most useful products to have in your home, especially with the addition of therapeutic and/or flavorful herbs.