Ida's Soap Box

It may seem odd for a manufacturer of “natural skin care” to be asking to get rid of the word “natural” -- but under federal labeling rules, the word "natural" means absolutely nothing because the FDA has never created regulations that define "natural." Sadly, even the word "organic," on personal care products, has little meaning, unless the company has USDA Organic Certification.

The word "organic" should stand for something more than just a marketing hype to entice consumers looking for more natural products for their family. Buying products that have been certified by a USDA accredited certifying agent is the only way you can be sure a company's organic product truly complies with organic standards.

Soap can mix with both water and with oil. Why? The soap molecule has two different ends, one that binds with water and the other that binds with grease and oil. When greasy dirt is mixed with soapy water, the soap molecules arrange themselves into tiny clusters called micelles.

Chagrin Valley Natural Soaps and Shampoo Bars are handcrafted in small batches using the old-fashioned Cold Process Method, which means that the soap batter is not heated by any external means.