Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?
Posted onThe synergistic composition of essential oils cannot be recreated in a laboratory. Fragrance oils do not offer the natural therapeutic advantages of true essential oils.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Concentrate: Fresh Fur
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Concentrate: Fresh Fur
A concentrated, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar rinse for dogs, infused with organic herbs and essential oils that help freshen the coat, soothe dry or itchy skin, reduce odors, ease tangles, and leave fur soft, shiny, and naturally clean.
$17.95
- Out Of Stock
Product Overview
Raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar has long been used as a simple, effective topical rinse for dogs.
When properly diluted, it helps freshen the coat, calm dry or itchy skin, reduce flakiness, deter pests, and naturally eliminate odors — all while adding shine and softness to your dog’s fur.
Our Fresh Fur ACV Rinse Concentrate is crafted with a rich infusion of organic herbs and essential oils chosen specifically for canine skin and coat care. These botanicals have been used for generations to soften hair, improve manageability, and restore natural luster — and dogs benefit from the same plant‑powered support.
This concentrated formula lets you customize the dilution to your dog’s needs, making it an easy, versatile addition to any grooming routine. Unlike heavy conditioners that can leave residue behind, an herbal vinegar rinse leaves the coat light, fresh, and easy to manage.
Why Dog Owners Love ACV Rinses
- Helps soothe dry or itchy skin
- Conditions and softens fur
- Promotes a naturally shiny coat
- Helps reduce tangles
- Naturally eliminates odors
- Helps deter pests
- Can be used to freshen paws
- Can be used to clean the outer ear flap (never inside the ear canal)
Botanical & Essential Oil Highlights
- Horsetail, naturally rich in silica, helps support strong, healthy fur and adds a clean, natural shine.
- Basil and Lavender, known for their soothing properties, help calm irritated skin and bring a soft sheen to dull coats.
- Rosemary helps freshen the coat, ease flakiness, and add shine. Its naturally invigorating aroma also supports a clean, healthy‑feeling coat.
- Nettle helps keep the skin feeling comfortable and refreshed. It’s traditionally used to support soft, shiny hair and a healthy‑looking coat.
- Burdock Root contains natural mucilage that becomes silky when infused, helping to ease tangles and leave fur feeling smooth and moisturized.
The blend is finished with lavender and rosemary essential oils that support a healthy‑feeling coat, and contribute to a fresh, herbal aroma that helps keep pests at bay.
Do not worry—your dog will not smell like vinegar. The scent fades quickly as the coat dries, leaving fur soft, clean, and fresh.
Important Notes
- Never use ACV on open wounds, broken skin, or highly irritated, raw areas, as it will sting and can worsen the irritation.
- Avoid contact with your dog’s eyes.
- Products containing essential oils should not be used on cats.
An apple cider vinegar rinse is a simple, natural way to support healthy skin and coat as part of your dog’s regular grooming routine.
Soft skin. Fresh fur. Happy dog. Sweet snuggles.
How To Use
How to Use Fresh Fur™ Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Using a simple after-bath apple cider vinegar rinse is an easy addition to bath time and can help keep your dog’s skin and coat clean, fresh, and comfortable.
Below you’ll also find basic instructions along with additional tips for addressing common issues that can bother dogs, such as odor, itchy skin, and pests.
Always Dilute First
Our herbal apple cider vinegar rinse is a concentrate with no added water, so it must always be diluted before use.
Because every dog’s skin is different, start with a mild dilution and adjust as needed.
- Suggested starting dilution is ½–2 tablespoons ACV per 8 ounces of warm water.
- If your dog has sensitive skin, start on the lower end and increase gradually if needed.
- Before first use, apply a small amount of diluted rinse to a small patch of skin and wait 24 hours to check for any irritation.
Simple After-Bath Coat Rinse
- Shampoo and rinse your dog as usual.
- Mix ½–2 tablespoons ACV with 8 ounces of warm water.
- Pour or spray the diluted rinse through the wet coat.
- Massage gently to distribute through the fur and down to the skin.
- Avoid the eyes and face.
- Towel dry.
If needed, you can gradually increase the amount of vinegar in the mixture until you find the dilution that works best for your dog.
Do you need to rinse with water after using an ACV dog rinse? No, you generally do not need to rinse off the ACV when used on a dog's coat. Allowing it to air dry or simply towel-drying helps maximize benefits like reducing odors, fighting yeast, and repelling pests
The vinegar scent will fade as the coat dries.
For large dogs, the mixture can be doubled.
For Itchy or Flaky Skin
For dogs with itchy or flaky skin, a stronger rinse may be helpful. Also great for small trouble spots.
- Mix 50% water + 50% apple cider vinegar in a spray or squeeze bottle.
- Spray lightly onto itchy spots, avoiding eyes or open wounds.
- Let it air dry or gently pat with a towel.
- You can also pour it over your dog as a final rinse after bathing, then rinse again lightly with water after a few minutes.
To Help Repel Pests
Fleas and ticks tend to dislike the lingering taste and smell of vinegar on the dog's skin. While not a replacement for veterinarian-recommended flea preventatives, apple cider vinegar may help naturally discourage pests temporarily.
Before outdoor activities, lightly mist your dog’s coat with a mixture of:
- Equal parts ACV and water
- Focus on the neck, back, and tail base
- Avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Reapply every few days during flea season.
- You can also lightly mist bedding to help discourage pests.
For Odor Control
Apple cider vinegar helps neutralize odor rather than simply masking it.
For a deodorizing spray:
- Mix ½–1 cup ACV with 2 cups water in a spray bottle.
- Lightly spray onto the coat and massage into the fur.
- The vinegar scent fades quickly as the coat dries.
How to Clean a Dog’s Face with ACV
- Mix 1/2 to 1 cup ACV with 1 cup water.
- Use a lightly moistened soft cloth, cotton ball, gauze pad, or pad to apply the solution to the face, ensuring it stays out of the eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Gently wipe the face, specifically targeting tear stains and wrinkly folds where bacteria or yeast can build up.
- Pat Dry: You can rinse with water, but leaving it on to air dry is generally fine unless the dog has sensitive skin.
Paw Soak for Irritated Paws
If your dog licks or chews their paws constantly, they may be itchy or irritated.
- Mix ½ to 1 cup ACV with 2 cups water.
- Soak paws for 1–2 minutes.
- Rinse and dry thoroughly.
- Repeat 2–3 times per week if needed.
- If soaking isn’t practical, apply the diluted rinse with a cloth or spray bottle.
Cleaning Ear Flaps
Apple cider vinegar can help control odor and discourage yeast on the outer ear flaps. During bath time, the outer ear flaps can be gently cleaned with a diluted vinegar solution.
- Mix 1 part vinegar with 1 part water.
- Moisten a cotton ball, soft cloth, or gauze pad with the solution.
- Wipe the outer ear gently — never pour vinegar into or insert anything into the ear canal.
If your dog’s ears are red, painful, or smell foul, see your vet — it could be an infection that needs medication.
Important Notes
- Your dogs will not smell like vinegar once their coat dries.
- Apple cider vinegar may stain very light colored dog coats, so test a small area first.
- Products containing essential oils should not be used on cats.
- If your dog has underlying skin conditions, sensitivities, persistent irritation, or if you have any concerns at all, always consult your veterinarian.
Patch Testing
When introducing a new product to your dog's skin, do a spot test on a small area of the skin with a tiny amount of the diluted apple cider vinegar. Wait 24 hours and check for any irritation or allergic reaction. This ensures your dog's comfort and safety.
The best areas for patch testing:
- Behind the ear: A small, hidden area.
- Inner thigh: The skin here is thin and sensitive, making it a good place to check for irritation.
- Under the front leg (armpit area): The skin here is sensitive and will quickly show signs of irritation.
Tip: A squeeze bottle can make it easier to apply the diluted rinse evenly through the coat and down to the skin, especially for smaller dogs or trouble spots.
Effective, Feel Good Ingredients
The goal is simple: to Harness the Power & Simplicity of Nature® to cleanse, soothe, heal, and protect your skin and hair!
Our unique formulas rely on moisturizing oils and butters, healing botanicals, and pure essential oils. We choose every ingredient with one end-result in mind….the BEST possible natural skin care for YOU!
Featured Ingredients
Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is a time-honored ingredient in natural hair care, valued for its clarifying and cuticle-smoothing properties. Its naturally acidic nature helps remove surface buildup, enhance shine, and leave hair and scalp feeling clean, balanced, and refreshed.
Read More
Apple Cider Vinegar is a time-honored ingredient in natural hair care, valued for its clarifying and cuticle-smoothing properties. Its naturally acidic nature helps remove surface buildup, enhance shine, and leave hair and scalp feeling clean, balanced, and refreshed.
Read More
Organic Burdock Root
Burdock root brings a calm, clarifying touch to both skin and scalp. Its natural plant compounds support a balanced, comfortable feel while adding softness, smoothness, and gentle cleansing. In rinses, powders, and dry shampoos, burdock helps hair and skin feel refreshed, nurtured, and naturally restored.
Read More
Burdock root brings a calm, clarifying touch to both skin and scalp. Its natural plant compounds support a balanced, comfortable feel while adding softness, smoothness, and gentle cleansing. In rinses, powders, and dry shampoos, burdock helps hair and skin feel refreshed, nurtured, and naturally restored.
Read More
Organic Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary essential oil helps clarify the skin, balance oil, soothe irritation, and support a clearer, healthier complexion. In hair care, it boosts scalp circulation for stronger, fuller-looking growth. Its invigorating herbal aroma sharpens focus, eases stress, and restores mental clarity.
Read More
Rosemary essential oil helps clarify the skin, balance oil, soothe irritation, and support a clearer, healthier complexion. In hair care, it boosts scalp circulation for stronger, fuller-looking growth. Its invigorating herbal aroma sharpens focus, eases stress, and restores mental clarity.
Read More
All Ingredients
Organic Unrefined Vinegar infused with Organic Botanicals Horsetail, Rosemary, Nettle, Burdock Root, Basil & Lavender
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Raw Apple Cider Vinegar?
Why Raw Apple Cider Vinegar for the Hair Rinses?
Although plain white vinegar may work, Apple Cider Vinegar seems to be the favorite hair care vinegar. Some say that wine vinegars may be less drying for those with dry scalp conditions.
The process for making apple cider vinegar begins with the juice of fresh apples. Bacteria and yeast added to the juice begin the fermentation process which breaks down fructose, the naturally occurring fruit sugar, into alcohol.
The alcohol is converted to vinegar (which means “sour wine” in French) by acetic acid-forming bacteria.
The natural raw non-pasteurized vinegar is packed with nutrients. It appears cloudy with stringy stuff and sediment on the bottom due to the "mother" which contains the natural bacteria and enzymes that make this product so wonderful.
We only use organic raw apple cider vinegar with "mother." The difference between raw apple cider vinegar and a commercial clear vinegar brand is that the commercial vinegar is heated, distilled, and clarified. This processing removes much of the naturally occurring bacteria, nutrients, and living enzymes, thus stripping away the natural benefits.
Make Your Own Natural Vinegar Hair Rinse
Using Chagrin Valley Vinegar Hair Rinses
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What Do Herbs Infused In Vinegar Do?
Why Do We Infuse Herbs Into Our ACV Rinses
Nature's herbs and botanicals have a life force of their own.
The vinegar extracts the healing and soothing phytochemicals from medicinal herbs and botanicals.
Basil, Ocimum basilicum, stimulates hair follicles, increases scalp circulation and promotes hair growth. Basil helps protect hair from breakage, its anti-inflammatory properties help soothe the roots and it adds luster to dull hair.
Burdock, Arctium lappa, nourishes and strengthens hair follicles, to promote healthy hair growth and improve the condition of hair. It helps soothe irritated scalp conditions, decrease breakage and adds sheen, body & luster. The mucilage in burdock root adds “slip” to hair to make detangling easier.
Horsetail, Equisetum arvense, is nourishing and hydrating, stimulates the scalp and has been used for centuries as a hair growth herb. The silica in horsetail helps to keep hair strong and adds shine and luster to hair.
Lavender, Lavendula officinalis, has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antifungal properties that may help with irritated scalp conditions and hair loss. It helps balance oil production as is a great herb for all hair types.
Nettle, Urtica dioica, stimulates the scalp, improves circulation, helps decrease breakage and promotes body, bounce, and shine. Nettle hair rinses are an old remedy to help reduce hair loss and encourage hair growth. Nettles balance oil production and help with dandruff.
Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis, encourages the growth of strong healthy hair by improving blood flow to the scalp. The stimulating and revitalizing properties of rosemary help increase manageability, add shine, and condition the hair and scalp.
View Answer Page
Are Chagrin Valley Ingredients & Products USDA Certified Organic?
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is a USDA Certified Organic Company
The most important consideration in any business is its customers. Today's world of misleading claims, false advertising, and simple deception, often leaves consumers trying to discover the truth about personal products and their ingredients.
- We want our customers to know that we are committed to transparency in everything we do.
- We want our customers to know that when we say "organic," we mean it.
- We believe that in becoming a USDA Certified Organic company, our customers do not have to wonder if we really use certified organic ingredients or if our organic products are truly organic.
- So we choose to be a certified organic company and abide by the strict standards required for organic certification.
Some of my favorite products are made with ingredients that just do not exist as certified organic. Why? At this time there are no standards created for ingredients specifically used in the personal care product industry. Organic certification of personal care products is based on the organic food standards set by the National Organic Program of the USDA.
But since we are a certified organic company, we are required to submit documentation that even our "non-organic ingredients" were produced without the use of toxic pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), sewage sludge, or irradiation.
Why Did We Become a Certified Organic Company?
What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?
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Are Your Products and Ingredients Cruelty Free?
All of Chagrin Valley's natural soap, shampoo bars, and personal care products are certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny.
Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve has been Leaping Bunny Certified since 2013.
The Leaping Bunny Program was developed in 1996, by The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics (CCIC), to identify and support companies that are doing their part to help eliminate the unnecessary use and mistreatment of animals to test cosmetic products and ingredients. The CCIC is made up of eight animal protection groups including the Humane Society of the U.S., as well as groups from Canada and Europe.
At Chagrin Valley we do not test our finished products on animals (other than human volunteers). But what about the raw materials, the ingredients we use?
Many products display labels claiming that their finished product is ‘not tested on animals’ but this does not guarantee that the product ingredients are actually free from animal testing.
The CCIC Standard is a pledge that a company makes to remove animal testing from all stages of product development. Our pledge to buy ingredients that are cruelty-free is integrated into the purchase agreement for all of our suppliers.
Personal care products displaying the “real” Leaping Bunny logo are certified ‘cruelty-free' using the internationally recognized Humane Cosmetics Standards. These rigorous standards require that no animal testing is performed or authorized for finished products or any of the ingredients in any stage of product development by the company, its laboratories or its suppliers after a fixed cut-off date. All Leaping Bunny companies are subject to independent audits and pledge commitments that are renewed on an annual basis.
This annual renewal is a key requirement that sets the Leaping Bunny Program apart from other cruelty-free certification programs. Companies that manufacture products, as well as their ingredient suppliers, must annually recommit to upholding their promise to not conduct animal testing on any finished products, ingredients, or formulations.
Why is this annual commitment renewal important? "Because product formulations change, suppliers come and go, and manufacturers develop innovative lines to meet consumer needs. But we know that compassionate consumers need to be confident that no animal testing is involved in the products they use."
At Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve . . .
- we do NOT test our products on animals
- we do NOT use ingredients tested on animals
- we do NOT sell into markets that require animal testing
The Leaping Bunny Program provides
the best assurance to consumers
that they are making compassionate shopping choices
by purchasing Cruelty-Free skin care!
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What are essential oils?
What Are Pure Essential Oils?
Have you ever enjoyed the scent of a fragrant flower or herb? The fragrance comes from potent, aromatic compounds called essential oils found in the flowers, stems, seeds, bark, roots, fruits, and other parts of plants. It often requires several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil.
Essential oils not only give plants their unique scents but also help lure plant pollinators and protect plants from insects and other predators.
The chemical composition of essential oils may provide valuable psychological and physical aromatherapeutic benefits for some people.
It is important to note that to be a true essential oil, the oil must be isolated from the plant material by physical means only. Essential oils are NEVER extracted using solvents.
Although synthetic fragrances or "nature identical" oils are available at a much lower cost, only natural plant essential oils will provide any aromatherapeutic benefits.
What Are Essential Oils (Much more detail)
How Essential Oils Are Extracted
Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?
If you are pregnant or under a doctor's care for any medical condition, please consult your healthcare provider before using essential oils.
Pregnancy & Children: We do not provide information on the safety of essential oils during Pregnancy or for use in Children because the available information is very ambiguous and often contradictory. If you’re interested in using essential oils during pregnancy or with young children please do your own research and consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional before use.
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