Kind To Your Skin & The Environment

Nourishing Skin Care Derived From Nature

In Sync With Your Skin—and the Planet

Natural Soap: Mistletoe

Name: Natural Soap: Mistletoe
Brand: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
SKU: smistletoe
Price: 11.65 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (59 reviews)

Childhood scents of Christmas wrapped in a moisturizing natural soap bar enriched with cocoa butter and flaxseed oil. With its warm, evergreen and spice aroma, everything about this soap will put you in that festive Holiday spirit. Hang a bar in your shower -- maybe you will receive a surprise kiss.

Size:

Full Bar 5.6 oz

$11.65

Product Overview

When many people think of mistletoe, they imagine Christmas decorations and stolen kisses, but we also think . . . Soap!

Kissing under sprigs of mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, but the plant’s history as a symbolic herb dates back thousands of years. Mistletoe, a symbol of romance and friendship, is also considered a symbol of good luck and eternal life since the plant retains its green leaves throughout winter (seemingly by magic since it has no true roots) and continues to bloom even when the temperatures plummet and the snow is deep.

Everything about this soap is a reminder of the warm sweet aromas of the holidays. Tiny flecks of green basil and parsley, and speckles of red rose petals combine with a warm, evergreen and spice aroma transport you back to your childhood scents of Christmas.

This creamy, natural soap is handmade with a blend of pure plant oils and enriched with nourishing unrefined cocoa butter and flaxseed oil. A sprinkling of ground botanicals adds a touch of gentle exfoliation.

Unrefined Flaxseed Oil, a soothing and hydrating ingredient, helps seal in moisture and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, has been used since ancient times to ease problem skin.
Cocoa Butter is great for challenging skin issues. It soothes and moisturizes dry patches, helps ease inflammation, and soften skin. Rich in fatty acids that nourish the skin, it is an excellent butter to help ease dry, itchy skin.
Ground Herbs add a touch of gentle exfoliation
The essential oil blend provides a warm, evergreen, and spice scent like a walk through a Christmas tree farm in crisp winter air.

Spread Christmas cheer or hang a bar in your shower and maybe you will receive a surprise kiss!

How To Use

What Should I Use With My Natural Soap to Clean My Body?

organic-natural-soap-lather The purpose of soap is to combine with oil and dirt on the body, which allows water to wash it away. The method you use to cleanse your skin is really a personal preference. We thought we would share just a few examples.

Bar Bathers rub the bar directly on their skin to create a creamy lather. Massaging the velvety lather into your skin before rinsing allows you to experience the best moisturizing properties of the soap. This is definitely the best way to use exfoliating soaps.

Hand Latherers create lather in their clean hands and use the lather to massage and wash the skin. This gentle, mild cleansing method may be good for those with sensitive skin.

Washcloth Washers use a washcloth to lather up. Washcloths are made out of lots of different textile textures, from soft cotton to agave fibers, and can provide very gentle to intense exfoliation. Be sure washcloths are laundered and dried often.

Puff Polishers use a mesh puff that works up a foamy, bubbly lather, even with hard water, to wash and gently exfoliate the skin. Poofs make natural soap last longer but can harbor bacteria, so rinse thoroughly after use and replace every few weeks or clean per manufacturer's instructions.

Loofah Latherers love their loofahs that exfoliate and help increase circulation. Whole loofahs can be breeding grounds for bacteria, so be sure they dry out properly after use and replace them every two months. If you would like something less abrasive, check out our Bath & Body Accessories.

Soap Sackers place their soap into a nylon soap bag. The fibers have a smooth texture for gentle cleansing. Soap sacks can be used for whole bars of soap or scraps that would normally be thrown away.

There is a large variety of bathing accessories available. If using any accessory, never share them with others and replace or clean them often.

FAQs

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 Cocoa Butter*

Unrefined Cocoa Butter, Theobroma cacao, is an excellent moisturizer that soothes and softens skin. In hair care, cocoa butter easily absorbs into the hair and imparts sheen. It locks in moisture and helps protect the hair shaft. Fair Trade Certified by Fair Trade USA. Read More

Organic Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Juniper Berry essential oil tones the skin and is helpful for acne and oily skin. It is used in massage oils to ease joint and muscle pain. Steam inhalation may relieve congestion. In hair care, juniper balances oil production and stimulates the scalp. Aromatherapy: The scent has a calming and grounding effect, lifts the spirit, helps calm the nerves and relieve anxiety, Read More

Organic Fir Needle Essential Oil

Fir Needle essential oil is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs of a variety of fir trees in the genus Abies. Abies sibirica, Siberian Fir Needle, and Abies balsamea, Canadian Fir needle are the two types that we use. Although it comes from the same family as pine Pinaceae, which includes other essential oils like pine needle, Spruce, Cedarwood, Cypress, and Juniper, fir needle is distinct from other evergreen essential oils. The essential oil has strong antibacterial properties and was used as an early remedy for colds, coughs, infections, joint pain, and muscular cramps, fir needle oil also helps purify the air. Evergreen essential oils in general have a long history of use in the sauna, steam bath, and as an additive to baths and massage products to soothe tired and aching muscles and promote relaxation. It may also help thin mucous to provide some relief from congestion from colds, flu, and allergies. The antibacterial properties make fir essential oil an excellent additive for a healing salve. In hair care, Ancient Egyptians made a hair growth formula from fir needle oil and massaged it into their scalps to energize the roots and stimulate the scalp. Aromatherapy Properties: Fir needle has a fresh, balsamic aroma reminiscent of a pine forest right after a nice rain. It is often used in perfumery to obtain woodsy scents. The aroma is invigorating, refreshing, and energizing. It helps stimulate mental alertness and reduce fatigue. Adding a bit of fir needle essential oil to a... Read More

All Ingredients

Organic Coconut Oil*

Organic Palm Oil (Sustainable)

Organic Canola Oil

Organic Sunflower Oil

Distilled Water

Sodium Hydroxide^

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Organic Castor Bean Oil

Organic Cocoa Butter*

Organic Flaxseed Oil

Organic Fir Needle Essential Oil

Organic Orange Essential Oil

Organic Pine Needle Essential Oil

Organic Cedarwood Essential Oil

Organic Clove Bud Essential Oil

Organic Cassia Essential Oil

Organic Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Organic Cypress Essential Oil

Organic Cornstarch

Organic Parsley

Organic Basil

Organic Rose Petals

Organic Seaweed

Organic Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)

*Ingredient is Fair Trade Certified

^Used in the saponification process to turn oil into soap and glycerin. None remains in the finished product.

Made with certified organic Flaxseed Oil, Cocoa Butter & Parsley
Certified Organic By OEFFA
A USDA Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Chagrin Valley Natural Soaps

Aren't all handmade natural soaps the same? . . .

The answer is NO!

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 and skincare company. We are committed to healthy skin, healthy people and a healthy planet.

We are a USDA Certified Organic Company specializing in luxurious, organic, handmade natural soaps and shampoo bars rich in natural glycerin for healthier skin and hair.

It's all about the ingredients! Inspired by our love of nature, we use organic herbs, seeds, flowers, vegetables, fragrant spices, fruits, pure essential oils and purifying clays for their exceptional skincare benefits and to provide natural color, aromatherapy, texture, or gentle exfoliation. Nothing artificial, nothing synthetic, no GMO’s, just natural wholesome ingredients.

Chagrin Valley's Natural Soap & Shampoo Bars Are...

all natural
made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients
handcrafted in small batches using the old-fashioned Cold Process Method
made with sustainable and fair trade ingredients
certified cruelty-free
free of detergents
free of synthetic fragrances
free of synthetic colors
free of artificial preservatives
free of artificial foam boosters
free of alcohol and petroleum products
free of synthetic additives
free of GMOs
biodegradable
mild and nourishing
rich in natural glycerin
magnificent long-lasting lather
cured for 8 to 10 weeks

Our soap making process uses only natural and organic ingredients. Why add artificial ingredients to a handmade product?

"Are All Handmade Soaps The Same?"

"12 Reasons to Use Natural Soap"

View Answer Page

Don't I need to use antibacterial soap to protect my family from germs?

The Short Answer

NO! Adding antibacterial chemicals to soap does not keep your family safe from germs.

I understand why folks (especially those with children) are choosing products labeled “Antibacterial,” hoping to keep their family safe in the war against germs.

According to Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).

"Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water.

In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”

Simply washing your hands with old-fashioned natural soap and water rids your skin of most fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Soap does not kill germs, it surrounds them and carries them away.

The Long Answer

Please read our blog: Antibacterials: More Harm Than Good!

View Answer Page

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.

View related natural skin care blogs

What Are Essential Oils (Much more detail)

How Essential Oils Are Extracted

Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?

What is Aromatherapy?

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.

View Answer Page

Why Does the Smell of Natural Soap and Shampoo Bars Made with Essential Oils Change?

My natural soap bar doesn't smell the same as the last one

We sometimes receive emails that go like this:

I just reordered [some soap]. It is my favorite bar but it does not smell the same. Did you change the recipe?
This name of this bar is "lavender . . . " but I smell more of the other essential oils than lavender. Why do you call it lavender?

The good news is that when you purchase natural soap from an organic skincare company, it is scented with only pure essential oils.

The bad news is that when you purchase natural soap from an organic skincare company, it is scented with only pure essential oil.

The scent of an essential in any totally natural product can and will change over time and from batch to batch.

Essential Oils are a Natural Ingredient

Essential oils come from nature. The quality and scent of essential oils are affected by yearly weather conditions and varies from crop to crop and region to region.

This makes it very difficult to produce finished products in which the scents are always exactly the same.

Most commercial soaps (and skincare products), even some of the "natural" ones that contain some essential oils, are made with at least some synthetic fragrances oils, nature identical oil, or natural fragrance oil. Using any synthetic fragrance ensures a more consistent scent.

Essential oils are temperamental to work under any circumstance. But while a natural essential oil scent blend may change a bit in a cream or oil, these blends are especially unpredictable when making cold processed natural soap.

After all my years of soap making in never ceases to amaze me just how much the actual soap making process changes the scent of an essential oil blend.

View related natural skin care blogs

Natural Soap and Essential Oils

Why We Use Only Real Plant Essential Oils?

Natural Fragrance Oil? . . . Really?

Why Are Synthetic Fragrance Oils So Popular?

View Answer Page

Do Your Natural Soap And Shampoo Bars Have An Expiration Date?

The Short Answer

Yes And No!

Although handmade natural soaps usually get better with age, we recommend using our soaps within 12 months of purchase. Our scented soaps should be used within 3 months after removing them from the box.

Although the soaps will not be "spoiled" after that time, you may notice some changes as natural soap ages.

some natural colors may fade over time
the scents from pure natural essential oil scents will fade over time

The changes in color and scent happen even more quickly in our sample size bars.

These small natural soap bars have a much greater surface area to volume ratio which allows essential oils to evaporate from the surface more quickly. However, the scent may still be there when you lather up.

I have found some ancient bars hiding in my closet that years old. The scents were gone, but the lather was incredible!

The Long Answer

For a more detailed discussion please read our blog, "The Shelf Life, Color & Scent of an All Natural Soap."

How You Can Help Prolong Shelf-Life

Natural soaps need to breathe. Exposure to air promotes hardening of your soap and contributes to longer-lasting quality. Soap should be left unwrapped in their boxes or wrapped with breathable materials. Tight wrappers cause humid conditions by preventing evaporation of moisture.
Our soaps are packaged in breathable, recyclable, sustainable packaging! Keep your natural handmade soaps in a dry, cool place away from sunlight, excessive heat and humidity.
Our scented soaps, like Lavender Rosemary, can be placed in a muslin bag, old clean sock, or wrapped in a piece of cloth and put in your linen closet or dresser drawer to give a delightful fragrance to your linens and clothes while waiting to be used.

View Answer Page

Biodegradable Soap? Are Chagrin Valley Natural Soaps and Shampoo Bars Biodegradable?

Yes!

Chagrin Valley Natural Soaps Are Made Using Natural & Organic Ingredients and Are Biodegradable!

What Does Biodegradable Mean?

By definition, biodegradable means capable of being broken down by the action of living things, like natural bacteria, into simple substances that are not harmful to the environment.

If You Are A Camper Or Backpacker, Please Read On...

Biodegradable Camping Soap There are many soap makers out there with good intentions who are claiming that their biodegradable soap or shampoo is safe to use in rivers and streams.

Bringing a natural biodegradable soap on your multi-day backpacking trip is a great way to keep yourself feeling refreshed. But, even biodegradable soap can eventually pollute lakes and streams if it is not used properly.

The bacteria that break down natural soap are present mostly in the soil.

That means that even with biodegradable ingredients, you want to use this soap bar away from freshwater sources like lakes, rivers, and streams.

So, please, do not bath, wash your face, or do your dishes, even with biodegradable soap, in any river, lake, or stream.

Some suggestions

Use a bucket to bring your water to an area at least 200 feet away from all sources of fresh water.
Lather up sparingly.
Always dispose of the grey water into the soil (NOT the water source). It is also best not to pour the entire soap solution in one spot. So, you can:

Sprinkle small amounts of grey water in a wide arc (imagine slinging the water out of your pot, as opposed to pouring it).
Or dig a small hole (like a cathole) in which to pour the soapy water. The idea is to surround the soap with the organic soil compounds that not only helps speed up decomposition, but also helps prevent surface runoff when it rains.

Is Natural Soap Really Better for Camping?

Absolutely! Commercial soaps, body washes, shampoos, and dish soap contain synthetic ingredients. Many of these ingredients include artificial colors and scents, detergents, and chemical preservatives, such as parabens, phthalates, and petrochemicals. These chemicals do not break down quickly.

Traces of these chemicals will remain in nature for many, many years and can have a potential negative impact on plants and animals.

A biodegradable natural soap is made with natural, organic ingredients that break down efficiently when exposed to the bacteria found in the soil.

There’s no substitute for nature. Together we can protect it from impacts like overuse, trash, and harming endangered wildlife by following the principles of "Leave No Trace."

View Answer Page

Is Your Palm Oil From Plantations That Protect Our Rainforests?

We often receive emails from concerned customers that have read about the devastating effects that palm plantations can have on tropical forests.

At Chagrin Valley Soap we treasure our planet and its inhabitants. We know that although we play a very small part, we must always make choices that are ecologically and socially responsible.

As the global demand for palm oil continues to increase we want to be part of the global initiative that changes how that palm oil is grown.

Our Palm Oil is grown and manufactured according to standards for sustainable practices set forth by Palm Done Right.

Certified Sustainable

Certified sustainable by RSPO (The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) and Palm Done Right

Our USDA organic palm oil variety carries RSPO Certification, otherwise known as Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, guaranteeing the sustainability and traceability of the palm oil production throughout the supply chain.

It has RSPO-IP (Identity Preserved) certification which is one of four certification levels offered by the RSPO and carries the highest and strongest level of sustainable guarantee with traceability of each lot of palm oil back to the field of origin. With Identify Preserved sustainable palm oil, the entire batch of palm oil is from a single identifiable certified source and kept separate from all non-certified batches.

Palm Done Right presents the first fully integrated, 100 percent organic supply chain in the palm oil industry. Palm Done Right requires a fair labor certification, organic certification, Non-GMO Project Verification, and has the highest level of certification — Identity Preserved — offered by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

As the global demand for palm oil continues to increase, we believe that if both manufacturers and consumers demand Certified Sustainable palm oil, producers will grow Certified Sustainable palm oil. That is the only way to really protect our rainforests.

If there is no demand for sustainable palm oil, growers will continue their cheaper unsustainable practices, because no one is paying them for a sustainable product. (If you build it, they will come!)

Please read our blog, "Will A Palm Oil Boycott Really Help?"

View Answer Page

Natural Soap: Mistletoe