Kind To Your Skin & The Environment

Nourishing Skin Care Derived From Nature

In Sync With Your Skin—and the Planet

Natural Soap: Patchouli

Name: Natural Soap: Patchouli
Brand: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
SKU: spatchouli
Price: 10.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (59 reviews)

Unleash your free-spirited inner hippie with the deep, woodsy, exotic, earthy, and sexy aroma of pure patchouli. Pamper your skin and your senses with this moisturizing natural soap made with skin-soothing plant oils and enriched with nourishing unrefined shea and cocoa butters.

Size:

Full Bar 5.6 oz

$10.95

Bundle & Save 10%

Product Overview

Good For: All Skin Types

If you love patchouli, this is the soap for you! The deep, earthy, woody, sweet, spicy, and musky notes of patchouli are timeless. From the scented linens of Queen Victoria, through hippy 60s, to the present, the sensual scent of patchouli has never lost its appeal. Patchouli is often associated with love and romance, and has a long history of use in traditional medicine and spiritual practices.

Its distinctive scent is said to evoke feelings of passion and connection. The warmth and depth of its aroma is said to promote relaxation, calmness, and a sense of well-being, making it a popular choice for meditation and mindfulness practices.

Don’t let its powerful scent fool you. Patchouli essential oil is often used in skincare due to its gentle, toning, and tightening properties. It may also help to calm and soothe dry skin, making it a popular choice for skin care routines.

This natural soap bar is loaded with skin-loving ingredients. Unrefined Cocoa and Shea butters which help to hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and supple. These luxurious ingredients provide long-lasting moisture enhancing the overall appearance of the skin.

Green Tea, rich in antioxidants, has been used for centuries to cleanse, tone, and purify the skin. Finely ground green tea also acts as a gentle exfoliant, helping to reveal smoother, healthier-looking skin.

The essential oil blend of sensuous patchouli with a touch of refreshing rosemary and calming lavender adds toning and soothing qualities to the soap.

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 Patchouli Essential Oil

Patchouli essential oil, Pogostemon cablin, is steam distilled from the large, aromatic velvety leaves of a bushy herb. A member of the mint family, patchouli grows wild in India. Its exotic, woodsy, musky, earthy scent became the characteristic scent of the cultural revolution that will take the children of the 1960s and 70s on a trip down memory lane. Patchouli has long been considered a symbol of luxury. Apparently cashmere shawls shipped from India were packed with the pungent leaves in order to deter fabric-eating moths. These shawls, were worn by ladies of a the higher economic class, thus the scent became associated the with wealth. It is believed that Queen Victoria scented her bed linens with patchouli. We have discovered that if you love the scent of patchouli, you love absolutely love it. But some seem to absolutely hate it. Patchouli oil seems to calm everything down, including the skin. It is a very skin-nourishing oil with anti-inflammatory and astringent properties, making it a good choice to help ease acne, dermatitis, and eczema. As it boosts circulation it increases oxygen to the cells to help retain a healthy-looking, youthful appearance. Don’t let its powerful scent fool you, it is a very gentle oil that calms, tones, and tightens the skin, is used in many anti-wrinkle products, and may be helpful with mature skin. In hair care, patchouli balances oil production making it a great treatment for oily scalp and dandruff as well as for dry hair and scalp. Aromatherapy Properties: The woody, sweet, spicy, musky, and sensuous aroma... Read More

Organic Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed Oil, Linum usitatissimum, also called linseed oil, is made by grinding and pressing the seeds of the plant so that they release their natural oil. Its Latin species name, usitatissimum, means “very useful". Linseed, or flax, is a blue flowering plant native to many regions of the world. Flaxseed is one of the oldest crops, having been cultivated since the beginning of civilization. For centuries people have been growing and harvesting flaxseed as food as well as using it to make all sorts of useful things, like linen. Today, Canada is the world’s largest producer and accounts for nearly 80 % of the global trade in flaxseed. We have all heard of the benefits of flaxseed oil in a healthy diet, but it is also a great topical oil for the skin. We use organic unrefined flaxseed oil. After extracting the oil from the seeds of the Linum usitatissimum plant, the oil remains in its unrefined (or virgin) form. Unrefined flaxseed oil is an abundant source of vitamins and minerals and boasts an exceptionally high content of fatty acids, particularly the omega-3 fatty acid ALA. This essential fatty acid plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin cells. With its high concentration of omega-3s, flaxseed oil exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which may help ease skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne by reducing inflammation. The topical use of flaxseed oil helps seal moisture into the skin, which may help soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is... Read More

Organic Green Tea

Green Tea, Camellia sinensis: There are three types of tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis: green, oolong and black. Green tea is steamed, baked, or pan-heated to prevent oxidation and thus, the leaves remain green. Oolong tea is partially fermented. Oxidation is cut short so the leaves are black only on the edges. Black tea is fully fermented, producing black leaves. While drinking Green Tea is known for its incredible health benefits, did you know that those same benefits can be reaped by your skin when applied topically? The antioxidants found in Green Tea, especially epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, can eliminate free radicals, rejuvenate dying skin cells and even reproduce skin cells, all factors that can help fight the aging process. Green tea also contains moderate amounts of caffeine, which can help brighten skin, to promote a glowing complexion. Tea tannins and caffeine both work to shrink blood vessels, which can reduce the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles. A natural astringent, Green Tea also mops up excess oil, dirt, and grime from open pores and then tightens them to prevent pollutants from entering. One popular folk remedy says to place damp teabags on your eyelids to reduce swelling, puffiness, and dark circles. We add Green Tea leaves to soap as a gentle exfoliant to give your skin a healthy glow. It is excellent for both skin and hair care. Tea is a mild astringent and has been used for centuries to cleanse, tone, and purify the skin and scalp. In hair... 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 Flaxseed Oil

Organic Virgin Shea Butter*

Organic Cocoa Butter*

Organic Patchouli Essential Oil

Organic Rosemary Essential Oil

Organic Lavender Essential Oil

Organic Green Tea

Organic Cornstarch

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 Patchouli, Green Tea & Flaxseed Oil
Certified Organic By OEFFA
A USDA Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

What is My Skin Type?

Your skin is as unique as you are.

If you think about it, your skin type is not even the same for all of the areas of your body.

The skin on your face is different from the skin on your hands, which is different from the skin on your back which is different from the skin on your feet ...etc.

Although your skin type is determined by genetics, it will also be affected by other factors and can change with time.

Understanding your skin type is a good starting point before trying or switching to natural products.

There are typically five types of healthy skin: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive.

NORMAL SKIN

This skin is balanced, neither too dry nor too oily. It has regular texture, no imperfections and a clean, soft appearance, and does not need special care.

OILY SKIN

Oily skin is the result of excessive secretions of sebum, an oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. Oily skin tends to attract more dirt and dust than dry skin and may be prone to blackheads, acne, and excessive shine. It is frequent in adolescents and often seen with acne or blemish-prone skin.

DRY SKIN

For some people dry skin is caused by external factors such as the weather, low air humidity, sun, or hot showers, and it is often temporary.

However, for others it may be a lifelong condition. Dry skin is a result of a decrease in natural oil production which often results in skin that is flaky and has a rough appearance. Dry, cracked skin is often prone to skin disorders, such as eczema.

SENSITIVE SKIN

Truly sensitive skin easily reacts to external stimuli. The skin is often fragile, thin or fine-textured, dry, and prone to allergic reactions.

Sensitive skin often feels uncomfortable, tight, red or itchy. It is a delicate skin that needs a lot of TLC.

COMBINATION SKIN

Combination skin is just what is sounds like, it has characteristics of both dry and oily skin. The area with more oil is usually the T- zone (forehead, nose, and chin), while the skin on the cheeks is normal or dry.

For more information on skin type and help with product recommendations for your individual needs, please read our blog, What's Your Skin Type?

View Answer Page

How To Wash Your Hands To Help Stay Healthy

Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that for good hand hygiene all you need is plain soap and water.

Clean hands can stop germs from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community.

Five simple and effective steps can help reduce the spread of illness so you, your family, your friends and the general public can stay healthy.

Hand washing is a win for everyone . . . except for the germs!

CDC recommends cleaning hands in a specific way to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. The guidance for effective hand washing was developed based on data from a number of studies.

Wash often and follow these five steps every time you wash your hands!

1. Wet your hands with clean, warm running water and apply soap.

When dealing with cold and flu viruses, as you wash your hands the soap molecule burrows its way into the fatty envelope of a virus and literally pulls the virus apart.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap.

Soap and friction help lift dirt, grease, and microbes—including disease-causing germs—from the skin so they can be rinsed down the drain.
Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Lathering and scrubbing hands creates friction, which helps lift dirt, grease, and microbes from skin.
The entire hand should be scrubbed. Microbes are present on all of the wrinkly surfaces of the hand, especially under the nails.
How long are 20 seconds? About the amount of time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
The ideal length of time for handwashing can depend on other factors for example, if hands are very dirty or if you are caring for someone is ill.
Evidence suggests that washing hands for about 15-30 seconds removes more germs from hands than washing for shorter periods.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

If you are using a public restroom use a paper towel to turn off the faucet after hands have been rinsed.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

To date, studies have shown that there is no added health benefit for consumers (this does not include professionals in the healthcare setting) using soaps containing antibacterial ingredients compared with using plain soap.

Information is taken from the CDC.gov website

Read our blog "Simple Soap Can Help Decrease the Spread Of Viruses"

View Answer Page

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

How Long Will A Bar of Natural Soap Last?

Short Answer

Natural Organic Soap Sweet Basil How long a natural soap bar will last depends on:

how many people are using it
how often you bathe or shower
how you use the bar

For one person showering every day, a well-drained bar should last for about one month.

Longer Answer

Natural soaps are normally softer than commercial soaps because they retain their natural glycerin (which is removed in commercial soap production) and contain no artificial hardening chemicals, synthetic waxes or free alkali.

We also superfat our soaps (add extra oils or butters) and use "softer" oils so that Chagrin Valley natural soaps are more emollient and leave skin feeling moisturized.

Different oils impart different qualities to soap. Some add lathering qualities, some moisturizing, some hardness, and so on. Compared to other natural bars, we use a larger percentage of extra moisturizing and conditioning oils in our soaps and shampoo bars. These oils produce a bar that may not be as hard as bars with less conditioning oils.

How you use the bar will also affect its lifespan. For example, do you use a washcloth, an exfoliating accessory, or only the bar? Although exfoliating loofahs and sponges are great they will use up the soap much faster than a washcloth or the "only the bar" purists.

Our Natural Soap Will Last A Long Time With Proper Care

Don't let your soap sit in water
Store soap on a well-drained soap dish
Allow soap plenty of fresh air to dry between uses
Never place soap where shower water can continuously hit it
If your bar ever gets waterlogged and becomes gooey, simply set it on a draining soap dish or stand it on its edge for a few days and let it dry out thoroughly

Cute Story: A customer called to say she loved our soaps but could not buy them anymore because they did not last as long as other soaps. A week later she called to place an order and apologize. Her husband, who would NEVER use her natural soaps before, fell in love with her new Juniper soap . . . and he showered twice a day!

To maximize the life of your soap, keep it in a well-drained soap dish so it can dry between uses.

We sell a handcrafted solid white oak soap dish. The deep ridges are perfect for keeping your all natural handcrafted soap dry between uses. White Oak is the wood used in shipbuilding.

A tip passed on by one of our customers whose kids always leave the soap in a water puddle: cut the large bars in halves. Then alternate the halves, allowing a longer drying time between uses.

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

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

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

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