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Natural Soap: Winter Survival

Name: Natural Soap: Winter Survival
Brand: Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve
SKU: swinter
Price: 12.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.8 (213 reviews)

A bold seasonal soap designed to wake up winter skin and senses. Made with nourishing plant oils and butters, coconut milk, and invigorating essential oils, this scrubby bar delivers a crisp, energizing aroma and a satisfyingly textured lather that helps revive both body and mood during the cold months.

Size:

Full Bar 5.6 oz

$12.95

Product Overview

Good For: All Skin Types • Winter Itchy Skin • Mild to Moderate Exfoliation

Winter Survival is all about contrast — rich, moisturizing lather paired with a bright, invigorating essential oil blend that cuts through winter heaviness. It’s the soap many customers reach for when mornings feel dark, cold, and slow.

As you lather, the aroma comes alive first. Crisp, cooling, and penetrating, the essential oil blend feels immediately energizing, helping clear the senses and jump-start the day. It’s refreshing without being sharp and uplifting without being overpowering — a scent that feels especially welcome during long winter stretches indoors.

The bar itself has presence. Botanicals add a comfortably scratchy texture that helps loosen dry, flaky winter skin, while the creamy, butter-rich lather cushions the exfoliation. Skin feels refreshed and awake, not raw, and noticeably more comfortable after washing.

Formulated with extra nourishing oils and coconut milk, Winter Survival is generously superfatted, helping offset winter dryness while still delivering the stimulating experience people love.

This is our best-selling seasonal soap, made in limited batches and available only from late fall through late winter. When it’s gone, it’s gone until next season.

Ingredients Behind the Feel

Every ingredient in this soap is chosen for a reason. Thoughtfully combined, they work together to create something richer than a simple cleanse — a carefully crafted seasonal bar that goes beyond ordinary soap.

Highlights of this recipe:

Essential Oil Blend — The heart of this soap. Crisp, cooling, and energizing, it’s what gives Winter Survival its unmistakable wake-up effect.
Ground Botanicals — Add the bar’s signature, comfortably scratchy exfoliation.
Coconut Milk — Adds a rich creaminess to the lather and a nourishing feel to the skin.
Unrefined Shea & Cocoa Butters — Help skin feel less dry during winter and add to the creamy lather that balances the scrubby texture.
Marshmallow Root — Adds a slick, gel-like quality to the lather that helps soothe dry skin and enhances the smooth, gliding feel of the soap.

Aroma, Texture & Lather Notes

Aroma: Crisp, cooling, and invigorating with fresh, herbal notes that feel energizing and awakening.
Texture: Noticeably textured with lots of botanicals throughout the bar.
Lather: Creamy, bubbly lather
Exfoliation: Moderate — a satisfyingly scrubby bar, may not be suitable for very delicate skin.

👉 Learn more about our Aroma, Texture & Lather notes

Formulation Notes

Generously superfatted for winter skin
Seasonal, limited-batch soap
Botanical exfoliation throughout the bar
Naturally scented with certified organic essential oils
Designed as a body soap

Revitalizing aroma. Satisfying scrub. A winter soap that wakes you up.

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 Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree essential oil is a powerful natural purifier with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It helps calm inflammation, clear acne, soothe irritation, and support a healthy scalp. Its fresh, herbaceous aroma also reduces congestion, lifts the mood, and refreshes the air. Read More

Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus essential oil helps clear congestion, ease muscle discomfort, and calm irritated skin. Its fresh, camphoraceous aroma supports clear breathing, sharper focus, reduced stress, and deeper relaxation. In hair care, it refreshes the scalp and helps reduce dandruff-causing fungus. Read More

Organic Coconut Milk

Rich, creamy coconut milk adds luxurious lather and gentle moisture to soap and shampoo bars. Naturally high in skin-loving fats, it helps soothe dryness, calm irritation, and leave skin and hair feeling soft, balanced, and beautifully cared for. 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 Coconut Milk

Organic Virgin Shea Butter*

Organic Cocoa Butter*

Organic Marsh Mallow Root

Organic Lavender Essential Oil

Organic Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Organic Rosemary Essential Oil

Organic Peppermint Essential Oil

Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil

Organic Green Tea

Organic Saint Johns Wort

Organic Mullein

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 Coconut Milk, Green Tea & Cocoa Butter
Certified Organic By OEFFA
A USDA Accredited Organic Certifying Agent

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

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

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.

View related natural skin care blogs

Why Did We Become a Certified Organic Company?

What Do All of the Organic Labels Mean?

Organic Soap Labeling

View Answer Page