Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Organic Lavender & Rosemary Shampoo Bar
This is a solid shampoo bar made with organic plant oils, clays, and essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and tea tree. I like it as a simple, plastic-free swap when you want a straightforward cleanse that still feels supportive for the scalp and doesn’t rely on synthetic detergents.
Ingredients
Organic Coconut Oil; Organic Palm Oil (sustainably sourced); Organic Castor Oil; Organic Jojoba Oil; Organic Neem Oil; Organic Avocado Oil; Organic Aloe Vera; Lavender Essential Oil; Rosemary Essential Oil; Tea Tree Essential Oil; Kaolin Clay; Sodium Hydroxide (used in saponification).
Certifications
Made with Organic Ingredients (USDA-accredited certification; at least 70% certified organic ingredients)
Leaping Bunny Certified (cruelty-free)
What I Like
I appreciate that this bar is formulated with plant oils and butters rather than synthetic detergent-based cleansing agents. It’s a different approach that many people enjoy when they want to simplify.
The essential oil blend (lavender, rosemary, tea tree) is commonly used for scalp comfort and a “fresh, clean” feeling, especially when balancing oil and buildup.
Kaolin clay is a nice touch for gentle oil absorption and a cleaner rinse feel without being overly stripping.
The bar format is plastic-free and biodegradable, making it an easy way to reduce packaging without overhauling your routine.
EWG rating (EWG analyzer): 3.
Things to Keep in Mind
This contains essential oils (lavender, rosemary, tea tree). If you’re very fragrance-sensitive or your scalp is reactive, this is one to introduce slowly.
Bar shampoos can feel different than liquid shampoos. Some hair types love the clean finish, and others need an adjustment period or prefer following with conditioner on the lengths.
If your hair is very thick, very dry, curly, color-treated, or chemically treated, you may want a richer conditioner alongside it, or use the bar mainly at the scalp and keep conditioning focused on the ends.
Sensitive Skin & Pregnancy Considerations
If you’re sensitive, I recommend patch testing first and starting with scalp-only use, then letting the rinse cleanse the lengths. This helps keep things comfortable while you see how your skin responds.
Essential oil transparency: essential oils can carry trace contaminants depending on sourcing and processing. I prioritize brands that test for purity and take steps to minimize contaminants and impurities whenever possible.