Our Final Verdict
We give Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog Grooming Starter Set an overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
Effectiveness: 4.7/5
Scent: 4.9/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Just like humans, dogs can suffer negative effects from chemicals and synthetic ingredients added to shampoos, conditioners, and other grooming staples. In fact, most pups are more sensitive to these things than their owners. And that’s exactly why Perfectly Natural Soap created their line of all-natural, safe grooming products.
Each of their body care offerings for dogs contains a short list of recognizable and all-natural ingredients meant to pamper the body, not hurt it. Best of all, these canine-friendly shampoos, conditioners, and other supplies smell just as wonderful as all the rest of the products Perfectly Natural Soap puts out.
I had a chance to try some of these grooming products on my sensitive dog, Ragz. Together, we tested their grooming starter set to see if these 100% natural options could get the job done. Keep reading to see my full Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog Grooming Starter Set review and to find out if these safe soaps are worth the purchase.
At a Glance: What We Received
About Perfectly Natural Soap
Perfectly Natural Soap was started by Shaen and Rich Goetsch in 2013 after they discovered their child was allergic to the synthetic chemicals in commercial baby soaps. They launched Perfectly Natural Soap with a mission to bring all-natural, safe, nourishing body products to adults, children, and pets everywhere.
Who Makes Perfectly Natural Soap and Where Is It Produced?
Perfectly Natural Soaps are still handmade by the Goetschs and their team in Williamsburg, Virginia. Each product is made using only high-quality, raw, plant-based ingredients. The oils, fragrances, and other ingredients that go into their products contain no synthetics or harmful additives.
Which Types of Pets Is Perfectly Natural Soap Best Suited For?
Any dog who occasionally (or frequently) needs grooming will enjoy these products. Their all-natural formulas make them perfect for dogs with sensitive skin and topical allergies. They are also a great choice for puppies since they contain no harsh chemicals.
Since all dogs can benefit from all that good natural shampoos, conditioners, and paw balms have to offer, these products are really a great choice for any pooch.
Note: This soap contains a small amount of tea tree oil and, thus, should not be used on cats.
Discussion of Primary Ingredients or Key Features
Many features separate these products from others on the market. Here, we’ll take a look at a few, including the ingredients, the scents, the company’s certifications, and how to buy.
Ingredients
Take a look at just about any bottle of shampoo on the shelf at your local store and you’ll find an extensive list of ingredients, most of which will be very hard to pronounce. The vast majority of these ingredients are synthetic detergents, fragrances, surfactants, preservatives, and dyes. In fact, most “soap” you find on the shelf, whether for dogs or humans, doesn’t actually contain any soap at all.
Now, take a look at the ingredients in Good Dog! Dog Soap by Perfectly Natural Soaps:
- Water, Olive Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Oat Extract, Chamomile Extract, Aloe Leaf Powder, Tea Tree Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Fragrance
Not only are these ingredients recognizable, but there aren’t a ton of them. More importantly, each ingredient supports skin and coat health while effectively removing grime, dirt, and odor.
Scents
If you’ve ever used any of Perfectly Natural Soap’s human products, then you already know what stands out most about this company: their wonderful scents!
I’m happy to report that their pet products, for the most part, don’t disappoint in this area.
The dog shampoo has a citrusy smell with notes of rosemary and ginger. The scent is bright and fresh, which is important. As someone who groomed dogs professionally for nearly a decade, I can tell you that bright scents clash less with the stink of wet dog than other fragrances.
The smell of the leave-in conditioner complements the shampoo very well. It also has a bright, citrus scent, but this one dips more into the lemongrass fragrance. Again, it helps mask that wet dog smell while sticking around after the bath to keep your pup smelling great.
Certifications
In 2016, Perfectly Natural Soap achieved certification from the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild of Advanced Certified Soapmaker. This certification is given to soap makers who demonstrate a high acumen for making real soap using traditional methods.
On top of this, all of the ingredients Perfectly Natural Soap uses in their pet soaps and other products are rated as safe by the Environmental Working Group. This non-profit uses peer-reviewed research to rate common product ingredients on a scale of safe to harmful.
Their mission is to empower consumers to make informed choices and buy products that are better for their health and the environment. The body and pet care products produced by Perfectly Natural Soap definitely fall into this category.
How to Buy
Getting your hands on Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog Grooming Starter Set is as easy as going to the company’s website. These very well-priced products can be bundled together for additional savings. You can also find Perfectly Natural Soap’s rinse-out dog conditioner here.
Shipping will cost you extra on orders under $75. However, you can score free shipping by adding some of the company’s wonderful human products to your cart. I highly recommend their Amber Woods Ultra Hydrating Lotion—the scent is amazing!
For those of you in Virginia, you can visit one of Perfectly Natural Soap’s brick-and-mortar locations in Williamsburg or Smithfield.
Our Reviews of the Products We Received
1. Good Dog! Dog Soap
Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog! Dog Soap is an all-purpose doggy shampoo for short and long-coated breeds. The short list of all-natural ingredients is formulated to be gentle on sensitive skin while removing dirt and grime naturally.
It has a very pleasing orange-lemongrass scent that is noticeable without being overpowering.
As with most natural soap products, this shampoo does not lather up the way synthetic products do. Still, a little bit manages to go a long way, especially if you can really wet your dog’s coat before you apply it.
It struggled to remove stains off my dog’s white fur, but it did a wonderful job of getting her fur clean and removing odors. The soap appeared to be very hydrating and really softened her coat, leaving her super cuddle-able.
Pros
- Great scent
- Cleans well
- Removes odors
- Gentle and hydrating
- Leaves coat super soft
Cons
- Struggles to remove stains
- Not much lather
2. Good Dog! Leave-In Fur Conditioning Spray
Whether you want to add some shine to your dog’s coat or need help detangling long hair, Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog! Leave-In Fur Conditioning Spray is a great product to pick up.
This after-bath spray is meant to be applied to damp hair after your dog has been towel-dried.
The ingredients, which include aloe juice, marshmallow extract, and silk amino acids, work together to help lubricate hair to reduce tangles. These nourishing ingredients also hydrate and revitalize damaged hair for a softer, shinier coat.
The lemony scent of this spray perfectly complements the citrus smell of the shampoo. That fresh, pleasing scent sticks around for a little while after your dog dries, too, which is nice.
Since my dogs both have short coats, I did not get a chance to try the detangling power of this product. However, I was very pleased with how shiny my dogs were after I used it. I feel like it added another layer of coat pampering to their grooming experience.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Wonderful smell
- Adds shine and revitalizes
- Supports a healthy coat
3. Good Dog! Happy Paws Paw and Nose Lotion Bar
If your dog suffers from dry, cracked paw pads or nose during the winter, the Good Dog! Happy Paws Paw and Nose Lotion Bar is a great option.
This all-natural balm contains just four simple ingredients: Apricot Kernel Oil, Shea Butter, Beeswax, and Cocoa Butter.
These effective moisturizers help hydrate dry skin, heal cracks, and make paws and noses more resistant to injury. And because they are natural, you don’t have to worry about your dog licking the balm after you apply it.
This balm worked very quickly for my dog and did a wonderful job protecting her paws from the dry Colorado winter. I’ve been using it daily for over a week and have already noticed her paws look less dry and are experiencing less cracking around the edges.
Unlike most other products from this company, this one is unscented, making it safer in case of accidental ingestion.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Safe and effective
- Highly moisturizing
- Works fast
Cons
- No fragrance (but this is actually a pro)
Our Experience With Perfectly Natural Soaps Good Dog Grooming Starter Set
My obsession with natural grooming products started decades ago when I groomed professionally at the dog daycare I managed. Bathing multiple dogs on a daily basis made it clear how sensitive some dogs can be to synthetic chemicals and fragrances. At the same time, natural shampoos aren’t always as effective at getting coats clean.
So when I had the chance to try Perfectly Natural Soap’s Good Dog Grooming Starter Set, I was very excited. I couldn’t wait to see if these natural options would be as effective as they are safe and gentle.
I used my Dalmatian mix, Ragz, as my test subject. She has been throwing her coat like crazy now that winter is almost over and she was definitely overdue for a bath. She also has white fur, which makes her a good candidate to see how well a shampoo cleans.
As soon as I received my package from Perfectly Natural Soap, I was excited. The care that went into packaging these products was amazing. They came in an adorable burlap bag surrounded by crinkle paper and a handful of product samples for Perfectly Natural Soap’s human offerings (which I very much appreciated!).
Once I had everything unpackaged, it was time to get bathing.
Immediately, I was in love with the scent of the dog soap. As I mentioned above, it has that perfect mix of fresh, bright orange and rosemary that doesn’t clash with the smell of wet dog.
It took some doing to get the soap to lather, which is normal for natural shampoos. I applied a moderate amount to Ragz’s wet coat then gave her a quick spritz with water before working it in. This helped get it to bubble up more, and I was able to get good coverage with just that amount of product.
One of my favorite things about this shampoo is how easily it rinses off. The last thing you want is to spend ten minutes getting shampoo rinsed out of your dog’s coat when all they want to do is bolt out of the tub.
Once Ragz was rinsed and towel-dried, I spritzed her with the leave-in conditioner, worked it into her coat with my fingers, and then sent her out into the sun to dry.
After a good brushing, she was noticeably softer (and still is after a week!). The yellowing in her coat did not wash out nor did the red stains around her mouth. But she definitely felt cleaner and she smelled amazing. The scent only lasted a day or two, but that neutral, clean smell is still going strong.
I have also been using the paw balm daily for the last week and have been really impressed with the results. Ragz’s paws look much less dry and much healthier.
Overall, I have been very impressed with these products and will continue using them. And, after trying the samples the company sent, I will also be ordering some of their human goodies!
Conclusion
If you’ve been looking for safe, natural pet grooming products that actually work, I highly recommend Perfectly Natural Soaps Good Dog Grooming Starter Set.
This set includes shampoo, leave-in conditioner, and paw balm—all of which are handmade with 100% natural ingredients by certified soap makers. Not only are they safe and made to support the skin and coat health of your dog, but they work very well. More than a week after her bath, my dog is still cuddly soft and smelling great!