Bondi Wash
Bondi Wash - Paperbark & Lemongrass - Dog Wash
- Vegan
- Cruelty Free
Dog Wash in Paperbark & Lemongrass
A gentle wash formulated for a dog's skin rather than yours. Paperbark is an Australian native with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and insect repellent properties, and it is calming, which helps if bath time is not your dog's favourite part of the week. Zesty lemongrass does the freshening. Made in Australia from 99%+ plant-derived ingredients, and Bondi Wash say it also suits other furry friends such as cats and horses.
Key Features
- Gentle, non-toxic formulation designed to suit a dog's skin and system.
- 99%+ plant-derived ingredients. The remaining 1% is food-grade preservative to keep it shelf stable.
- Scented with the Paperbark & Lemongrass essential oil blend, made specifically for dogs.
- Aloe vera, vitamin E and sunflower seed oil to soothe and condition the coat.
- No sulphates. Bondi Wash use plant-based surfactants rather than SLS or SLES.
- Greywater and septic safe.
- Vegan, gluten free, and made in Australia. 500ml.
Pure Standard
- 99% to 100% naturally derived, across the whole range. Bondi Wash are unusually strict about this. The only non-natural ingredients are food-grade preservatives, and they deliberately avoid raw materials with a bad production footprint such as palm oil and rosewood. Greywater and septic safe, so the rinse water off the lawn is not a problem either.
- A dog-specific blend, not a human wash relabelled. The Paperbark and Lemongrass scent was made for dogs. Paperbark is an Australian native chosen for anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and insect repellent properties as much as for how it smells, and it happens to be calming, which is useful on a dog who has worked out what the hose means.
- They refuse soft-plastic pouch refills, on purpose. Bondi Wash say they are asked for them constantly and have decided against, because soft pouches are not fully recyclable and end up in landfill. Their refill route is a 5L bulk bottle instead. Most brands take the easier road here.
- The cruelty-free claim has an asterisk, and it is a fair one. Bondi Wash do not test on animals, with one exception they publish themselves: the dog range is tested on local dogs with sensitive skin. That is willing pets in their own homes rather than a laboratory, and we would rather show you the sentence than pretend it is not there.
- Where we would like more. The ingredient list is written by category rather than itemised: plant-derived surfactants, Australian bush oils, essential oils, food grade preservatives. Bondi Wash name every single oil on their baby wash, so they clearly can. On something going onto an animal's skin we would like the same, and Transparency scores 3 until it happens.
- The bottle is fully recyclable. That is Bondi Wash's stated packaging position across the range. They do not publish a recycled content figure for it, which is the one packaging number we would like to see.
Overall score:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Low-Tox & Material Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) |
| Sustainability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Manufacturing Transparency | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5) |
| Packaging | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.5/5) |
How to Use
- Wet your dog's coat thoroughly with warm water.
- Pour a small amount onto your hands and spread it over the wet fur.
- Lather well, avoiding the eyes, ears and mouth.
- Rinse well.
- Bondi Wash state it is also safe for cats and horses. We would still check with your vet before bathing a cat with any essential oil wash, because cats process terpenes poorly compared with dogs.
- Speak to your vet first if your dog is unwell, pregnant or very young. That is sensible with any essential oil product rather than a concern specific to this one.
- Store out of direct sunlight.
Product Details
Ingredients
Purified water, plant-derived surfactants, glycerin, aloe vera extract, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, xanthan gum, citric acid, Australian bush oils, essential oils, food grade preservatives. Bondi Wash publish the list at this level rather than as itemised INCI.
Fragrance
Paperbark & Lemongrass, from real essential oils. Bondi Wash blend it specifically for dogs. No synthetic fragrance.
Specifications
- Size: 500ml.
- Suitable for: dogs. Bondi Wash also state it is safe for cats and horses.
- Free from sulphates (no SLS or SLES).
- Greywater and septic safe.
- Vegan, and gluten free (Bondi Wash confirm the range is safe for coeliacs).
- Origin: made in Australia.
- Packaging: fully recyclable bottle. Bondi Wash do not make soft-plastic pouch refills by choice.
- Store out of direct sunlight.
Our Take
A dog wash built for the dog rather than for us. Paperbark is the interesting part: an Australian native picked for its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and insect repellent properties, and it happens to be calming, which helps at the business end of bath time. 99%+ plant derived, greywater and septic safe, and Bondi Wash flatly refuse to make soft-plastic pouch refills because they are not properly recyclable. Two honest caveats. The ingredient list is written by category rather than oil by oil, and Bondi Wash's own cruelty-free statement carries one exception: the dog range is tested on local dogs with sensitive skin. Willing pets in their own homes rather than a laboratory, and we would rather you read that here than find it later.
Purely Organic
Good to know
Frequently asked
Can I use this on my cat?
Bondi Wash state it is safe to use on other furry friends such as cats and horses, and they formulate it to be gentle. We would still check with your vet before bathing a cat with any essential oil wash, because cats process terpenes far more slowly than dogs do. Most cats groom themselves and never need bathing unless they have a skin condition, fleas or ringworm.
Does it contain tea tree?
We cannot tell you oil by oil. Bondi Wash publish the ingredient list at category level, naming Australian bush oils and essential oils rather than itemising them. What they do name is the scent blend, paperbark and lemongrass, and they say it is formulated specifically for dogs. If you want a wash that carries a written no-tea-tree statement, the Koala Eco and Euclove dog washes both give you one.
What is paperbark doing in a dog wash?
Paperbark is an Australian native with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and insect repellent properties, which is why Bondi Wash chose it for the dog range rather than for the smell alone. It is also calming, which is useful on a dog who has worked out what the hose means. Lemongrass adds the zest.
What is actually in it?
Purified water, plant-derived surfactants, glycerin, aloe vera extract, vitamin E, sunflower seed oil, xanthan gum, citric acid, Australian bush oils, essential oils and food grade preservatives. Bondi Wash say the range is 99 to 100 percent naturally derived, and that the only non-natural part is the food-grade preservative keeping it shelf stable.
Is it really cruelty free?
Bondi Wash say they are firmly against cruelty to animals and do not test on them, with one exception they publish themselves: the dog range is tested on local dogs with sensitive skin. That means willing pets in their own homes rather than a laboratory. We think that is fair, and we would rather show you the sentence than leave it out.
How do I wash my dog with it?
Wet the coat thoroughly with warm water, pour a small amount onto your hands and spread it over the wet fur, lather well while avoiding the eyes, ears and mouth, then rinse well. Speak to your vet first if your dog is unwell, pregnant or very young.
Is there a refill?
Not in a pouch, and that is deliberate. Bondi Wash say they are asked for soft pouch refills constantly and have decided against them because that packaging is not fully recyclable and ends up in landfill. Their refill format is a 5L bulk bottle, which we do not currently stock. The 500ml bottle itself is fully recyclable.
Is it septic safe?
Yes. Bondi Wash state the whole range is greywater and septic safe and creates no downstream environmental damage, so washing the dog on the lawn is not a problem.
