Thread: Captain's Choice Bay Rum Problems

May affect some differently. Sensitive skin might be more prone to irritation, but this is a common warning on Bay Leaf essential oil.

WARNING: Bay Leaf may be a dermal irritant and a sensitizer. If using on the skin, use in very weak dilutions.

Howard

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

WARNING: Bay Leaf may be a dermal irritant and a sensitizer. If using on the skin, use in very weak dilutions.

Howard

I have to say that it's the first time I've heard that about bay leaf...
I'll try in different areas to see if any react to that, but as far as I know I'm not allergic to any thing.

Generally speaking, Bay Rum will tell you in short order if your technique is up to snuff.

I know if I've had a sub par shave Bay Rum will burn like the dickens without any redness or signs of irritation. Many others will attest to this fact too

Originally Posted by Eco82

I have to say that it's the first time I've heard that about bay leaf...
I'll try in different areas to see if any react to that, but as far as I know I'm not allergic to any thing.

Eco,

I really like Bay Rum and use one of the aftershaves everyday. My wife makes soap and I had asked her to make a batch of bay rum for me. When she was sourcing the bay rum essential oil she kept finding the precautions.

I've never had any type of reaction, but when you posted "but lately, the Captain's choice is giving me a way more intense burning feeling, to the point that I have to wash it away and put some balm on my face." I remembered the precautions. It may not be at all what you're experiencing, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

and I hope it's just a little razor burn and you can get back to enjoying the Bay Rum aftershave.

Howard

Heres a couple more I found on essential oil sites.

"Bay Rum essential oil is mucous membrane irritating, and moderately toxic due to high content of eugenol. It is non-irritating on human skin when used at less than 5% concentration; however, it should not be used on very sensitive skin, and for prolonged periods of time. Avoid during pregnancy."


"Bay rum essential oil has a high eugenol content and may cause skin irritation as well as irritation of the mucus membranes. It is considered to be mildly toxic and should be used in small amounts. Avoid use or during pregnancy. If used on the skin, a patch test should always be performed first and it should always be diluted."

Captains Choice advertises the fact that they don't use clove. But I've found cinnamon to irritate my skin. There may be an allergy in play here.

So I tried it yesterday on my forearm after testing one of the blades and although I did feel a little burn is not as bad as the one on my face... so I really think I'll blame this on my technique...

So... I tried the bar rum again and it gave me the same burning feeling, today I used a different AS splash which at first has a sharper sting than what I originally felt with BR but the burn faded a few seconds later.
I'm focusing more on my technique and really stretching the skin as I got a little bit over confident with that.
My concern is that if I can't use the Bay Rum - because of the warning - I'll want to use it more. We all want what we can't have he he he.

I'm not sure if it's possible to develop a reaction over time to certain substances or, if I'm sensitive to bay rum, if it should've apear right from the beginning. Either way I'm kind of sad because I'm starting to enjoy the scent of BR but I'm afraid to use it now. I think I'll just put it once without shaving and see if that triggers the same reaction.

Thank you everyone for the answers.

If not allergies then technique is the next likely cause. Finally, there is the blade. A damaged edge may scrape the skin causing irritation, causing too much burning from an A/S. Also a blade that is not sharp enough may cause you to put too much pressure on the skin which will cause irritation causing burning as well. I know that if my blade is not up to snuff one of the signs is irritation on the cheeks.

Regards,

Ignatius

had the same problem with cc. I switched to ogallala. brand like the feel and scent better. I think spender is correct about the high alcohol content.

Ogallala is a witch hazel base, if I reall correctly. I don't get "the burn" from it like I do other alcohol-based bay rums. Switching brands may be the answer.