Thread: Homemade aftershave

So, I have been attempting to make my own aftershave. It is slow going. I have been playing around with the idea for a little while, and I finally e-mailed Colleen asking her about menthol and peppermint EO. I like the cooling effect a lot.

Today I went to my local health food store and bought a large range of products. I bough Peppermint EO, along with Eucalyptus EO and Cedarwood EO. I bought vegetable glycerin, witch hazel, shea butter, coconut butter, vitamin e oil, and some distilled water.

I played around with different mixtures, and came up with something that I will be calling Peppermint Cedar. It smells, ok. I am not the biggest fan of peppermint, I just like the cooling effect because the high menthol content. I am looking a source of menthol without such a powerful smell. It doesn't smell bad, but it doesn't smell all that great to me. Some might like it, but I don't much.

I have to say though, this stuff makes my skin feel good, as it has so many different things that are healthy for it. I won't use it everyday, but if my skin is feeling really dry or irritated, this stuff is going on man.

I need to experiment more. This stuff is somewhere between a splash and a balm, but I really want an all out balm. Something along the consistency and appearance of Proraso aftershave balm. I don't know how they get that milky white cream look, but I want to figure that out. Colleen was very helpful in all of this. Such an amazing woman, that one. I will continue to pick her brain for info.

My goal is to come up with a nice base, that I can then add EOs to. This is all tricky business, and will take time to figure out. I'm not planning on going commercial with this stuff or anything. I don't have the time nor facilities to make batches of this stuff for selling. I just kind of want to experiment a little with it.

Matt

I think when you have a water based concoction you have to watch out for microbial growth -----how are you going to handle this?

Well, the witch hazel does have alcohol in it. It is actually 14% alcohol. And EOs work as preservatives. They have phenols in them, which are powerful antiseptics and bactericides. I also used distilled water, though that is more about purities then microbe growth. Anyway, I am pretty confident in the mixtures ability to combat microbial growth in the aftershave, though I am honestly no expert on the subject.

Originally Posted by Kentriv

Well, the witch hazel does have alcohol in it. It is actually 14% alcohol. And EOs work as preservatives. They have phenols in them, which are powerful antiseptics and bactericides. I also used distilled water, though that is more about purities then microbe growth. Anyway, I am pretty confident in the mixtures ability to combat microbial growth in the aftershave, though I am honestly no expert on the subject.

I guess what I'm saying is that you don't have to use water ---if you stick to a oil based mixture then you won't have as much of an issue. I think some people use an aloe vera base ----anyway I don't know either , just trying to pose some questions.


Justin

You should be fine I am not yet what one would call an expert, but I am a Bio/Chem double major and know the basics. The level of alcohol in the witch hazel and the phenols in the essential oils should be more than adequate to denature the proteins of most if not all bacterial cells. All depending on the amount of them you use, but I wouldnt worry too much. Just dont go crazy cause the EO's in too high a concentration will probably irritate you like a mother because of the acidity. Any qualified people out there are free to add on or tell me I am off base, but I feel like the general point is solid. Just my $0.02.

Hmm, the aloevera is a good idea. I started with distilled because most recipes I found called for that as a base. I had not though of the aloe.

Originally Posted by Kentriv

Hmm, the aloevera is a good idea. I started with distilled because most recipes I found called for that as a base. I had not though of the aloe.

Check out this place, http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/soap/default.asp

Justin

P.S. Check out the Shaving Soap and Aftershave pdf on this page: http://straightrazorpalace.com/compo...d,23/Itemid,3/

I have made my own for a couple of years, here is the recipe.
5oz of vodka. 1 oz of rum. 6 bay leaves. 1/4 tsp allspice.
1 cinomon stick. 1/4tsp orange extract. 20 drops oil of bay.
15 drops of oil of clove. put in a tight contrainer. shake a couple times a day for two weeks, strain through a coffee filter, and use.
You will need to shake it before use to mix the oils in. add more or less of these oils to your liking.

Hmm, I will have to check that one out. It seems like a bay rum recipe.

Is there anything that will keep the mix together?