Thread: Bay rum scent

Mike, can you add anything to make the scent longer lasting? The homemade ones I've had so far are short-lived scent wise.

I agree that Royall makes a very good Bay Rhum. I prefer theirs over most I have tried.

Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

Mike, can you add anything to make the scent longer lasting? The homemade ones I've had so far are short-lived scent wise.

use essential oils instead of natural ingredients to start with, EO's are simply more concentrated.
secondly, give it longer to absorb all of the scent into the rum. 8 weeks should be a starting point.
I allow mine to sit until I've sold almost all of the previous batch, which is often well over 8 weeks.
The addition of a carrier such as glycerine, or a tiny bit of sweet almond oil will keep the scent on your skin longer, and will act as a moisturizer.
and use a good quality rum, I prefer Bacardi Select, it just seems to work better for me.

I have a bay berry bush in my back pasture, it's a native Indiana plant, and it smells great. Do you think it may produce a similar scent to bay rum, or would be worth experimenting with?
Say if I were to buy a pint of bacardi select, take a couple pulls off of it, and then fill the remainder back up with the leaves and berries. or am I talkin' crazy talk?

Originally Posted by go eyeball

I have a bay berry bush in my back pasture, it's a native Indiana plant, and it smells great. Do you think it may produce a similar scent to bay rum, or would be worth experimenting with?
Say if I were to buy a pint of bacardi select, take a couple pulls off of it, and then fill the remainder back up with the leaves and berries. or am I talkin' crazy talk?

possibly in the same family, but not likely as strong, you can try it...
add a couple of sticks of cinnamon, and a spoon full of whole cloves, and you're well on your way.
however the bay oil used in true bay rum is from a very specific plant.
Pimenta racemosa - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thanks all for an interesting thread- i have only ever used bay rum as a hair dressing althoug the stuff we get here in the UK might not be as aromatic as what you all get in the USA!

Think I will have to make some for myself!!!

Originally Posted by go eyeball

I have a bay berry bush in my back pasture, it's a native Indiana plant, and it smells great. Do you think it may produce a similar scent to bay rum, or would be worth experimenting with?
Say if I were to buy a pint of bacardi select, take a couple pulls off of it, and then fill the remainder back up with the leaves and berries. or am I talkin' crazy talk?

This is a totally different plant, actually a myrtle.

Originally Posted by foundlingofdollar

Mike, can you add anything to make the scent longer lasting? The homemade ones I've had so far are short-lived scent wise.

What's your mix ratio? You can add a 2 drops of pure bay EO. Then test from there.

Originally Posted by Aurora Borealis

What's your mix ratio? You can add a 2 drops of pure bay EO. Then test from there.

I'm not making it, I've just tried a few from a few straight shavers. The last one I had I believe was scented with bay leaves and did contain some glycerin. It smelled like heaven, but was almost gone in half an hour.

BAY RUM #1

16.5% Bay Leaf
16.5% Clove
33% Red Thyme
33% Allspice

BAY RUM #2
74% Bay Leaf
9% Clove
9% Sweet Orange
4% Neroli
4% ounce Allspice

BAY RUM #3

71% Bay Leaf
7% Clove
22% Orange

Here's a couple recipes I found if you're looking for EO blends. There's quite a bit of variation but they all have bay leaf and clove in common. I'm thinking about trying #2 to scent some of the cream I made, only substituting petitgrain for neroli since neroli would break me financially.