Thread: Make Your Own Bay Rum

Originally Posted by MichaelP

I just double-filtered the mixture and I think we have a winner! I'll do a proper test after shaving tomorrow, it already passed the wife acceptance test with high colors.

My mix was vanilla flavored vodka (80 proof) and plantation rum (100 proof). I'll try the next batch with 'pure' alcohol (96%) instead of vodka.

Did you use bay leaf or essential oil from bay leaf?

Originally Posted by mainaman

Did you use bay leaf or essential oil from bay leaf?

I was wondering the same thing I can't find anything BR here close to me I have been forced to buy mine

I used Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum tejpata) which can be found at Indian groceries

Update:
I tested it after a shave and it is really nice... doesn't sting like hell, smells really nice and soothes the skin.

What do you guys think about this: I just take some store bought bay rum and add a bit of a vanilla bean. Thought about it when I saw the guy using vanilla vodka in his homemade bay rum

I researched several vintage bay rum recipes; I wanted basic, simple, authentic, but light (I have never been able to wear aftershave as its always too strong on me). I found that most recipes used a ratio of 1:128 for the Oil of Bay, so I went with half that (1/4 tsp oil of bay in 8 ounces of aftershave). The Oil of bay (the right one) was easy to find at a local aromatherapy/holistic medicine store in their essential oils stock. Most of the vintage barber recipes I looked at used oil of bay and variations on mixtures of rum, distilled spirits of wine (modern equivalent is everclear or 90% ethanol), and water to arrive at alcohol contents ranging widely from 15% to 65%. I settled on a 50:50 water/Jamaican Rum mix (equals 20% alcohol ) so as to not dry out skin.

Comparing the end product to the commercially made Bay Rum I have (Booster Shaving Products Bay Rum) I found that mine smells extremely similar (maybe a little nicer), and slightly stronger (I expected weaker!). Also like the Booster product, it dissipates fairly rapidly. Works for me!!! I think its more authentic made with the real rum (Booster uses SD alcohol 40 denatured alcohol) and no artificial colouring (I used amber rum).

Recipe: 1/4 teaspoon oil of bay, 4 oz Jamaican Rum, 4 oz water.

I think I am going to try this!

I just purchased this on Ebay. If Im successful growing it I will post the results when I use some of the leaves.
BAY RUM TREE Pimenta racemosa
BAY RUM TREE Pimenta racemosa Cologne Scent Plant (SP) - eBay (item 130378935808 end time Apr-28-10 16:55:12 PDT)

I found a source for leaves:

GRENADA MARKET

Sounds like a great idea. Thanks for your useful post.

Here is a link to two additional bay rum recipes from the "Art of Manliness" website.

Homemade Bay Rum Aftershave | The Art of Manliness