Thread: Make Your Own Bay Rum

I am sure many of you go to The Art of Manliness website, but in case you don't, they have posted some articles about barber shops, straight razor shaving, and other things. Recently they posted this article about making your won bay rum AS.

Thanks for the post. I definitely think I'll give this a try.

Thanks for the link.
I looked up West Indian bay and could not find a source for the leaf, but there is plenty of Essential Oil that is not expensive at all, and can be used in the recipe.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Thanks for the link.
I looked up West Indian bay and could not find a source for the leaf, but there is plenty of Essential Oil that is not expensive at all, and can be used in the recipe.

mainaman,

+1 for that suggestion...If you can't find the actual bay leaf you can substitute the essential oil.

My daughter made some custom fragrances when she was in high school as part of her applied chemistry course. She got the essential oils for her fragrances from a local store that sells custom perfumes and colognes. She then mixed them based on recipes that she got off the internet to achieve the fragrances that appealed to her and her classmates.

There are probably even online merchants who sell bay leaf essential oil wholesale.

I have several commercial varities of BR...might be good to experiment & come up with your own favorite...Thanks for the post/info...

I actually have a batch of the first recipe that should be ready to use next Saturday. I have been checking the jar yesterday and it smells real nice.

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.

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.