Hendrick's Gin

[Brontosaurus]

I'm thinking about making an after shave from Hendrick's gin, which is a little over 40 per cent alcohol and has traces of cucumber and rose in addition to juniper. Any suggestions on how I might use it? Straight? Cut with a witch hazel solution? Or distilled water?

[DZEC]

A splash of tonic?

Have you thought about adding some glycerine to tone it down a bit and provide a bit of softness for the skin?

[Brontosaurus]

Have you thought about adding some glycerine to tone it down a bit and provide a bit of softness for the skin?

No, I haven't. How much would you suggest?

[DZEC]

Don’t know - I haven’t tried this myself. I jut like the way glycerine adds some softness to my face when it is incorporated into a shave soap or a balm. I think I would experiment with proportions using a very small batch first. That way you won’t waste too much gin.

[Brontosaurus]

One thing that might be interesting would be to try it blended with Thayer's cucumber and rose toners. Say, 50ml:25ml:25ml gin:cucumber:rose (with a little bit of glycerine? or aloe vera?) for starters.

[DZEC]

Sounds like you are about to move into the artisan aftershave business.

Those ingredients sound reasonable. Experiment will determine the correct proportions.

Good luck and please report your findings.

[DZEC]

I forgot to mention what causes me to have a bias against scented aftershaves and colognes. My work requires me to visit offices that are “scent free” zones, so I can’t wear any kind of scented product during the workday. I even have to be careful not use aromatic shave soaps. My preferences for after shaving face treatment include simple balms and natural non-aromatic products like shea butter, glycerine or plain witch hazel. By the time I get to where I have to be any residual scent has dissipated.

[MrZ]

I have a few simple suggestions on what to do with a bottle of gin, but it is only 9 in the morning and I would rather wait until after the work day.

[Brontosaurus]

I have a few simple suggestions on what to do with a bottle of gin, but it is only 9 in the morning and I would rather wait until after the work day.

Yes, that is the flip side of this coin. Apparently, the recommendation with a Hendrick's gin & tonic is to add a slice of cucumber, instead of a wedge of lime.

[Brontosaurus]

I forgot to mention what causes me to have a bias against scented aftershaves and colognes. My work requires me to visit offices that are “scent free” zones, so I can’t wear any kind of scented product during the workday. I even have to be careful not use aromatic shave soaps. My preferences for after shaving face treatment include simple balms and natural non-aromatic products like shea butter, glycerine or plain witch hazel. By the time I get to where I have to be any residual scent has dissipated.

I can't imagine that the trace amounts of cucumber and rose would have much lasting effect here, but I understand what you mean. My main concern here would be arriving to work smelling like I'd already taken to the bottle!