Thread: Homemade Aftershave Tips

Hi guys. I'm trying to formulate a homemade alcohol-based aftershave. Ofcourse, once I get a working formula, I'll make it available here. Here's what I was thinking of doing:

1) Alcohol as an astringent
2) Mint/Sage for their antiseptic properties, scent and feel they'd give to the skin (I'd dissolve them in alcohol and strain out the particles)
3) Aloe vera gel (to soothe the skin)

I'll play around with ingredient ratios, but I wanted to see if you guys knew how the Aloe would blend into the alcohol? Does it dissolve or does it separate from the mixture? What's the best way to blend it so it stays uniform?

I can't find the thread where we were talking about the homemade after shaves last year, but luckily I collected them up. None of them are mine and I know they don't answer your question, but they might help or inspire. Here comes!

After Shave Recipes

Alcohol-Free Softening Aftershave Some men don’t like alcohol in their aftershave.
2 cups witch hazel extract
2 ounces rose water
2 ounces aloe vera gel
1/2 ounce vegetable glycerin
A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (such as peppermint and eucalyptus), if desired Combine the ingredients in a jar, and shake to blend.
Pat on the face after shaving.
Makes 2 1/2 cups.

For using essential oils, be careful with them. Some are not so good used on the skin.
My curent recepie is this,
50ml water
50ml aloe gel 100%
1 ts honey
1 ts almond oil
2 tbs dried chamomile flowers.
It is absolutely wonderful, i like the smell too. It is not scented wit any essential oils, but i might try some ylangylang or patchouli when i get them.
I like bergamot scent a lot, but it is phototoxic a bit, so i wont be using it...

Gary's Aftershave
1/3 witch hazel
2/3 water
50 drops Sandalwood
4 drops grapefruit
1 drop cardamon
1) There are several different sandalwoods and I don't know which one she uses for me.
2) I think this is all mixed in a one ounce bottle, but I am not sure; again, she doesn't have it marked.

Here is a second recipe:
1oz Avocado oil
4 drops lavender
4 drops R. Chamomile
2 drops grapefruit
2 drops tea tree

Alcohol-Free Softening Aftershave
2 cups witch hazel extract
2 ounces rose water
2 ounces aloe vera gel
1/2 ounce vegetable glycerin
A few drops of an essential oil of your choice (such as peppermint and eucalyptus), if desired Combine the ingredients in a jar, and shake to blend.
Makes 2 1/2 cups.


bay rum:

75 ml ethyl alcohol
25 ml water
1/2 tsp. glycerin
20-25 drops bay essential oil


TOILET WATERS
From "The Ancient Book of Formulas" by Lewis de Claremont comes this basic information on how to distinguish perfumes, colognes, and toilet waters based on their relative percentages of essential oils, alcohol, and water:
All perfumes contain alcohol to varying degrees. Most
important perfumes contain 2 to 3 ounces of oils per pint
of alcohol. Most domestic [cheaper] perfumes [and Colognes]
contain 1 to 3 ounces of oils per pint of alcohol.

However the amounts of essential oil or concentration is
determined solely by taste and price.

Toilet waters are just weak perfumes, generally containing 1
to 6 ounces of essential oil per gallon of alcohol. However
10% to 25% water is usually added according to the amount of
essential oils contained therein.
ALCOHOL USED IN PERFUMERY
From Hiscox and Sloane's "Fortunes in Formulas" comes this basic information on the proper type of alcohol to use in perfumery:
The alcohol used should be that obtained from the
distillation of wine, provided a first-class article
is desired. It is possible, of course, to make a good
Cologne with very highly rectified and deodorized corn
or potato spirits, but the product never equals that
made from wine spirits. Possibly the reason for this
lies in the fact that the latter always contains a
varying amount of oenanthic ether.
COLOURING
It is traditional to dye Florida Water a pale aqua-green and Kananga Water a pale orange. These dyes are not necessary to the formulas, but if you intend to show the results of your experiments to others, their use will greatly enhance viewer recognition.
INCORPORATING GRAIN MUSK AND CIVET IN LIQUID PERFUMES
The formulas for Kananga perfumes below contain grain musk and/or civet. Hiscox and Sloane's "Fortunes in Formulas" provides the following basic information on the proper formulation of such ingredients in liquid perfumes:
When grain musk is used as an ingredient in liquid
perfumes, first rub down with pumice stone, then digest
in hot water for 2 or 3 hours; finally add to alcohol.
The addition of 2 or 3 minims of acetic acid will improve
the odor and also prevent accumulation of NH3. Civet
should be thoroughly rubbed down with some coarse powder
and added directly to alcohol.
FLORIDA WATER #1
oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces
oil of lavender 1 fluid ounce
oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce
oil of cloves 1 1/4 fluid drachms
oil of cinnamon 2 1/2 fluid drachms
oil of neroli 1/2 fluid drachms
essence of jasmine 6 fluid ounces
essence of musk 2 fluid ounces
alcohol 8 pints
rose water 1 pint

Mix and, if cloudy, filter through
magnesium carbonate.
-- From "Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop" 
edited by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and 
Prof. T. O'Conner Sloane, A.B., A.M., Em., Ph.D. 
(The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937)
FLORIDA WATER #2

oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces
oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce
oil of ylang ylang 1 fluid ounce
oil of lavender 1/2 fluid ounce
oil of cinnamon 20 drops
oil of cloves 12 drops
oil of neroli 10 drops
alcohol 1 gallon
rose water 1 pint
(or distilled water plus light rose scent)
-- From my own personal notes, circa 1973, source 
not attributed but apparently adapted from an old 
formulary to use what i had on hand at the time.
YLANG YLANG PERFUME (Basis for KANANGA WATER #1)

oil of ylang ylang 10 minims
oil of neroli 5 minims
oil of rose 5 minims
oil of bergamot 3 minims
alcohol 10 oz.

One grain of musk may be added

Dilute with distilled water to make a toilet water.
-- From "Manual of Formulas, Recipes, Methods, and Secret Processes" 
edited by Raymond B. Wailes, B.S. 
(Popular Science Publishing Co., New York, 1932)
BOUQUET CANANG (Basis for KANANGA WATER #2)

ylang ylang oil 45 minims
rose oil 15 minims
cassie oil 5 minims
almond oil 1/2 minims
tincture of orris rhizome 1 fluid ounce
tincture of storax 3 fluid drachms
grain musk 3 grains
civet 1 grain
tonka beans 3 (chopped)
alcohol (90%) 9 fluid ounces

Mix, and digest one month, then filter. The
above is a very delicious perfume.

N.B. Cassie oil, also called cassie otto, is
derived from the flowers of Acacia farnesiana,
a.k.a. Mimosa farnesiana, L. (N.O. Leguminosae,
sub-order Mimoseae). It must not be confounded
with cassia otto, the essential oil obtained
from Cinnamomum cassia.
-- From "Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop" 
edited by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and 
Prof. T. O'Conner Sloane, A.B., A.M., Eum., ph.D. 
(The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937)
EXTRAIT D'YLANG-YLANG (Basis for KANANGA WATER #3)
Essence d'ylang-ylang 24 grammes
Isoeugenol 4 grammes
Methyl-isoeugenol 2 grammes
Alcohol a 90 [degree symbol] pour 1 litre
-- From "The Ancient Book of Formulas"
by Lewis de Claremont
(Oracle Products Corporation, New York, 1940)
Note: Bouquet Canang, Kananga Perfume, and Extrait d'Ylang-Ylang are strong perfumes and as such may be diluted with 10% to 25% distilled water as outlined above to make them into Kananga Water.

Florida Water
Florida Water is a staple for many of the religious ceremonies of Afro/Latino religious expressions or sects. Basically, it is cologne used for spiritual services, purification, cleansing, healing, jinx-breaking, protection from enemies, tranquility, peaceful home, dealing with the dead, safe travel, and psychism.
Florida Water is a 19th century formula for a commercially-prepared eau de toilet that blends an array of floral essential oils in a water-alcohol base. The name refers to the fabled Fountain of Youth said to have been located in Florida.
I prefer to buy the ones at stores, without saying a specific brand. But I found a formula to prepare this spiritual water from "Fortunes in Formulas For Home, Farm, and Workshop" edited by Garner D. Hiscox, M.E. and Prof. T. O'Conner Sloane, A.B., A.M., Em., Ph.D. (The Norman B. Henley Publishing Company, 1937):
- Oil of bergamot 3 fluid ounces
- Oil of lavender 1 fluid ounce
- Oil of lemon 1 fluid ounce
- Oil of cloves 1 1/4 fluid drachms
- Oil of cinnamon 2 1/2 fluid drachms
- Oil of neroli 1/2 fluid drachms
- Essence of jasmine 6 fluid ounces
- Essence of musk 2 fluid ounces
- Alcohol 8 pints
- Rose water 1 pint
Mix and pass it through a soft filter.
Kananga Water
Also a 19th century eau de toilet, Kananga Water is used for psychism, purification, and dealing with the dead. In Jamaica and the Caribbean, the Kananga water is known after the huge commercial Kananga plantations were established during the 19th century by the British colony.
The Kananga Water is built upon a foundation of essential oil of Cananga Odorata, also known as Ylang Ylang. It flowers consist of six narrow, twisted, drooping 3 - 4" long petals. And the orange color of this spiritual water comes from its greenish yellow and orange petals.
The home made formula for this spiritual water comes from the same author lines above:
- Ylang Ylang oil 45 minims
- Rose oil 15 minims
- Cassie oil 5 minims
- Almond oil 1/2 minims
- Tincture of orris rhizome 1 fluid ounce
- Tincture of storax 3 fluid drachms
- Grain musk 3 grains
- Civet 1 grain
- Tonka beans 3 (chopped)
- Alcohol (90%) 9 fluid ounces
Mix, and let sit for one month, then filter.


I just took an old quart mason jar and packed it full of Bay leaves [note: DON'T buy them at your local supermarket - you'll end up spending a wad - my wife is Thai, so we do a lot of shopping in the Asian markets - I picked up a big bag for a couple of bucks] and poured a fifth of 151 Rum (I figured I wanted the increased alcohol content). I also added about 5-10 cloves, a stick of cinnamon and a couple of twists of orange peel - I sealed her up tight and set it on the window sill in the sun to let it cook up for about three weeks - I would mix and shake it once a day - I'm well pleased with the scent, however, I do notice just a bit of a sticky residue - nothing too bad

50ml 100% aloe gel
1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon marigold oil

that's it. You can put a few drops of essential oil in it for smell and good skin properties, but do a research a bit, not every oil is benefitial to the skin, and some of them are qute harmfull... I use ylangylang, lavander, jasmine...e.t.c.

X

P.S. I haven't even had the chance to test any of them yet either so I am just providing the knowledge. YOU have to do the testing.

my goodness....I'd love to try...but

1) have not time
2) I'd have to convert all the sizes into european sizes first and I'm lazy

Hi,

I primarily use my own aftershave, mixed from the following ingredients:

- 50ml Alcohol (Ethanol), here in Germany for tax reasons I use "Cosmetic Basic Water", but you could use pure Ethanol as well

- 30ml Witch Hazel Exctract

- 3-5 Drops of Glycerin

- a small amount of Allantoin (2-3 x of what fits on the tip of a knife, don't know the english term :-) )

- 5-10 Drops of Alpha-Bisalbolol (this is the main Camomile-Ingredient)

- Essential Oils for scent, what I use is 10 Drops of Bay-Oil (Bay Rum) and 5-7 Drops of Lemongrass

This give to me a very soothing and relaxing aftershave, and as my skin somehow cannot cope with balms I go for the alcohol-based version :-)

-Axel-

Where do you normally go to buy all those things? I'd have no clue where to start!

Hi,

either buy online (much cheaper) from some essential oils or DIY cosmetics supplier (if you speak/read German, baccararose.de is pretty good). Also many chemical supplies have these, often at very reasonable prices.

In Germany, you can also find the ingredients in pharmacies and some specialized DIY cosmetics stores (Spinnrad is well known over here), but these tend to be a bit higher priced.

-Axel-

As cheap as A/S products are, I really wonder why bother making your own? It is a particuilar scent you are after? I can't see the investment being worth the finished product. Just curious as to the thought process...

RT

Like shaving I'd think it's mostly the experience and knowing that you've done a good job on a project of your own.

Originally Posted by LX_Emergency

Like shaving I'd think it's mostly the experience and knowing that you've done a good job on a project of your own.

Obviously, I'm lazy! I just want to pour it from a bottle!

RT