Thread: Making my first batch of aftershave.

So I've been toying with the idea of making my own aftershave. I found this recipe online.
Homemade Aftershave

I used that as the base for what I made. What I'm making you definitely can't call Bay Rum, but it's along those lines. I didn't have bay rum extract so decided to do my own little spin on the recipe.



I ended up with a lot more than 2 tablespoons of orange zest, so I decided to make 2 jars instead of one. I used some lime zest in addition to the orange, just cause I like the smell. I didn't use "whole allspice" cause I didn't have any. I used powdered instead and I think it'll be fine. I tossed in about 3 bay leaves into each jar too, just because. I added some patchoulli essential oil because I had some and I thought it would smell good with the other scents. A friend donated some rum for me to use for this, it's Cruzan Blackstrap rum. I personally really enjoy dark rums and I thought it would have a more potent rum scent than the white or gold. I didn't end up having enough witch hazel to top off the jars but I figured I could add more later when its steeped for 4-6 weeks. The CVS witch hazel I used said it ws 84% witch hazel and 14% alchohol, which was better than the witch hazel I saw at the grocery store which said it was 14% witch hazel. Instead of using bottled aloe juice I went out to my aloe plant and cut off a stalk and cut it apart and scraped the inside surfaces into the jars. Slimy but definitely organic, hehe.



It already smells good, and the dry herbs havn't even had a chance to release much scent yet. All in all I'm pretty excited about how this went and how it will smell in a month and a half. I was talking to my cousin and he wants me to make him something with juniper (he has a fondness for the scent of gin). That's something to consider, I'm not sure what other notes would compliment juniper.

Very cool. I'll be following to see how this comes out.

I too want to hear this.

That is super cool and fun at the same time. Love to hear the final result.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

That is super cool and fun at the same time. Love to hear the final result.

+1 I am continually amazed on how shaving has lead me to different things.

Really interesting. Can't wait to hear how it turns out.

As far as juniper goes, I hunt the high deserts out here in AZ which is full of juniper mesquite and sage. I have always want to bottle that scent I get up there on a clear day. Its like heaven on earth I don't know how they would play together in a jar, but in real life they bring me to my happy spot...

Good luck and keep us posted!

Sounds nice, Try out boiling/simmer out the scent you need like a broth for dinner to get it stronger before adding the things that make it a aftershave. or use a pressure cocker to make almost exstract like they did in the old days when making blueberry juice, that way you dont have to wait so long to see if it works.

Let us know how it comes out, this is super cool!

I may try cooking it with woods at some point. I would lost all the alchohol to evaporation, and who knows what else.

Originally Posted by alb1981

Really interesting. Can't wait to hear how it turns out.

As far as juniper goes, I hunt the high deserts out here in AZ which is full of juniper mesquite and sage. I have always want to bottle that scent I get up there on a clear day. Its like heaven on earth I don't know how they would play together in a jar, but in real life they bring me to my happy spot...

Good luck and keep us posted!

Good call. He's fond of vanilla too. Can you picture that in that mix?