Alfons' homemade Bay Rum recipe

[AVH]

Hi all,

After looking for some homemade Bay Rum recipes, I decided to give it a go. My recipe is largely based on some others I found on this forum & elsewhere, more specifically this one and this one.

I've never smelled actual Bay Rum, so I'm not quite sure if my recipe smells like traditional bay rum, but I really like the smell of mine, as do my friends.

Alfons' Bay Rhum

You'll need:

• 200mL alcohol (I used 94% grain alcohol, though pure ethanol or perfumer's alcohol is preferred)
• 3 cloves
• 1,8g fresh lime zest
• 1,8g fresh orange zest
• 40 drops of witch hazel tincture (not sure about the concentration, add to taste)
• 10 dried allspice berries (or ca. 30 drops of Pimenta racemosa essential oil)
• 0,8g of dried cinnamon (I pinched off a small piece of a cinnamon stick)
• A pinch of dried rosemary
• A pinch of freshly ground ginger
• 450mL water
• 0,6g allantoin
• 5 drops of pure glycerin

Procedure:

1. Put the alcohol in a glass jar
2. Add cloves, allspice (or Pimenta oil), lime zest, orange zest and witch hazel
3. Let rest for about 9 days, shaking occasionaly
4. In another jar, put 450mL of water, together with the glycerin & allantoin. Shake well.
5. Add the contents of the water/glycerin/allantoin jar to the alcohol jar, together with the cinnamon, rosemary and ginger. Shake well.
6. Let rest for a day or two.
7. Filter through a coffee filter, put in a glass bottle, make a nice label, and apply!

The result is a refreshing aftershave with a great smell. The allantoin and witch hazel should greatly reduce any irritation from shaving, and together with the glycerin should result in a soothing & moisturizing aftershave!