Distilled Witch Hazel (Drug Store Brand)

[Pine.Clad.Hills]

Just wondering if anybody has any experience with no name drug store brand witch hazel. It says on the bottle distilled and the medical ingredient as Hamamelis virginiana.. But it also list alcohol in the other ingredients with no percentage.

Anybody have experience with drug store brand witch hazel?

The price is $7.99 Canadian for 500ml. I really would love to try Thayers but its not available locally and I am not sure when I will be ordering online again. If I cannot find a equivalent replacement, maybe really soon.

Thanks

 

[jsrdrnr]

Mine is store brand and is 86% witch hazel and 14% alcohol. 1.00 for 1 pt here.

 

[FLTiger]

I'm using a store brand witch hazel, and the efficacy is identical to the Dickinsons that I used prior. Like rubbing alcohol, witch hazel is witch hazel, unless the manufacturer is adding stuff to "improve" it.

 

[sandmountainslim]

I use Family Dollar and Dollar General brands....GOOD stuff
Wp

 

[WhosYerBob]

Tried it - didn't like it. My go-to witch hazel is Thayers Superhazel and the generic stuff just can't hold a candle to it.

 

[michiganlover]

I just started using the Generic dollar store brand Witch Hazel about two weeks ago. It's great stuff. Can't pinpoint why, but my post shave results seem better with the Witch Hazel, rather than just using the Aftershave by itself.

 

[FLTiger]

Tried it - didn't like it. My go-to witch hazel is Thayers Superhazel and the generic stuff just can't hold a candle to it.

Adolescent memories of the Sea Breeze astringent prevent me from enjoying the Superhazel--it smells exactly the same to me.

 

[The Knize]

If ClubManRob were still around he could explain--I can't--but as I understand it, Thayers is not really witch hazel. Those generic brands are, however, and they are really good as far as far as I am concerned. I used Thayers, too. Lavender, lately. But I think it is cheating for it to call itself witch hazel!

 

[WittyAg]

Witch hazel is witch hazel in my opinion. Most of the plain bottle drug store varieties are 84% and work just fine and are cheap.

 

[Uber Goober]

I use T.N.Dickinson`s Witch Hazel, double distilled witch hazel with 14% alcohol, and I can thoroughly recommend it to all. I`ve used Thayers and have found the Dickinson`s to be just as good if not better. I feel it`s better and is less than A$7.00 for a 240ml bottle. It works great and not just for the price it`s great period.

Stephen.

 

[Swampfox]

i just started using the generic dollar store brand witch hazel about two weeks ago. It's great stuff. Can't pinpoint why, but my post shave results seem better with the witch hazel, rather than just using the aftershave by itself.

+1

 

[The Knize]

I use T.N.Dickinson`s Witch Hazel, double distilled witch hazel with 14% alcohol, and I can thoroughly recommend it to all. I`ve used Thayers and have found the Dickinson`s to be just as good if not better. I feel it`s better and is less than A$7.00 for a 240ml bottle. It works great and not just for the price it`s great period.

Stephen.

Great stuff. Love the way this stuff smells and Dickenson's seems to smell all the more strongly than even the drugstore brands.

 

[WhosYerBob]

Adolescent memories of the Sea Breeze astringent prevent me from enjoying the Superhazel--it smells exactly the same to me.

Smells sort of Bay Rum-ish to me - it has cloves and camphor in it. Stops the small nicks and weepers like nobody's business.

 

[taffy]

Here in the uk its all we can get so i cant compare with other brands but i will say my face loves a splash of this after my shave and before a a/s.

 

[mr_economy]

If ClubManRob were still around he could explain--I can't--but as I understand it, Thayers is not really witch hazel. Those generic brands are, however, and they are really good as far as far as I am concerned. I used Thayers, too. Lavender, lately. But I think it is cheating for it to call itself witch hazel!

Thayers would most properly be called an undistilled witch hazel, but it is most certainly still witch hazel. I read the famous witch hazel thread and strongly disagree with the conclusions in it.

At best, Clubman Rob was probably correct that undistilled witch hazel without alcohol added (like the alcohol-free Thayers products) is not antiseptic. On the other hand, undistilled witch hazel has a higher tannin content than distilled, and it is the tannins which largely impart the astringent benefits of witch hazel.

Frankly, both kinds of products work. Thayers is more expensive, and if you get the alcohol-free variety don't count on any antiseptic effects. Dickinson's and other drugstore brands are dirt cheap, but if you have problems with dry skin, their alcohol content may not be for you. I actually use both Thayers and Dickinsons at different times. If I'm just wanting witch hazel without any other after shave lotion on top, I'll go for the Thayers because it contains glycerin and aloe vera. If I'm layering a balm on top, I'll go with the Dickinsons because I'll get all the moisture I need from the balm.

 

[goby]

ATTENTION NEWBIES:

If any newbies are reading this, I was a bit freaked by everyone's comments about the smell before I bought a bottle (I was also freaked about Feather blades).

The smell really is not bad (it's not great, but I don't mind it), but it lasts for 5 seconds top. And it's not horrible, it just might not be that pleasant.

It has a made a HUGE change for the better. My skin loves it. I use it twice a day. I got Dickinson's which was just a bit more than the generic.

Someday I might get Thayers, because at just a few dollars more, it's not a big deal when a bottle lasts 6-12 months.

But newbies... do not be afraid of the smell.

 

[cfriend]

If ClubManRob were still around he could explain--I can't--but as I understand it, Thayers is not really witch hazel. Those generic brands are, however, and they are really good as far as far as I am concerned. I used Thayers, too. Lavender, lately. But I think it is cheating for it to call itself witch hazel!

This. I'm fairly certain he'd say that if it isn't exactly 14% alcohol, it isn't really witch hazel.

 

[Captain Flint]

If ClubManRob were still around he could explain

What has happened to ClubmanRob? he doesn't post since a while now and I (along with a whole bunch of B&Bers) consider his contributions a great asset to this forum.

 

[Swampfox]

What has happened to ClubmanRob? he doesn't post since a while now and I (along with a whole bunch of B&Bers) consider his contributions a great asset to this forum.

Send him a message through his profile page. It should send him an email letting him know he has messages.

 

[Captain Flint]

Send him a message through his profile page. It should send him an email letting him know he has messages.

Thanks!