U
UncleSticky
Order some essential oil of Bay from some place like Camden Grey or Snowdrift Farms, then you don't need the leaves. The reason it seems to have "rum" in it is because they used to extract the oils from the bay leaves using rum. I don't think it really has rum in it anymore despite the recipies on line to the contrary. I am trying to perfect a Bay Rum aftershave myself... found the following list of ingredients @ Burts Bees to get an idea of the types of oils used in their formula. the stuff like rosemary extract is more for preventing the oils from becoming rancid in the mixture. In addition to their toning effects, alcohol or witch hazel also has an emulsifying effect so the water and oil will blend. I'll let everyone know how the first attempt comes out in a few days. Obviously I am not using EVERYTHING that BB uses in thiers... for instance, I plan to substitute eucalyptus mint oil for the menthol and will probably switch cinnamon for allspice since cinnamon can be a skin irritant.
water, alcohol denat., glycerin, avena sativa (oat) kernel protein, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, tocopheryl acetate, menthol, xanthan gum, chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) extract, ascorbic acid, citric acid, pimenta acris (bay) leaf oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil, cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) leaf oil, abies sibirica (fir needle) oil, lavandula hybrida (lavandin) oil, juniperus mexicana (cedarwood) oil, pogostemon cablin (patchouli) oil, eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil, salvia officinalis (sage) oil