Homemade menthol aftershave.

[ShaveAddict]

Today i had an idea to make my own mentholated aftershave.
I planned to buy a lot of fresh mint and let it sit for maybe a week or two in alcohol. Maybe i will add a drop of green colorant in it to make it look like Osage rub.
The only thing is i don't know what kind of alcohol should i take for that.
Anyone knows what kind of alcohol they use to make aftershave?
And does my plan sounds realistic, i mean will it work?
Thanks.

 

[warlandsboy]

Interesting idea, I'd like to see the outcome.

 

[TwelveBravo]

It appears that it is SD Alcohol 40B. This is apparently ethyl alcohol. So I guess you could use Everclear or another grain neutral spirit such as vodka. Check out this explanation:

http://www.realself.com/ingredient/sd-alcohol-40-b

 

[Sue]

Mint will not make menthol, although it should be cooling. For menthol, you will need menthol crystals.

The alcohol is Perfumers SD 'special denatured' alcohol. (SD is undrinkable) You can use Everclear or other high proof alcohol.

This is for your own personal home use and not to give away, even to Uncle Ned. If you do, the black helicopters circle overhead and drop heavily armed big guys in black boots and helmets to bash in your front door and haul you away.

Sue

 

[Mama Bear]

Mint will not make menthol, although it should be cooling. For menthol, you will need menthol crystals.

The alcohol is Perfumers SD 'special denatured' alcohol. (SD is undrinkable) You can use Everclear or other high proof alcohol.

This is for your own personal home use and not to give away, even to Uncle Ned. If you do, the black helicopters circle overhead and drop heavily armed big guys in black boots and helmets to bash in your front door and haul you away.

Sue

LOL!! What Sue means it is legal to use vodka or everclear for products that you use for yourself, but it is illegal to sell them unless you use denatured alcohol. And yep, menthol needs menthol crystals not peppermint.

 

[jkenton]

For real? I can understand restricting the SALE of something with high proof alcohol. But whence the power to restrict a GIFT?

I'd be interested to know where the ATF has the ability to restrict that.

I know it is not the same, but I used to give away six packs of my homebrewed beer to friends all the time.

Jeff

This is for your own personal home use and not to give away, even to Uncle Ned. If you do, the black helicopters circle overhead and drop heavily armed big guys in black boots and helmets to bash in your front door and haul you away.

Sue

 

[ginantonix]

So here's a follow up question, (and one that Sue or Sue would be ideally suited to answer, I'm thinking!)

If one were to make a homemade mentholated aftershave, what concentration of menthol crystals would give a nice icy blast and what should the alcohol content be?

I'm thinking rum as a base, and I do have some menthol crystals that my friendly neighbourhood pharmacist sold me. I have access to a very precise scale, just wondering what concentration of menthol by weight to use and what the minimum alcohol percentage that will keep the menthol stable in solution.

Thanks!

 

[Sue]

The BATF forbids it whether it has fragrance or any additives. It is viewed as serving alcohol without a license. SD alcohol or Special Denatured alcohol has bitrex, (I think), to make it undrinkable. So no Bay Rum on the rocks after dinner. That's at the federal level and local and state may get'cha too.

In a previous post, it was mentioned to use denatured alcohol from the hardware, it is not the same, that type is a solvent and is not to be used.

Everclear is the best available here in Missouri due to its high proof, and it's cheap, for home use (if you can buy it where you live).

Remember if you are using rum for bay rum, the bay leaves you use for cooking are not the same species as the 'bay' rum leaf.

For aftershave the flexible rule is 2% to 5% fragrance; 75 to 85% alcohol and 15 to 20% distilled water.

Menthol is generally recommended at 1.5 to 5%, although you can use up to 8 or 10% but that's hefty. You will need to dissolve the crystals before use. Most any liquid will work but don't forget to deduct that amount from your total liquid.

Jeff, you should probably get out of Dodge now.
Sue

 

[ginantonix]

Thanks, Sue! That's actually a higher menthol amount than I would have thought! And good to know about the Bay Rum leaves not being bay leaves. I had no idea.

May be easier to add some extra menthol to commercial Bay Rum aftershave. I just can't seem to get enough icy goodness from my local stuff!

 

[mmack66]

Today i had an idea to make my own mentholated aftershave.
I planned to buy a lot of fresh mint and let it sit for maybe a week or two in alcohol. Maybe i will add a drop of green colorant in it to make it look like Osage rub.
The only thing is i don't know what kind of alcohol should i take for that.
Anyone knows what kind of alcohol they use to make aftershave?
And does my plan sounds realistic, i mean will it work?
Thanks.

You won't have aftershave, but you might be well on your way to a mint julep.

 

[GoldenMonkey]

LOL at everyone...

 

[jkenton]

Hey Sue, we are talking about a GIFT of homemade aftershave, right? Not a sale. Sales are a whole other beast, and those rules make sense to me.

Thanks for the advice... but I'm too dumb to run.

The BATF forbids it whether it has fragrance or any additives. It is viewed as serving alcohol without a license. SD alcohol or Special Denatured alcohol has bitrex, (I think), to make it undrinkable. So no Bay Rum on the rocks after dinner. That's at the federal level and local and state may get'cha too.

---SNIP ---

Jeff, you should probably get out of Dodge now.
Sue

 

[gollum83]

Hey Sue, we are talking about a GIFT of homemade aftershave, right? Not a sale. Sales are a whole other beast, and those rules make sense to me.

Thanks for the advice... but I'm too dumb to run.

It's because like Sue says unless it's denatured it's considered drinkable. Therefore, even a gift could be construed as serving alcohol without a license. You might not like it, but those are the rules.

 

[Sue]

It might be a cynical thought but the legalities may be in place to 'sell' a liquor license and also collect the appropriate taxes. I don't think anyone is too worried about underage aftershave consumption.
Sue

 

[ShaveAddict]

Finally i think i will stick to already made products, like Osage Rub or Alcolado Glacial.
Otherwise it looks complicated.

 

[RocketMan]

How to Make Aftershave :

1- Do you have any fresh herbs growing in your garden? Do you have any wildflowers or weeds that just won't quit? You have a natural pharmacy at your disposal, everywhere you look. Even if you don't have a garden of your own, chances are you pass parks and roadsides where wildflowers and weeds abound. Chances are you pass common plants like dandelion, horsetail fern, blackberry, red clover, calendula and mint every day. You may not have noticed them but this is where every natural recipe should begin: right in your own backyard. Take a quart jar. Pick enough of the fresh herbs listed above to reach the 8oz line. If you don't have ANY fresh plants to choose from, you can simply buy a box of loose peppermint or chamomile tea and pour it into your quart jar.

Step 2 Boil a quart of water. Ideally, this will be distilled or filtered water. Chlorine, mineral salts and heavy metals (like lead) will change the chemistry of your after-shave. Be sure your water as clean as possible.

Step 3 Pour the boiling water over the herbs. Seal the jar. Leave for 24 hours.

Step 4 Open your jar. Pour the contents through a sieve. I have three sieves that I use, that are increasingly fine, until the infusion is clear, with very little vegetal matter suspended in it. Lumps, leaves, powder can clog the atomizer so you will be happiest to eliminate this problem at this point.

Step 5 Pour your infusion back into the quart jar. Top off with purified water. You now have 32 oz strained herbal infusion.

Step 6 Empty the jar into a large bowl. Add 32 oz pure aloe vera gel (organic if possible) and 8 oz of witch hazel. Mix with a clean whisk. (Witch hazel is alcohol based so this product has an indefinite life expectancy. Shake it every once in a while so the infusion doesn't separate out.)

Step 7 Using a funnel, decant your mixture into bottles. Be sure not to top them off, as you will need room in the bottle for the atomizer tube.

Step 8 This next step is the most important, the most expensive and the one that will define the way your after shave smells. This is where you personalize your product. You will add drops of essential oils to each bottle. First you need to decide what your personal blend will be. Use one bottle as a tester. Add only a few drops of essential oil at a time. Not only do they smell really strong, they contain the distilled chemical essence of a plant so can really pack a punch. Use with caution. You can always put more in, but you can't take any out. I recommend the following blend of essential oils because my brother likes it: balsam fir, bay leaf, black pepper and frankincense. Cedarwood, vetiver, benzoin are also good choices. If you have acne, you can use the citrus oils; if you have dry skin avoid citrus as it is very drying. Count the number of drops. Put the same number in each bottle. Screw on your atomizer lids tightly. Shake and spray.

Step 9 Create a label that describes exactly what you have put into your product. List the ingredients in decreasing order of volume: in other words, most comes first, least goes last. Your list will start with water and aloe vera and will end with the essential oils. Affix label securely.

Note:
Be sure to strain your infusion carefully so you don't clog up your atomizer.

This recipe makes 72 oz of after-shave. That is a LOT! This would be enough for a wedding or birthday party favor, or to give to all of your favorite men at Christmas. Cut the recipe in half if you want.

From: http://www.ehow.com/how_2101829_make-aftershave.html

 

[ShaveAddict]

How to Make Aftershave :

1- Do you have any fresh herbs growing in your garden? Do you have any wildflowers or weeds that just won't quit? You have a natural pharmacy at your disposal, everywhere you look. Even if you don't have a garden of your own, chances are you pass parks and roadsides where wildflowers and weeds abound. Chances are you pass common plants like dandelion, horsetail fern, blackberry, red clover, calendula and mint every day. You may not have noticed them but this is where every natural recipe should begin: right in your own backyard. Take a quart jar. Pick enough of the fresh herbs listed above to reach the 8oz line. If you don't have ANY fresh plants to choose from, you can simply buy a box of loose peppermint or chamomile tea and pour it into your quart jar.

Step 2 Boil a quart of water. Ideally, this will be distilled or filtered water. Chlorine, mineral salts and heavy metals (like lead) will change the chemistry of your after-shave. Be sure your water as clean as possible.

Step 3 Pour the boiling water over the herbs. Seal the jar. Leave for 24 hours.

Step 4 Open your jar. Pour the contents through a sieve. I have three sieves that I use, that are increasingly fine, until the infusion is clear, with very little vegetal matter suspended in it. Lumps, leaves, powder can clog the atomizer so you will be happiest to eliminate this problem at this point.

Step 5 Pour your infusion back into the quart jar. Top off with purified water. You now have 32 oz strained herbal infusion.

Step 6 Empty the jar into a large bowl. Add 32 oz pure aloe vera gel (organic if possible) and 8 oz of witch hazel. Mix with a clean whisk. (Witch hazel is alcohol based so this product has an indefinite life expectancy. Shake it every once in a while so the infusion doesn't separate out.)

Step 7 Using a funnel, decant your mixture into bottles. Be sure not to top them off, as you will need room in the bottle for the atomizer tube.

Step 8 This next step is the most important, the most expensive and the one that will define the way your after shave smells. This is where you personalize your product. You will add drops of essential oils to each bottle. First you need to decide what your personal blend will be. Use one bottle as a tester. Add only a few drops of essential oil at a time. Not only do they smell really strong, they contain the distilled chemical essence of a plant so can really pack a punch. Use with caution. You can always put more in, but you can't take any out. I recommend the following blend of essential oils because my brother likes it: balsam fir, bay leaf, black pepper and frankincense. Cedarwood, vetiver, benzoin are also good choices. If you have acne, you can use the citrus oils; if you have dry skin avoid citrus as it is very drying. Count the number of drops. Put the same number in each bottle. Screw on your atomizer lids tightly. Shake and spray.

Step 9 Create a label that describes exactly what you have put into your product. List the ingredients in decreasing order of volume: in other words, most comes first, least goes last. Your list will start with water and aloe vera and will end with the essential oils. Affix label securely.

Note:
Be sure to strain your infusion carefully so you don't clog up your atomizer.

This recipe makes 72 oz of after-shave. That is a LOT! This would be enough for a wedding or birthday party favor, or to give to all of your favorite men at Christmas. Cut the recipe in half if you want.

From: http://www.ehow.com/how_2101829_make-aftershave.html

Thanks for that.

 

[DonOhio]

So no Bay Rum on the rocks after dinner.

HEY lady *hic* shpeak feh yerself on that!

aw, hell, now who turn out the li--

*thud*

 

[Deltaboy]

I asked my druggest and he gave me a small bottle of menthol crystals. I put them in a small bottle of 70% alcohol then I added to my Skin Brazer and Ice Blue AV bottles and WOW WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!

 

[RocketMan]

I asked my druggest and he gave me a small bottle of menthol crystals. I put them in a small bottle of 70% alcohol then I added to my Skin Brazer and Ice Blue AV bottles and WOW WHAT A RUSH!!!!!!

That is very cool!!! I am going to go and pester my druggist to see if I can come up with these - thnx!