Here is an herbal gift for anyone who shaves. They’ll love this homemade aftershave.
I know people can be hard to shop for and sometimes it’s even harder to create a homemade herbal gift that they’ll actually like. But don’t worry, we’ve got it covered!
Aftershaves typically have a strong scent, but they do more than act as a cologne. Typically, when a person shaves, warm water is used to open the pores and soften the facial hair, making it easier to shave. Aftershaves can be used after the shaving process to tighten and tone the pores on the face. This can prevent dirt and oil from entering the pores.
The aftershave recipe we’ll be making is also anti-microbial, which can keep any razor cuts from becoming infected.
Let’s take a closer look at our ingredients.
Witch Hazel Extract
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a native shrub to the eastern US and Canada and has been transplanted to the west coast of North America and Europe as well.
It has a long history of use for sores, wounds, hemorrhoids, and other external abrasions. It was used by a variety of North American tribes and was a part of the US official pharmacopeia from 1882 to 1955.
Witch hazel is primarily known for its astringent properties. Astringency is the ability to tighten and tone tissues. It’s also anti-microbial, meaning that it helps to keep cuts clean, thus preventing infection.
Orange Peel
Many of us are familiar with this fruit.
Did you know that the orange tree originally comes from China? In Traditional Chinese Medicine the orange peel is used medicinally for digestion and expectoration (mucous congestion).
We use citrus peel in this recipe for its fresh scent.
Spices: Cinnamon, Cloves, and Allspice
Each of these spices add their own unique smell to this homemade aftershave, but they do more than just smell good. All of these spices have been used for thousands of years to aid digestion and even preserve food.
At one time in history cinnamon used to be more valuable than silver. Today it is used for colds and flus, diarrhea and to help balance blood sugar levels.
Whole cloves are actually dried flower buds and are especially high in antioxidants. Clove essential oil is commonly used today to alleviate toothaches.
Allspice (Pimenta dioica) is the fruit of a myrtle tree that commonly grows in Jamaica. It’s called allspice because it is said to taste like the combination of various spices including cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon and pepper.
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from molasses, a sugarcane byproduct. It’s believed to have originated on the island of Barbados and is an important beverage in the Caribbean.
Bay West Indies Essential Oil
This essential oil is distilled from the bay rum tree (Pimenta racemosa). It is a common scent in aftershave products.
Homemade Aftershave Recipe
This deeply aromatic homemade aftershave smells of citrus and allspice. Yum! The recipe is also anti-microbial, which can keep any razor cuts from becoming infected. It makes a great gift for anyone who shaves!
What you’ll need…
- 1 organic orange
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 to 5 whole cloves
- 3 to 5 whole allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon aloe vera gel (optional)
- 1 ounce rum
- About 2 cups witch hazel extract
- 25 to 40 drops Bay West Indies essential oil
- Begin by grating the orange peel to get its zest. I use the tool you see in the photo, but you can simply use a fine cheese grater. You want the orange part of the peel, not the white beneath. This usually yields about 2 tablespoons of orange. It’s fine if you have more or less than this.
- Once you have the zest, put it in a pint jar along with the cinnamon stick (you can break it up if you would like), the cloves, and the allspice.
- Next add the optional glycerin and aloe vera. These are great additions for people with especially sensitive skin.
- Next add the rum. You can buy a small one ounce bottle from the liquor store.
- Next fill the jar with witch hazel extract. This will be just under 2 cups.
- Finally add the Bay West Indies essential oil to your aftershave recipe.
- Cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well.
- Shake it well every day or so for 4 to 6 weeks.
- Once the homemade aftershave is done, strain off the ingredients and put it in a dark-colored bottle. This makes enough to fill 2 (8-ounce) bottles.
- Attach a label and now you have a wonderful holiday gift.
