Like @jimjo1031 said, essential oil is just to make it smell good, and don't use TOO much. Use as much as you want, remembering that you can always add more, but can't remove any if you've used too much. No, it does not affect the way it works, unless you just use so much the smell is so strong you can't get it to your face!
I used a 3 oz container for mine. 7 drops of mint were plenty. It took 30 drops of grapefruit though before I could smell it. Start light and slowly add, too much peppermint will irritate your skin.
Great scent and really smooth shave.. Great recipe, it will be used again for sure. Now, the true test is when the wife can smell it and we will see what she thinks.
Thanks for this recipe. I never would've guessed that it would be so simple. I spent days looking for a decent and affordable pre-shave oil when I started, and I wish that I had seen this first. Lately I'm finding pre-shave creams more to my liking though and I wonder how much the recipe for a creamy consistency would differ from an oil.
To get a creamy consistency needs more ingredients, including water, an emulsifier and a preservative. (Once water is added, bacteria can grow.)
Sounds like making yogurt. Now that TSD shop is closing, maybe I'll muster up the willpower to try replicating the formula for the preshave balm.
One of the sites I buy oils & supplies from is www.brambleberry.com. They also have a lot of recipes on the site, so it might be worth a look, for research, even if you don't need any supplies.
Hello! I've been using Shave Secret, and yes, it tends to 'gunk' up the blades. Of all the oils listed, I haven't seen any use of Coconut Oil. (Unless I overlooked it....) Also, Shave Secret contains Menthol, to (I assume) make the skin 'goose-bump' that makes the hair stand up. Is there a concoction that contains that to DIY?
I have used coconut oil in the past, but it tends to clog the pores in my skin more than @Sara-s's recipe. Also, since it hardens at room temperature it is hard to mix with other oils or fragrances unless you melt it first. But, it really works nicely to setup good glide and condition your skin. My 2 cents. Though, I use coconut oil for popping corn. None better.
I'm not sure how soluble menthol would be in oil(s). I would bet that it isn't soluble at all. Menthol is readily soluble in alcohols.