:biggrin: I'm sure there are a number of other DIY recipes for Bay Rum here, I just wanted to add my own here if no one minds. After buying a few bottles of Wally-World Witch Hazel, I was getting kinda bored with having no scent, or more appropriately, the witch hazel scent. I then googled "Home Made Bay Rum" and saw some common ingredients and decided to kind of "wing it" and go out on my own. I bought a plastic bottle from The Dollar Tree a few days back and found that it holds slightly less than the bottle of Witch Hazel, which was 16 ounces. I'm going to guess the bottle itself was 14-15 ounces, roughly. So I filled it up roughly 3/4th's full, and added imitation vanilla extract, orange extract, imitation rum extract, probably about 10 little clove bits (whole cloves they were called) and about 3 cinnamon sticks, plus about 4 bay leaves (dried). I know I should have probably used fresh bay leaves, but figured they will get wet enough and mix in with my solution. I am not one to use precise amounts. I just kinda pour a little of each until I get what I think smells nice. I put the cloves, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks right in the bottle. I figure that with each passing day, my brew will change a little at a time. I'm also tweaking it with extra vanilla, orange, etc..., as I go. I figured that with the witch hazel containing 14% alcohol, vanilla, orange, and rum extracts also containing alcohol that it would sting a tad. Not a bit. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing, or just what it is, but I think I'm getting a little closer each day to something slightly reminiscent of commercial bay rum, but its still weak in comparison. Yet I'm still getting a small scent after it dries. Predominantly Vanilla, but hopefully some other scents will emerge as it continues to brew. Initial costs were probably higher than that of buying a bottle of Bay Rum outright, but hopefully I will be able to synthesize something somewhat unique, and still be able to reuse some of the initial ingredients while only adding a bit more with each new bottle I make. Its kind of fun actually, making it up as you go.
I don't know whether its proper etiquette to follow up on your own thread, or start a new one that continues your initial one, so I'll just continue my updates by replying to my own thread unless suggested otherwise. I went to the Dollar General store to look at the spice section, hoping to find some sort of additional rum extract. No success. But then something hit me (an idea that is, not an actual object or someone, LOL). Bay Rum, while it does not have a medicinal smell to me per se, it has a pungent good smelling aroma that for some reason reminds me of something medicinal smelling, but in a good way. I needed something to add a little "oomph" to my blend, because the aroma as it was, was still a faint orange and vanilla smell, and didn't tingle like a good Bay Rum. When I walk by the toothpaste and mouthwash aisle, I always notice the bottles of Listerine for some reason. Listerine. Yes, Listerine. Bought a bottle of the DG brand, checked the ingredients, about 99.9% identical ingredients with the same amounts. Put it in with my blend, about 2 caps worth. It actually started smelling more like actual Bay Rum. It contained menthol and eucalyptol (sic?) and splashed a liberal amount all over. Still not the same as commercial, and will add more as my bottle is full right now, and hopefully it will reach the same pungency level of store brand Bay Rum. Have to be careful not to overdo it or else it will smell predominantly of Listerine. Personally which I don't mind the smell of, but it would defeat the purpose of trying to approximate the scent. One of the inactive ingredients is Benzoic Acid, which I know nothing about but will do a little research on just in case its not to good for the skin. I will add at least one more update the closer it gets to smelling like the real thing.
I don't use any kind of bay rum or witch hazel... or any kind of splash AS for that matter but it sounds like you're getting close to something you can use and enjoy and that's what matters.
Hey Mang, if it blows your hair back, go for it! Suggestion - perhaps add some actual Spiced Rum, from the liquor store... like Captain Morgan, or Sailor Jerry... those Rum's have the flavors and aromas that you are already putting in the Witch Hazel. In fact, I would bet some money that Bay Rum is actually Rum, just denatured with bitter compounds to render it undrinkable, and therefore not taxable as a beverage alcohol.
I actually considered buying Captain Morgan, or another brand called "Lady Bligh" (same as capt Morgan). I actually considered just using that as an aftershave/splash on, but, being the ninny that I am, I would be afraid that if I got pulled over for anything, I'm not sure if the officer would believe me telling him/her that I was just using it as an aftershave. "Honestly, Sir/Ma'am, I'm just using it as an aftershave!"
I understand that it helps tremendously that if you use Captain Morgan for making bay rum a/s, that one put at least one shot down the gullet. Doesn't seem to matter if it's before or after. hehe
Update: GOING FOR BROKE. Decided to rinse out a two liter soda jug and mix everything I had (save for one bottle of witch hazel, no room) all together, everything. 1 bottle imitation Vanilla Extract/1 small bottle imitation rum extract/2 small bottles of orange extract/3 bottles witch hazel/1 (smaller than the largest size) of DG Listerine/1 small container of cloves, 1 whole container of bay leaves plus some more from another bottle (McCormick Bottle, dried), and 1 McCormick container of cinnamon sticks. Did this just a couple of hours ago after I shaved. Won't shave again until Thurs or Friday so it will have time to stew a while. Looks like I left about an inch or so of space between my brew and the cap so hopefully it won't blow up or anything I hope!
Hmmm... shaved on Monday. Won't shave again until Thursday or Friday... That two liter jug o' rum is going to last you a while! :biggrin: Enjoy!!
My concoction has now become a gallon of Bay Rum. I don't even know if I should even call Bay Rum anymore. I decided to actually add an actual bottle of Rum to it. It isn't even spiced rum. Some off brand called, "Gran Legacy" (no D at the end, no kidding). It says that its made in the tradition of the West Indies. Mixed everything up and put it in a used distilled water jug last Wednesday and put it on my dresser with the rest of my shaving stuff. Every so often when I walk by my dresser I'll pick it up and give it a good shake and then open it up and smell it. Smells like it was beforehand with just a little bit of more rum scent, but very "alcoholy". When I put it on after a shave I can feel the zing, but it doesn't burn bad. Plus, it has a more pronounced smell, a good smell, but after a few hours all I smell is a faint vanilla. So what I do is just give myself a thorough splashing of it on my face, neck, shoulders, and slather it all over my arms and then let it dry before I leave the house so the actual smell of alcohol is gone. I get a good scent going on for at least 2-3 hours and then it starts to fade. Whats funny is that when I bathe or shower the next day I smell it again during my shower or bath.
The hot water is leaching (releasing) the scent from your skin. If I wear a strong musky or spicy cologne I find I experience the same effect.
I would have to say that my concoction has probably reached its zenith in terms of the alcohol content leeching all it can out of the cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and whole cloves I have put in it. Once you shake up the jug and take the cap off and give it a whiff it is very pungent. However, no matter how much I slather it on myself or using a spray bottle spraying my face, upper torso, shirt and pants with it, once it dries I can barely smell it on myself. Could there be any type of oil that I could mix with it that could give it some staying power? I'm afraid that if I put any oil in it the oil will simply remain as globules at the top of the mix. Perhaps a spray bottle would particulize both the oil and solution and then could be massaged into my skin? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
