Homemade Aftershave Lotion & Spray With Essential Oils

QUICK SUMMARY

This homemade aftershave comes two ways: a cooling lotion made with aloe vera juice, witch hazel, vegetable glycerin, carrier oil, vitamin E oil, emulsifying wax, and essential oils for dry or sensitive skin, and a light spray made with witch hazel, aloe vera gel, organic grain alcohol, frankincense, and sandalwood or cedarwood for oily skin.

Pat either one on right after you shave to calm razor burn and put moisture back, with no synthetic fragrance. Keep the lotion in the refrigerator and make a fresh batch about every two weeks.

Shaving isn’t always pretty, especially if you have sensitive skin. Many store-bought aftershaves promise to calm bumps and redness, but they often lean on alcohol and synthetic fragrance, which can sting freshly shaved skin and add to your family’s toxic burden.

I created my homemade aftershave recipe to give our Natural Living Family an easy, non-toxic option that men can use after a face shave and women can use after shaving their legs or underarms. It nourishes the skin God gave you instead of stripping it, and it smells wonderful.

Homemade Aftershave Lotion Recipe

This is the aftershave I make most often, and it is perfect for sensitive skin. Aloe vera juice and witch hazel cool and calm, vegetable glycerin and carrier oil put moisture back, and a woodsy blend of cedarwood, sandalwood, and peppermint essential oils gives it a clean scent.

While I wish I could do an in-person DIY class with each of you, that’s just not possible. This step-by-step guide is pretty close, though!

Homemade Aftershave Lotion Recipe

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• ¼ ounce emulsifying wax
• ½ ounce carrier oil for skin care, such as fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, or argan oil
• 3 drops vitamin E oil
• 2 ounces aloe vera juice (not gel!)
• ¾ ounce unscented witch hazel
• 2 drops organic vegetable glycerin
• 15 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops sandalwood essential oil

Supplies

• Saucepan
• Glass jar
• Small glass measuring cup or jar
• Whisk
• Glass jar or glass pump bottle for storage

Instructions

 

• Set a large glass jar in a saucepan filled with an inch of water.  Combine emulsifying wax, carrier oil, and vitamin E oil in the jar and melt over low heat.
• While the wax and oils are melting, measure the aloe vera juice, witch hazel, and glycerin into a small glass cup or jar, warming them a little if needed, and stir to combine.
• Once the oils are melted, add the liquids and heat everything just enough to ensure everything is melted and mixed well.
• Remove from heat and whisk continually as the mixture cools. Continue whisking until the lotion is thick, creamy, and a little frothy.
• Whisk in the essential oils last. While the mixture is still warm, quickly pour it into your final jar for dispensing. Then, clean your utensils in hot water before the residue cools, making them hard to clean.
• Store this aftershave lotion in a little glass jar or a pump bottle for easy dispensing!

Natural Aftershave Lotion Step One: Melt Your Ingredients

Fill a small saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place over low heat. Put the emulsifying wax, carrier oil, and Vitamin E oil in a double boiler or glass jar, and place in the pan.

Step Two: Measure the Liquids

While your mixture is melting, measure the aloe vera juice, witch hazel, and glycerin into a small cup or jar. Stir the liquids to combine. The mixture needs to be at room temperature, so heat a little if necessary.

Step Three: Add Liquids to the Oils

Once the oils have melted, add the liquids. Heat everything just enough to ensure that the mixture is melted and combined.

Step 4: Remove From Heat

Remove your mixture from heat and whisk continually as the mixture cools. You’ll need to keep whisking until the lotion is thick, creamy, and a little frothy.

Step 5: Add Essential Oils

Last, whisk in your essential oils until well combined, and enjoy your mini aromatherapy session!

Things You Should Know

1. Because this natural aftershave lotion has no additives, it has a shelf life of about two weeks. Make it in small batches!
2. Store this lotion in the refrigerator to help it last longer. Chilled aftershave feels heavenly on the skin.

Aftershave Spray for Oily Skin

When you struggle with oily skin, your skin can look shiny, and heavier moisturizers may not be ideal. If that sounds like you, try our Natural Aftershave Spray.

My aftershave spray has no moisturizers except for aloe vera gel. To make this recipe, you only need witch hazel, aloe vera gel, organic grain alcohol, sandalwood or cedarwood essential oil, and frankincense essential oil.

Frankincense is one of our favorite oils for skin care, prayer, and grounding aromatherapy. Combined with sandalwood or cedarwood, it creates a clean, woodsy aftershave spray that smells masculine without synthetic fragrance.

Homemade Aftershave Spray

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unscented witch hazel
• 4 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 2 tablespoons 190-proof grain alcohol (OR the highest-proof alcohol you can get)*
• 26 drops Hawaiian sandalwood OR cedarwood essential oil OR a combination of both
• 14 drops frankincense essential oil

Supplies

• Large glass measuring cup
• Funnel
• Large glass spray bottle with mister

Instructions

 

• Place all ingredients in a large glass measuring cup. Mix well with a whisk or use an immersion blender (once the bubbles have gone down.) Use a funnel to transfer the mixture to a large glass spray bottle.
• Spray onto hands and pat face after shaving to soothe skin.

Notes

This recipe should last a couple of weeks without using harmful preservatives. To extend shelf life, store in the refrigerator.

Combining both aftershave recipes can help soothe dry skin and serve as a natural cologne to avoid artificial fragrances.

*Because this recipe contains grain alcohol, it’s likelier to absorb into the skin. Be sure to do a patch test first to ensure your skin responds well to this ingredient. You can also adjust the quantity of essential oil if you have sensitive skin.

This spray is a one-step DIY! Place all the ingredients in a 2-ounce glass spray bottle and shake to combine.

After shaving, spray onto your hands and pat your face.

How to Use and Troubleshoot Your Aftershave

Finish your shave with a cool rinse or a damp washcloth, pat dry, and then apply your aftershave. (1) Pat on the spray, smooth on a small amount of lotion, or use both by spraying first and following with the lotion if your skin needs extra moisture.

Oily skin usually does best with the spray alone, while dry or sensitive skin may love the lotion. Aftershave does not need to burn to work; that burning feeling usually comes from alcohol-heavy formulas on freshly shaved skin.

If your lotion separates or looks watery: Next time, make sure the liquids are at room temperature before you add them, and keep whisking until the lotion is thick, creamy, and a little frothy.

If your lotion is too thick: Check that you used aloe vera juice, not gel. Aloe juice gives this recipe its lotion consistency, while aloe gel thickens it too much.

If it stings: The spray contains grain alcohol, which can sting fresh nicks, so reach for the lotion on those days. If your skin is reactive, peppermint can feel intense too.

If the smell, color, or texture changes: Toss it and make a fresh batch. That is the sign your lotion has turned.

Why These Aftershave Ingredients Work

This recipe gives you control over the scent and every ingredient that touches freshly shaved skin. Here’s an ingredient breakdown.

Unscented Witch Hazel: Witch hazel is an excellent natural astringent, and its bark is 8 to 12 percent tannins. A 2025 review of witch hazel in skin care lists razor burn among its traditional uses and gathers human studies in which witch hazel preparations reduced redness from UV light and eased itching and redness in people with eczema. (2)

In a 2025 study on donated human skin, a witch hazel formula lowered inflammatory signals and cut the free radicals triggered by UVA light by up to 46 percent. (3) If you have sensitive skin, choose a witch hazel without a lot of added alcohol.

Aloe Vera Juice: Aloe vera has a cooling effect that makes it perfect for sunburns or razor burns, and medical guidance on razor burn lists aloe vera gel among the quickest ways to calm it. (1) Its burn research is strong: a 2024 meta-analysis of nine randomized trials found that aloe healed second-degree burns 3.76 days faster on average than other topical treatments, with no added infection risk. (4)

You’ll notice that this DIY calls for aloe juice, not gel. Aloe juice helps this recipe have a lotion consistency, while aloe gel would thicken it too much.

Vegetable Glycerin: Vegetable glycerin is a sugar alcohol made from plant oils, and it is a humectant, which means it helps attract and hold water. In a 2022 laboratory study, glycerin solutions held on to more water as the glycerin concentration rose, and at 60 to 70 percent they lost no measurable water at all. (5) You can usually find it in the medicine section of your local big-box store.

Emulsifying Wax: This is used as a go-between for this recipe’s watery liquids and oils. It helps everything to blend smoothly and creates a great texture. This unique ingredient helps the lotion spread evenly and sink into the skin, so emulsifying wax is a must.

Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are a must when using essential oils in skincare! A good carrier oil dilutes and disperses essential oils, reduces evaporation, improves topical safety, helps the blend spread over the skin, and adds moisture of its own. There are many different carrier oils, but I recommend using sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil in this recipe.

Vitamin E Oil: This oil isn’t just for hydrating skin! Vitamin E oil contains antioxidant compounds that help protect the oils in your lotion from going rancid.

Cedarwood Essential Oil: Cedarwood essential oil has, you guessed it, a woody scent that makes it a great addition to men’s products. A 2025 review found antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and skin-soothing activity in cedarwood oils, though most of that work is still in lab and animal studies, and the chemistry varies by species. (6)

Peppermint Essential Oil: When you put peppermint essential oil on your skin, you’ll instantly feel refreshed. The mint scent adds an exciting twist to this manly lotion, and just one whiff is enough to get you motivated!

Sandalwood Essential Oil: Sandalwood essential oil is a great choice for this blend. It’s excellent for prayer and meditation, and its rich woody aroma creates an entirely different aromatherapy experience than cedarwood.

Why We Skip Synthetic Fragrance

Scented products are hard to give up. Who doesn’t want to smell nice? But under U.S. labeling rules, a fragrance blend can be listed simply as “Fragrance,” and the FDA notes that even some products labeled “unscented” may contain fragrance ingredients to mask the smell of other ingredients. (7)

That matters for skin you just ran a razor over. When the North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch tested 3,056 patients at 12 centers in 2021 and 2022, the researchers concluded that “fragrance allergy is still very common.” (8) A 2025 review of men’s personal care products found aftershave and cologne among the products causing allergic contact dermatitis, with musk ambrette, a lab-made musk scent, among the five most common allergens. (9)

This is one reason I love essential oils for DIY personal care. You can create the same woodsy scent you’d find in our homemade cologne without relying on mystery fragrance blends.

How to Prevent Razor Burn and Razor Bumps

Razor burn is a blotchy red rash that shows up a few minutes after shaving and usually lasts a few hours to a few days. Dry shaving, shaving too fast, a dull blade, and shaving against the direction of hair growth all set it off. (1)

Razor bumps are different. Their medical name is pseudofolliculitis barbae, and a 2025 dermatology review explains that it “occurs when shaved hair regrows and penetrates the skin, leading to irritation and inflammation.” It affects 45 to 83 percent of men of African ancestry, along with anyone who has coarse or curly hair, including women who shave. (10)

An aftershave soothes the skin, but your technique prevents the problem. Here is what helps most.

1. Soften the Hair First

Shave right after a shower, or wet your face with lukewarm water to help soften the hair. Then use a generous layer of shaving cream or gel to protect your skin. (1, 10) Using a lubricating product also helps reduce friction, which is why I like pairing good technique with my homemade shaving cream with essential oils.

2. Use a Sharp, Clean Razor

Low-quality razors can be harsh on your skin. Dull blades make you press harder, which means more scraping, more tugging, and more cuts. Rinse the blade every few strokes and replace it after five to seven shaves. (1)

Investing in a better-quality razor can save you money over time because you’re not replacing the blade as often.

3. Shave With the Grain

Shave in the direction the hair grows, use light, short strokes, and avoid going over the same spot twice. (1) Don’t pull your skin tight while you shave, because that lets the hair get cut below the surface, where it can grow back into the skin. (10)

Reality check: a rushed shave is usually a rough shave. If you battle razor bumps, the most effective fix is to stop shaving close, and trimming with clippers to leave a little stubble breaks the ingrown-hair cycle. (10)

4. Finish With Aftercare

Rinse with cool water, then follow with your homemade aftershave lotion or spray. Freshly shaved skin needs moisture and calming support, and that is exactly what these recipes are designed to do.

Safety Tips for Homemade Aftershave

Patch test first. If you have very sensitive skin, test a small amount on your inner arm before using it on your face.

Mind the peppermint. Avoid the eye area, especially with the peppermint lotion, and keep it off mucous membranes. If your skin is reactive, reduce or leave out the peppermint.

Buy true cedarwood. Look for Cedrus atlantica or Juniperus virginiana on the label. Oil from western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is sometimes sold as cedarwood, and it contains thujone, a neurotoxin. (6)

Use fresh oils. Old, oxidized essential oils, frankincense included, are more likely to irritate skin. Two of the top allergens in that patch test report, hydroperoxides of linalool and limonene, are oxidation products of aroma compounds found in many essential oils, so keep your bottles tightly capped and away from heat. (8)

Keep it clean and cold. This lotion contains water and no preservative, and the FDA lists water, weak preservation, poor storage, and dipping fingers into a product among the ways cosmetics pick up bacteria and fungi. (11) Use clean tools and a clean jar, refrigerate right away, and treat two weeks as the outside limit.

Dilute properly. Essential oils always go into a carrier before they touch your skin, and our guide on how to dilute essential oils walks you through the math.

Know when to get help. If razor burn hasn’t cleared within a few days, or your bumps fill with pus, spread, or keep coming back, see your doctor or dermatologist, because you may need a different treatment. (1)

Homemade Aftershave FAQs

Can I use witch hazel as aftershave?

Yes, witch hazel makes a simple natural aftershave on its own. It is astringent and cooling, and razor burn is one of its traditional uses. (2) Choose unscented witch hazel and avoid high-alcohol formulas if your skin is dry or sensitive.

Is aloe vera good after shaving?

Yes, aloe vera is one of the best things you can put on freshly shaved skin. It feels cooling, it moisturizes, and medical guidance on razor burn recommends aloe vera gel to calm it. (1)

What essential oils are good for aftershave?

Cedarwood, sandalwood, frankincense, and peppermint are our favorites for aftershave. Cedarwood and sandalwood give a woodsy aroma, frankincense is wonderful for mature-looking skin, and peppermint adds a fresh, cooling feel.

Can homemade aftershave help razor bumps?

Homemade aftershave can soothe the irritated skin around razor bumps, but it does not free the ingrown hair that causes them. Pair it with warm water, a good shaving cream, a sharp blade, and shaving with the grain, or trim with clippers instead of shaving close. (10)

How long does homemade aftershave last?

The homemade aftershave lotion lasts about two weeks in the refrigerator. Make small batches, keep the container clean, and toss it sooner if the odor, color, or texture changes. The spray contains alcohol, but it is still best made in small amounts and kept cool.

Caring for the body God designed is a big part of what we teach at Bible Health, and simple DIYs like this one are a great place to start.

Keep reading: 10 Non-Toxic Homemade Gifts for Men He’ll Actually Use · Mama Z’s Essential Oil Base: Easy Carrier Oil Recipe · DIY Beard Oil with Essential Oils + 2 Seasonal Variations