Best 6 DIY Homemade Aftershave Spray Recipes (with Pictures)

Shaving is one of the chores men perform on a daily or weekly basis. After a sharp razor and a good shaving cream, you need a good aftershave. Besides leaving your skin sanitized and smelling fresh, a good aftershave works as an astringent to tighten up your pores and moisturize and soothe your skin.

Even though the stores are chock-full of aftershaves with fancy names and fancier price tags, their high alcohol content can make your freshly shaven skin burn like crazy. Moreover, the chemicals used in commercial aftershaves can clog your hair follicles and affect your beard growth. To maintain a healthy beard, you might also want to have a look at some homemade beard oil and balm recipes.

To avoid all this, you can make DIY homemade aftershave using natural antiseptic ingredients, some of which may already be in your pantry. And the best part is that you can customize the scent of your aftershave to leave you smelling oh-so-sexy!

If you wish to take the natural route by making your own bath and beauty products, start here with our six skin-friendly DIY homemade aftershave spray recipes.

Method 1: Aloe Vera Soothing Aftershave

If you have sensitive skin, this aloe vera-based aftershave is for you. The aloe vera juice provides a cooling sensation that helps soothe the irritation on freshly shaven skin. It also works as an antibacterial agent and a mild astringent.

This aftershave also uses sweet almond oil to moisturize and soften your skin. Almond oil is also rich in vitamin E that helps fight free-radical damage and keeps your skin supple.

To add antiseptic properties to the aftershave, we’ve added orange and lavender essential oils. Topical application of orange essential oil helps in enhancing the synthesis of collagen, improves the flow of blood to the skin and helps in clearing the clogged pores. The lavender essential oil is high in anti-inflammatory properties and is great reducing the appearance of acne. Not to mention these oils also give the aftershave a pleasing fragrance.

Things you’ll need:

• Fresh aloe vera juice (soothes skin, anti-inflammatory) – ¼ cup
• Sweet almond oil (moisturizes skin) – 2 tablespoons
• Distilled water – 3 tablespoons
• Lavender essential oil (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory) – 5 drops
• Orange essential oil (antibacterial) – 5 drops

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients except the water

• Pour ¼ cup of fresh aloe vera juice into a container. You can also use fresh aloe vera gel.
• Add 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil.
• Add five drops each of lavender and orange essential oils.

Step 2. Mix well and add water to dilute the solution

• Use a motorized blender to whisk all the ingredients well.
• Add 3 tablespoons of distilled water to dilute the blend. It is essential only to use distilled water, as tap water may have impurities that can decrease the shelf life of the spray.

Step 3. Store the DIY aftershave in a spray bottle

• Funnel the prepared solution into an amber-colored spray bottle. Since essential oils are photosensitive, the dark bottle helps maintain their potency.
• Store the spray in the refrigerator.
• Spray the aftershave on your freshly shaven skin and allow it to air-dry.

When kept in the refrigerator, the shelf life of this DIY homemade aftershave spray is 1 week, due to the presence of fresh aloe vera juice.

Method 2: Witch Hazel Aftershave

If you have oily skin or are dealing with an acne breakout, try this DIY aftershave spray with alcohol-free witch hazel. The clear liquid works as a natural astringent that shrinks large pores to reduce the oiliness of your skin. Witch hazel is also a natural antiseptic that helps clear up acne and prevents future breakouts. In fact, due to its antimicrobial nature, witch hazel is used for a number of health and beauty remedies.

This recipe also uses glycerin to moisturize and soothe irritated skin after shaving. The vitamin E oil in it helps to soften your skin. Besides adding a woody and camphorous fragrance, the rosemary essential oil adds anti-inflammatory properties, unclogs pores and tightens and tones the skin, while the frankincense essential works as an astringent, improving skin elasticity, preventing wrinkles, and offering anti-inflammatory skin protection.

Things you’ll need:

• Witch hazel (antiseptic, astringent) – 1½ tablespoons
• Vegetable glycerin (moisturizes skin) – ½ teaspoon
• Distilled water – 1½ tablespoons
• Vitamin E oil -  2 or 3 drops
• Frankincense essential oil (astringent, woody fragrance) – 6 drops
• Rosemary essential oil (anti-inflammatory, camphorous scent) – 6 drops

Step 1. Combine all the ingredients except the water

• Squeeze out 1½ tablespoons of alcohol-free witch hazel into a bowl.
• Add ½ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin.
• Puncture a vitamin E capsule and squeeze 2 or 3 drops of the oil into the mix.

• Add 6 drops each of rosemary and frankincense essential oils.

Step 2. Dilute the blend, mix well & put it in a spray bottle

• Add 1½ tablespoons of distilled water to dilute the blend.
• Use a motorized blender to whisk up the ingredients.
• Transfer the blend to a small, dark-colored spray bottle.

Step 3. Store in a dark colored bottle and use after every shave

• Spray light mists on your shaven skin and let it soak into your skin completely.

The shelf life of this homemade spray is up to 6 months when stored in a dark and cool place.

Method 3: Mint Aftershave

If you wish to make a cool and refreshing aftershave, choose one that has peppermint in it – like this one. Besides adding a refreshing smell and leaving a cool sensation on your irritated skin, peppermint essential oil works as an excellent antimicrobial.

This recipe also uses eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils to prevent infections in any nicks and cuts caused while shaving, and are both great anti-inflammatories soothing inflamed skin. The witch hazel in this recipe adds astringent properties.

Plus, this DIY homemade aftershave spray recipe has extra-virgin coconut oil to moisturize your skin. It also forms an antibacterial and antifungal layer on the vulnerable skin.

Things you’ll need:

• Peppermint essential oil (cools skin, refreshing smell) – 3 to 5 drops
• Eucalyptus essential oil (antibacterial) – 3 drops
• Tea tree essential oil (antibacterial) – 3 drops
• Witch hazel (astringent) – 1 tablespoon
• Extra-virgin coconut oil (moisturizes skin, antimicrobial) – ¼ cup
• Distilled water – ¼ cup

Step 1. Blend the coconut oil and witch hazel

• Pour ¼ cup of melted extra-virgin coconut oil into a container.
• Add 1 tablespoon of witch hazel.
• Using a motorized blender, whisk the two well.

Step 2. Dilute the blend with distilled water

• Add ¼ cup of distilled water to dilute the liquid.
• Use the hand blender to mix everything well.

Step 3. Add the essential oils

• Add 3 to 5 drops of peppermint essential oil.
• Add 3 drops each of eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils.

Step 4. Store the aftershave in a spray bottle

• Stir well and funnel the solution into a dark spray bottle.
• Use it as your regular aftershave spray to soothe your freshly shaven skin.

The shelf life of this DIY homemade aftershave spray recipe is 6 to 8 months when stored in a dark and cool place.

Method 4: Cucumber Aftershave

Cucumbers are great to munch on in the summer. They are also extremely soothing for your skin. Cucumbers contain essential vitamins and minerals that remineralize and rejuvenate your skin.

Since your skin will feel particularly dry and irritated after a shave, using a cucumber-based aftershave can bring immense relief. This cucumber aftershave also uses witch hazel that carries anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.

Things you’ll need:

• Cucumber juice (rejuvenates skin) – ¼ cup
• Witch hazel (astringent) – ¼ cup
• Distilled water – ¼ cup

Step 1. Mix the three ingredients

• Microwave ¼ cup of fresh cucumber juice for 3 minutes.
• Allow the blend to cool down and then add ¼ cup of witch hazel to it.
• Dilute the blend with ¼ cup of distilled water.
• Use a motorized blender to mix all the ingredients well.

Step 2. Put it in a spray bottle

• Transfer the liquid to a spray bottle and store it in the refrigerator.
• Use it as your regular aftershave.

The shelf life of this DIY cucumber aftershave is 1 week when kept refrigerated at all times.

Method 5: Vodka/Rum Aftershave

For those with tougher skin, it is best to use a vodka/rum-based homemade aftershave. The alcohol works as a disinfectant and an antiseptic, cleaning the shaven area thoroughly to prevent any infection.

The witch hazel in this recipe works as an astringent and also helps dilute the effect of the alcohol so that it doesn’t dry out your skin.

For the masculine fragrance and antiseptic properties, this DIY homemade aftershave spray recipe uses a combination of bay, lime, bergamot and cedarwood essential oils.

Things you’ll need:

• Vodka or rum (disinfectant, anti-inflammatory) – ½ tablespoon
• Witch hazel (astringent) – ¼ cup
• Bay essential oil (antiseptic) – 1 drop
• Lime essential oil (antibacterial) – 1 drop
• Bergamot essential oil (removes dirt and impurities, pleasing fragrance) – 1 drop
• Cedarwood essential oil (antiseptic, astringent) – 1 drop

Step 1. Dilute the vodka (or rum) with witch hazel

• Pour a ½ tablespoon of vodka or rum into a small container.
• Dilute it with ¼ cup of witch hazel.

Step 2. Add the essential oils

• Add 1 drop each of bay, lime, bergamot and cedarwood essential oils.

Step 3. Blend well & put the aftershave in a spray bottle

• Use a motorized blender to whisk all the ingredients.
• Pour the blend into a small spray bottle.
• Spritz the spray on your freshly shaven skin to keep it disinfected.

The shelf life of this DIY spray is 6 to 8 months when stored in a cool and dry place.

Method 6: Apple Cider Vinegar Aftershave

Apple cider vinegar is your one-stop solution for all skin-related troubles, including irritated skin after shaving. The acetic acid in it works as a potent antibacterial to kill any microbes trying to invade the razor cuts. Plus, apple cider vinegar works as an anti-inflammatory to soothe skin irritation and also leaves your skin moisturized.

This aftershave also uses glycerin to keep your skin soft and supple. The vitamin E oil in it helps to improve your skin texture.

We’ve used sandalwood and rosemary essential oils to add fragrance, but you can use any oils of your choice.

Things you’ll need:

• Apple cider vinegar (anti-inflammatory) – 4 tablespoons
• Vegetable glycerin (moisturizes skin) – ½ tablespoon
• Distilled water – 1 tablespoon
• Vitamin E oil – 1 capsule
• Rosemary essential oil (antiseptic) – 3 drops
• Sandalwood essential oil (skin brightener and anti-inflammatory) – 3 drops

Step 1. Mix apple cider vinegar, glycerin, vitamin E oil & water

• Pour 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a container.
• Add ½ tablespoon of vegetable glycerin.
• Dilute the apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of distilled water.
• Puncture and squeeze the contents of 1 vitamin E capsule into the mix.

Step 2. Add the essential oils

• Add 3 drops each of rosemary and sandalwood essential oils.
• Use a motorized blender to whisk up all the ingredients.

Step 3. Store the aftershave in a spray bottle

• Transfer the blend to a dark spray bottle.
• Use light mists of the spray on your shaven skin.

The shelf life of this DIY homemade aftershave spray recipes is 6 to 8 months when stored in a cool and dry place.

Tips for making homemade aftershave spray

• To reduce skin irritation, shave after taking a hot shower. The warm water helps to open the pores and softens the hair, making it easier to shave.
• Clean your razors regularly to prevent infections.
• Choose a shaving cream over foam, as the greasy texture of the cream allows you to maneuver the razor over your skin easily.
• You can also check out our remedies to get rid of razor bumps.
• If you are a fan of homemade all natural products, you might also want to try our DIY hair gel.