Making witch hazel

ripjack13

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So in the spring of 2019 I cut up some branches and twigs from a witch hazel tree in my yard. It had been chewed up by the gypsy moths invasion that year. So all the growth that didnt have buds sprouting were cut off and snipped into little itty bitty pieces and stuffed into a large mason jar. I poured some smirnoff vodka into the jar and filled it up a half inch over the top of the sticks. Covered it up and set it to rest in my cellar on a shelf.
I was going to filter it last year, but totally forgot all about it. So today I filtered it. I used a mesh filter first then a couple of paper filters after. It's really strong now. I may have to do this again for another 2 year batch. I had done it previously but only let it set for the summer. It wasnt as good. This time its really good.
This spring I'll do a better pic tutorial for the next batch....

Heres some pix of the jars.

0219211646_HDR.jpg

0219211645_HDR.jpg
 

Eric Rorabaugh

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Witch hazel is an anti-inflammatory. Good for hemorrhoids, cold sores, skin irritation, etc
 

ripjack13

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My wife likes to use it to clean her face.
 

Mike Hill

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Now I'm ashamed to admit that I use it as after-shaving lotion.........Does that mean my face looks like a..............NNNNNOOOooooooo!!!!!!! my mommy said I was a good looking boy! That little old lady moonshiner on Mayberry, I think her name was Jennifer was crazy about witch hazel - so I thought loose wimmen liked witch hazel. FYI it doesn't work and I studied up on my Hi Karate moves just in case!
 

Herb G.

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Jeebus. I've never seen witch hazel that dark.
I'd be afraid to use it.
Not to mention it's only $.99 a pint around here.
 

ripjack13

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Jeebus. I've never seen witch hazel that dark.
I'd be afraid to use it.
Not to mention it's only $.99 a pint around here.

Thats cuz its homemade. I still have to filter it a couple more times.....
 

Arn213

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The .99 cents a pint could have a lot more alcohol than witch hazel. The higher quality witch hazel could have only 15-20% alcohol.
 

ripjack13

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Filtered it off one more time. Lots of sediment at the bottom.
I think one more filtering should be good. Then it'll be good to go...
 
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