An Easy, Natural 2 part Mustache Wax Recipe

(With instructions for creating a personal fragrance)

This is the ” Mustache Wax Recipe”  from the post “A Mustachio Twirl to save the world”.
The post, in essence, gives some history about Vaseline and our destructive relationship with petroleum products. It presents Lanolin, a natural oil drawn from sheep’s wool, as a “Green”, sustainable and renewable resource that is remarkably similar to our own natural skin oils. Vaseline is not the best product for our bodies, in many cases it is simply bad for us. It is a petroleum product, and as such, its production, use and disposal are not good things for the planet. Lanolin is by far a much healthier alternative for our skin, hair and the planet. We have a choice, and in 99% of instances in our everyday lives, we do not need to use Vaseline instead of Lanolin. A little choice, but who knows how much of a difference we could all make if we ceased to use petroleum products wherever we could.
This variation of a Mustache wax recipe, is based on an “Antique” recipe from the late 1800’s that uses Vaseline and Beeswax. It is reproduced abundantly online, and no one has bothered to change it or offer a healthier alternative till now. I have replaced the Vaseline with Lanolin. The results are wonderful, in its colour, texture and fragrance, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Lanolin predated Vaseline in an earlier , or original incarnation of the recipe. I believe if we all make small choices to use renewable resources instead of petroleum products, we can have a positive impact on the world. Seriously, I am pretty sure things are not going to improve on their own.

For more information on the subject, feel free to read the posts, “A mustachio twirl to save the world“, and “Upcycling an Antique grooming wax .”

  Here is one small contribution.

A  simple, natural and easy, 2 part  Mustache Wax Recipe

• 100 grams Beeswax
• 100 grams Lanolin
• Pot for double boiler
• 2 Mason jars, 250 ml to 500 ml. capacity
• Stir sticks, wooden or other type of spoon
• Containers or moulds for mustache Wax

– Optional; Essential oils for fragrance, 2% of the volume of the finished product, maximum. (This means a total of 6 ml. For 300 ml mustache wax or 4 ml. essential oils For 200 ml mustache wax).

Shave or break Beeswax into a glass jar

• Scoop Lanolin into a separate jar
• Put both jars into a cold water bath or double boiler ( See Solid Mustache Wax Recipe). for instructions.
• Bring water bath to a boil.
• When both materials have  turned liquid and reached the same temperature, add 1/2 of the Lanolin to the Beeswax.
• Stir well and do a cold plate test. ( Put a drop of hot wax on a plate, let it cool to room temperature. Test consistency. If it is too hard, add more Lanolin to the mustache wax till it reaches the pliability you desire.)  Repeat this test till you have exactly the consistency you need. Since everyone’s facial hair is different, you will have to adjust it to your own needs.
• I have found that a ratio of 4 parts Beeswax to 3 parts Lanolin, works well for my mustache.
•  DO NOT melt both materials in the same container! They will not combine properly.
•  DO NOT use a Microwave for heating your materials! Items such as Beeswax will combust without warning or smoking if overheated. A microwave gives little control over the process and will not contribute to a high quality product.

At this point, when you are happy with the consistency, you can either pour your hot, liquid mustache wax into jars, containers or moulds, (carefully), and clean up while your creation cools. Or, you can take your Mustache Wax a step further and create a personal fragrance, a scent that represents you,  pleases you, or one based on the therapeutic value of essential oils, and takes advantage of their position under your nose where you will be inhaling them. This can be as simple as adding one essential oil to your wax during the cool down period, ( Up to 2 %), or creating a more complex signature scent.

As I suggest in a  “Solid Mustache Wax Recipe”, this is a wonderful opportunity to explore our creativity and the fragrant gifts of nature. There are many essential oils that will work well with the scents of beeswax and Lanolin. It is a rich rewarding area of self-expression and creativity to explore.

How to create your own signature fragrance in a homemade Grooming Wax

(These instructions apply to most homemade male grooming products for beards and mustaches. Though they were written as part of “An easy 2 part Mustache Wax Recipe”, and are phrased thus, they are pretty much universal. It is safe to say, most of the basic ingredients in beard and mustache grooming recipes, are considered base to middle notes from a perfume perspective. Beeswax, Lanolin, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Kokum Butter, most of the fragrant  tree oleoresins we use, such as Myrrh, Frankincense etc., all share this common trait. This means one can use the instructions below, and the standard perfume “convention” of building a fragrance from a base accord or note, through to  a middle and top note, for most male grooming product recipes. So whether your recipe incorporates Lanolin or Cocoa Butter,  Frankincense resin, or a combination of them all, the following guidlines will work  just as well.)

When you have removed your mustache wax from the water bath, while it is hot and in its jar, is the perfect time to add essential oils that will compliment the scents of the Beeswax and Lanolin.  If you have a little experience, or an idea of how you want your product to smell, you can premix essential oils before you set up the water bath, set them aside, and add them during the cool down phase. You can do any tweaking and adjusting of the scent before it cools and thickens.
Otherwise, add your choice of essential oils one at a time while it is cooling down. If it gets too thick before you have finished adding essential oils, put it back in the water bath till it is liquid again, then pull it out and continue creating the scent you desire.

Keep in mind that the hot wax will accelerate the evaporation of volatile  oils, and your mustache wax will smell substantially stronger while it is hot, than when it is cool and solid. Adjust the strength of the fragrance accordingly.

I always make sure to write down the names of the essential oils I intend to use, while leaving a corresponding blank space for the quantity. Immediately after dispensing each essential oil, I mark down the quantity I added, leaving enough room to accommodate further tweaking and adjusting.  This way I can keep accurate track of the formula and reproduce it in the future. Remember that you can always re-melt your mustache wax at a later date and continue your work on the consistency or fragrance of your grooming wax.

    There is a convention in perfume making, that one should start with the “Lower”, base notes first, and work ones way up to the more fleeting delicate notes when constructing a fragrance. This works well for us in this case because the Lanolin and the Beeswax are both base to middle notes, and provide a great foundation to build your scent on.

If you would like to flesh out your base “accord” a little more, a drop of Clove or some Labdanum will work well with the Lanolin and Beeswax.  If you are lucky enough to have some Oud essential oil, that rare, exotic oil, distilled from a fungus that transforms dying wood, I have a feeling it could work very well with the beeswax Lanolin mix.  Just an educated guess. Beware of its strength though! Use only a minute amount so it doesn’t overpower the rest of the scents. The same can be said of the Clove essential oil. It too is very powerful, start with only a drop. Test and see if it really needs more. You can always add a drop at the end if you think it does. Some  other Base notes you could use are-Vanilla,  all the Cedars, Myrrh, any type of Frankincense, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Vetiver (light hand with both!),  Benzoin, Balsam Tolu,  Balsam Peru, etc..

(Note, you could add only one essential oil to your mustache wax, and that could be sufficient to create a unique and well-balanced personal fragrance! This need not be a complex endeavour. It can be the beginning of an exploration of fragrance, and getting to know one essential oil in depth, is a wonderful way to start!)

Middle notes would be next. Some common middle note essential oils are Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cypress, Nutmeg, Pine and  the Spruces, Neroli, Bay etc.
Some “Top” notes that might work well, are; Pettigrain, lemon, tangerine, Lime, hyssop, Cinnamon etc.
There is extensive information online, if you seek a more comprehensive list of essential oils, where to find them and how to use them to create fragrances. Using these oils, you can create your own signature fragrance. Just remember, to Always record every drop of essential oil you add. Keep clear notes.
At this point I would like to point out the obvious, that scent is a very powerful sense. Scent is deeply connected with our emotions and memories. People will remember you by your scent and associate you with a particular scent. The therapeutic effects of aromatherapy are well researched. We are affected physically, emotionally and mentally by fragrances and essential oils. Another reason to use only natural oils and not chemical aromas.
Scent is powerful and can be used intentionally.  Scent can move us, and move others. At the very least we should wear scents that we like, or scents that make us feel good. Essential oils can also be chosen for their therapeutic value as well as their esthetic impact on our senses.  Even a mustache wax could be intentionally crafted for its therapeutic properties, its physical, emotional and mental effect on us. There is much to learn and explore!

In the last batch of Lanolin/Beeswax mustache wax I made, I added Frankincense Rivae essential oil, and found it worked extremely well. A few drops of Pettigrain and Neroli lifted it, and gave it a “sparkle”, while a dash of Labdanum, Benzoin and Clove lent it a creamy smooth ,warm masculine base.

Explore, experiment, and most of all enjoy the process. Being a man is a special gift. Women have their natural gifts, and we have ours.  Celebrate the gender you were given this time around.

And remember, always take notes.
Your future self will thank you.

Dan

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