DIY Essential Oil Aftershave Recipe: Gentle, Refreshing & Easy to Make

A freshly shaved face can feel wonderfully smooth—but shaving also removes surface skin cells and can leave the skin feeling tight, dry, warm, or irritated. A gentle aftershave can help replace some of that lost softness without the sting associated with traditional alcohol-heavy splashes.

This DIY essential oil aftershave recipe takes a simpler approach. Instead of alcohol, water, or complicated botanical extracts, it uses lightweight carrier oils with just a tiny amount of lavender essential oil.

The result is really an aftershave oil or serum: light enough to use sparingly on freshly shaved skin, easy to make, and much less complicated than trying to formulate a preserved water-based aftershave at home.

Lavender adds a subtle aromatic element, but it is intentionally kept at a very low concentration. Freshly shaved skin can be more reactive than usual, and more essential oil does not necessarily make a better aftershave.

🌿 Gentle Essential Oil Aftershave Recipe

This recipe makes approximately 1 ounce of aftershave oil.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons (30 mL) jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil
1–2 drops lavender essential oil
1-ounce glass dropper or pump bottle

That’s all you need.

For particularly sensitive skin, start with one drop of lavender or make the fragrance-free version below.

🧴 How to Make Your Aftershave

Pour the carrier oil into a clean, completely dry bottle.

Add one or two drops of lavender essential oil.

Close the bottle and gently roll it between your hands several times to combine the ingredients.

Label the bottle with the ingredients and preparation date, then store it somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight.

Because essential-oil drop sizes differ between bottles, any dilution calculated from drops is approximate. The purpose here is simply to keep the aromatic concentration very low.

💦 How to Use It After Shaving

Once you’ve finished shaving, rinse away all remaining shaving cream with lukewarm water.

A cool, damp washcloth placed against the freshly shaved area for several minutes can feel especially refreshing and is one of the strategies dermatologists recommend for reducing post-shave irritation and razor bumps.

Gently pat the skin dry but leave it slightly damp.

Place one or two drops of the aftershave oil between clean fingertips, spread it lightly between your hands, and gently press it onto the shaved area.

You need surprisingly little.

If your skin feels oily afterward, you’re probably using too much.

💜 Why Lavender Essential Oil?

Lavender has a soft floral-herbal fragrance that works particularly well in simple skin-care products.

For this aftershave, lavender’s main purpose is aromatic. It gives the otherwise unscented carrier oil a subtle botanical fragrance without requiring perfume or a large blend of different essential oils.

Lavender is sometimes promoted as a treatment for irritation, razor burn, cuts, and practically every other shaving problem. I would be more cautious with those claims.

Topical lavender can itself cause allergic skin reactions in some people, which is why this recipe uses such a small amount.

Think of lavender as an optional fragrance rather than the ingredient responsible for making the aftershave work.

Learn more in our Lavender Essential Oil Guide.

🌻 Why Jojoba Makes a Great Aftershave Base

Jojoba is one of my favorite carrier oils for facial products.

Technically a liquid wax rather than a conventional vegetable oil, jojoba has a light feel and excellent oxidative stability. You only need a drop or two to give freshly shaved skin a smoother, softer feel.

It also has very little aroma, allowing the lavender fragrance to remain subtle.

If jojoba feels too rich for your skin, fractionated coconut oil is another lightweight alternative.

You can explore more options in our Carrier Oils Guide.

🥥 Using Fractionated Coconut Oil Instead

Fractionated coconut oil works beautifully in this recipe.

Unlike ordinary virgin coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil remains liquid at room temperature and has very little coconut fragrance.

Simply replace the jojoba with an equal amount:

1 ounce fractionated coconut oil
1–2 drops lavender essential oil

Follow the same preparation and application instructions.

People whose skin is particularly prone to clogged pores may want to test any new facial oil on a small area before using it regularly.

🌿 Fragrance-Free Aftershave for Sensitive Skin

If your skin regularly reacts to fragrances, essential oils, or aftershaves, skip the lavender completely.

Use:

1 ounce jojoba oil or another facial oil you already tolerate

After shaving, apply only one or two drops to slightly damp skin.

That’s it.

The American Academy of Dermatology frequently recommends fragrance-free products for sensitive or easily irritated skin. Essential oils are fragrances too, even though they come from plants.

There is no reason to force an essential oil into your routine if your skin does better without one.

❄️ The Cool-Compress Trick

One of the simplest ways to make freshly shaved skin feel better doesn’t require any essential oils.

Wet a clean washcloth with cool water, wring it out, and place it gently over the shaved area for about five minutes.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a cool compress after shaving as one strategy for reducing irritation and razor bumps.

Follow with your aftershave oil or a fragrance-free moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp.

This combination can feel much more refreshing than applying a strongly scented mint or eucalyptus oil directly after shaving.

🚫 Why There’s No Peppermint in This Recipe

Peppermint sounds like an obvious aftershave ingredient because its menthol content creates an intense cooling sensation.

But freshly shaved skin doesn’t necessarily need an intense sensation.

Peppermint essential oil can irritate sensitive skin, and the strong cooling effect may feel more like burning around freshly shaved or nicked areas. It is also particularly unpleasant if accidentally transferred near the eyes.

For an everyday facial aftershave, I prefer a cool washcloth for the refreshing sensation and a much gentler aromatic ingredient such as highly diluted lavender.

🌱 What About Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil frequently appears in DIY aftershave recipes because of its antimicrobial reputation.

I wouldn’t include it automatically.

Tea tree is one of the essential oils associated with allergic contact dermatitis. Adding it to every post-shave product simply because shaving involves a razor adds another potential source of irritation.

Normal shaving does not require you to disinfect your face with concentrated essential oils.

Good shaving hygiene, a clean razor, proper technique, and gentle skin care are more important.

🍋 Should You Add Lemon or Bergamot?

Citrus oils make wonderfully fresh-smelling blends, but I would generally leave them out of a basic facial aftershave.

Certain expressed citrus essential oils can be phototoxic, meaning they can increase the risk of a skin reaction when treated skin is subsequently exposed to ultraviolet light.

That isn’t particularly convenient for an aftershave that may be used in the morning shortly before going outdoors.

Keeping the recipe simple avoids the issue altogether.

🧪 Essential Oils Still Need Dilution

Natural doesn’t mean non-irritating.

Essential oils are concentrated aromatic mixtures containing dozens or even hundreds of chemical constituents. Some can cause irritant or allergic contact dermatitis.

DermNet specifically advises against applying neat, undiluted essential oils directly to the skin because doing so can increase the risk of sensitization.

Freshly shaved facial skin is not the place to experiment with unusually strong concentrations.

That is why this recipe uses only one or two drops in an entire ounce of carrier oil.

Read more in our Guide to Essential Oil Blending Ratios.

✋ Test the Aftershave First

Before incorporating a new essential-oil blend into your daily shaving routine, try a small amount on healthy skin.

Watch for:

Redness
Burning
Itching
Swelling
Rash
Persistent stinging

Stop using the product if a reaction develops.

Allergic contact dermatitis can sometimes appear after repeated exposure rather than during the first application.

If you repeatedly develop reactions to fragranced grooming products, consider switching to fragrance-free skin care and discussing persistent symptoms with a dermatologist.

🪒 Better Shaving Technique Means Less Razor Burn

Aftershave can only do so much.

If shaving routinely leaves your skin red, burning, or covered in bumps, improving your shaving technique may make a much bigger difference than changing your aftershave.

Dermatologists recommend wetting the skin and hair before shaving so the hair becomes softer.

Use a moisturizing shaving cream or gel rather than shaving dry.

Shave in the direction the hair grows rather than repeatedly shaving against the grain.

Use light pressure and rinse your razor frequently.

A sharp blade matters too. The American Academy of Dermatology advises replacing a disposable razor or blade after approximately five to seven shaves to help reduce irritation.

🚿 Shave After a Shower

One of the easiest ways to improve a shave is simply to change when you do it.

Hair becomes softer after exposure to warm water.

Shaving at the end of a shower—or first applying a warm, damp washcloth—can therefore make facial hair easier to cut.

Apply a moisturizing shaving cream, allow it to soften the hair, and then shave gently in the direction of growth.

When you’re finished, rinse thoroughly and follow with the cool-compress technique.

🪒 Don’t Press Too Hard

A close shave does not require forcing the razor into the skin.

Excessive pressure can contribute to irritation, nicks, and razor bumps.

Use short, gentle strokes instead.

Try not to repeatedly pass over the same patch of skin. If the razor is pulling or requires significant pressure to remove hair, it may be time for a new blade.

🌱 Razor Burn vs. Razor Bumps

Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, razor burn and razor bumps aren’t exactly the same problem.

Razor burn is irritation caused by shaving and may result in redness, tenderness, burning, or itching.

Razor bumps, also known as pseudofolliculitis barbae, occur when shaved hairs grow back into the skin and trigger inflammation.

People with tightly curled facial hair can be particularly prone to razor bumps.

Changing shaving technique can make an enormous difference. Shaving in the direction of hair growth, avoiding an excessively close shave, and using an appropriate razor may help.

🧴 Oil or Moisturizer After Shaving?

You don’t necessarily need to choose one forever.

A light facial oil can work well for someone whose skin enjoys oils and who wants a very minimal post-shave routine.

A properly formulated moisturizer may be more appropriate when your skin needs additional hydration because moisturizers can contain combinations of water, humectants, emollients, and occlusives.

If your skin tends to feel particularly dry after shaving, try a fragrance-free facial moisturizer first.

The most useful aftershave is the one your skin actually tolerates—not necessarily the one with the longest ingredient list.

🌿 Why This Recipe Doesn’t Contain Water

Many DIY aftershave recipes combine water, witch hazel, aloe vera, essential oils, and other ingredients in a bottle.

That seems wonderfully simple, but it creates two formulation problems.

First, essential oils do not dissolve in water. Shaking the bottle temporarily breaks the oil into droplets, but that does not create a reliably solubilized product.

Second, a homemade product containing significant amounts of water generally requires an appropriate preservation system to help control microbial contamination.

Rather than turning a beginner aftershave into a cosmetic-formulation project, this recipe stays completely water-free.

That makes it much easier to prepare correctly.

🧫 Water Changes DIY Skin-Care Safety

Once you introduce water, aloe juice, hydrosols, herbal tea, or other water-based ingredients into a homemade cosmetic, bacteria, yeast, and mold become much more significant concerns.

A preserved lotion or aftershave can certainly be made, but it needs to be formulated with an appropriate preservative, compatible ingredients, and suitable manufacturing procedures.

Simply keeping a homemade water-based aftershave in the refrigerator is not equivalent to proper preservation.

If you want an easy beginner project, an oil-based formula is much more forgiving.

🍃 What About Witch Hazel?

Witch hazel is a popular traditional aftershave ingredient.

Commercial witch hazel products vary considerably. Some contain alcohol, some are alcohol-free, and some contain additional fragrance or other ingredients.

If you already have a commercial witch hazel product that your skin tolerates, you may prefer using it separately before applying a tiny amount of facial oil.

I would not simply pour essential oil into a bottle of witch hazel, however, because the essential oil may not remain properly dispersed without an appropriate solubilization system.

🔥 Don’t Put Aftershave on Cuts

If you’ve nicked yourself while shaving, avoid rubbing essential oil into the cut.

Essential oils are not needed to clean or close an ordinary shaving nick.

Apply gentle pressure with a clean tissue or cloth until minor bleeding stops.

If an area is actively bleeding, significantly damaged, or unusually irritated, leave the essential-oil blend off that area.

🧔 Can You Use This on Your Neck?

Yes, provided the skin is healthy and you tolerate the ingredients.

The neck is often one of the areas most prone to razor irritation, so use the blend very sparingly.

One drop of finished aftershave oil may be sufficient for both the lower face and neck.

Again, more oil does not necessarily mean more moisture. Applying excessive oil can simply leave the skin feeling greasy.

🦵 Can You Use It After Shaving Your Legs?

Yes.

Although this recipe is especially convenient for facial shaving, it can also be used sparingly on other freshly shaved areas of healthy adult skin.

For larger areas such as the legs, you may want to use plain jojoba or fractionated coconut oil rather than increasing the amount of essential oil.

A fragrance-free moisturizer is another excellent option after body shaving.

🌸 Can You Change the Essential Oil?

You can, but check the topical safety information for the particular oil before substituting it.

Not every essential oil should automatically be used at the same concentration or in a leave-on facial product.

For a basic aftershave, simplicity is an advantage.

Lavender alone provides a pleasant fragrance without turning your recipe into a complicated blend.

If you want to experiment with fragrance combinations later, our Essential Oil Blends & Recipes hub has plenty of ideas for other applications.

🏷️ Label Your Bottle

Even a two-ingredient recipe deserves a label.

Write down:

Carrier oil used
Essential oil used
Date made

If you later experiment with different carriers or concentrations, labeling makes it much easier to remember which version your skin preferred.

🌡️ Storing Your Homemade Aftershave

Keep the bottle tightly closed and store it away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Because this formula contains no water, it does not present the same preservation challenges as a lotion or water-based splash. The carrier oil can still oxidize over time, however.

Discard the product if you notice a significant change in aroma, appearance, or texture.

Starting with fresh carrier and essential oils will give you the best results.

👶 Keep the Recipe for Adult Use

This recipe is written as an adult grooming product.

Children do not need essential-oil aftershave products, and essential oils have age-specific safety considerations.

Keep both the finished blend and concentrated essential-oil bottle securely stored away from children and pets.

🤰 Pregnancy & Sensitive Skin

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, the fragrance-free version is the simplest choice if you have questions about essential-oil exposure.

NCCIH notes that little is known about lavender’s safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

People with eczema, rosacea, fragrance allergies, or highly sensitive facial skin may also find that plain fragrance-free skin care is much more comfortable after shaving.

An essential oil is optional.

🚫 If It Burns, Don’t Assume That’s Normal

The traditional alcohol-based aftershave experience has taught generations of people to expect a dramatic sting.

But burning isn’t necessary for an aftershave to work.

The American Academy of Dermatology specifically advises stopping an aftershave if it burns or stings and trying another product.

A product doesn’t need to hurt to prove that it is doing something useful.

Freshly shaved skin usually benefits more from gentle treatment than from an aggressive sensory experience.

❤️ The Bottom Line

A homemade aftershave doesn’t need alcohol, five essential oils, complicated botanical extracts, or an intense cooling burn.

For a simple DIY version, all you really need is a lightweight carrier oil and—if your skin tolerates fragrance—a tiny amount of lavender essential oil.

Use the blend sparingly on healthy skin, keep the essential-oil concentration low, and don’t hesitate to leave lavender out altogether if your face prefers fragrance-free products.

Good shaving technique matters just as much as what you apply afterward. Soften the hair first, use a moisturizing shave product, shave in the direction of growth, keep your razor sharp, rinse well, and finish with a cool compress.

Then add a drop or two of your homemade aftershave oil for a soft, simple finish.

Sometimes the gentlest recipe is also the easiest one to make.