Honey Vanilla Vinegar Rinse + Toner

[Jadryga]

Finally! I've found something that really helps with the smell!

I've been using apple cider vinegar rinses and toners for several months, and DH usually complains about that faint, slightly sour, vinegary smell that lingers no matter what I do, so I've been experimenting with a lot of things - honey, tea, essential oils, etc.

But then I stumbled onto something in my local organic grocer... vanilla powder! Added to my vinegar concoctions, it sweetens it considerably and leaves a pleasant lingering scent. The organic vanilla powder I use is a lovely creamy beige and is a little pricier, but smells much more robustly vanilla than the cheaper white synthetic vanilla powder.

Honey Vanilla Vinegar Hair Rinse

1 cup acv infused with herbs (I use rosemary, hisbiscus and nettle)

3 tbsp honey (I use manuka or rewarewa)

1/4 tsp organic vanilla powder

a few drops of eo (optional)

Mix them all and bottle. After shampooing (don't laugh :embarasse , but I use one of my pet soaps - it's mild, I like the clean soapy smell and the sulfur's good for my hair and scalp), stir a tablespoon of rinse into 3-4 cups of water then use the water to give your hair a final rinse. I have very thick hair that comes down to 2-3 inches below my shoulders, so I use quite a bit. If you like, you can rinse a final time in the shower before drying off. I find I generally don't need to use conditioners anymore, though you may if you want a little extra for your hair.

Honey Vanilla Vinegar Face Toner

3/4 cup strongly brewed tea (the lazy bum in me uses a few bags of Tazo Chamomile Tea in a mug of hot water. The ingredients are agreeable to me and I love the smell as it's brewing )

1/2 tsp acv

1/2 tsp honey

1/4 tsp organic vanilla powder

preservative (optional, I don't add it myself, but I make small batches that I finish fast)

Mix and bottle. Swipe on skin after cleansing and before moisturizer. I soak a cotton pad with it and sweep it over my skin. It'll take a minute to soak in. If it's faintly sticky, it'll go away once it dries I once tried adding aspirin in to make a multipurpose toner, but I didn't like the granules on my skin everyday, so I'll stick to the occasional aspirin mask, I think. Sometimes when I'm feeling particularly lazy, I just use it as a facial cleanser

These recipes can be altered to suit - some might like more vanilla, some might like less, but too much vanilla and honey can make your hair & skin a little sticky. Some might like hydrosols or witch hazel for the face toner (I know I would, but I don't have any handy )

Anyhow, just thought I'd share

[jaybyrd]

Brilliant. I wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks for the tip!

Jeri

[elegantnaturals]

I do something similar with my toner but use a combination of green tea and chamomile. I then add in aloe liquid, and a hydrosol (at the moment its lavender). To top it off, I add in some tea tree oil. Very nice to my skin! Now I'm working on a recipe for an oily skin lotion with a bit of kaolin clay thrown in.