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You are here: Home / Foraging / How to Make Witch Hazel Extract

How to Make Witch Hazel Extract

December 11, 2020 by Ashley Adamant 26 Comments

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Witch Hazel Extract is known for its antimicrobial and astringent properties, and it’s been used for centuries as a natural disinfectant and wound cleanser.  Learn how to make your own witch hazel extract in a few easy steps.

Homemade witch hazel extract

Homemade witch hazel extract

Witch hazel extract can be found at just about any health food store or natural foods coop, and it’s pretty common in everyday grocery stores and drug stores too. 

The problem is, the pre-packaged witch hazel extract available in stores has very little actual witch hazel inside.  It’s almost all alcohol, which is also a disinfectant, but if you wanted a bottle of isopropyl alcohol you could easily buy it for 1/10th the price.

High-quality witch hazel extract is usually advertised as “low alcohol witch hazel,” which is much more expensive, but only has around 12-16% alcohol to preserve the fresh plant extract.  (It’s also much more expensive.)

Why buy it, when you can just make it?

Learning to make witch hazel extract means you always have the knowledge to craft your own natural herbal anti-microbial cleanser, whether you’re deep in the backwoods or simply crafting in your kitchen.

What is Witch Hazel?

American witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a really unique shrub native that can be found all across the eastern half of North America (range map).  It’s a perennial bush that grows no more than a few meters tall, and has many stems originating from the roots.

Wild witch hazel can be found near streams, ditches, and wet lowlands, but it’s also commonly cultivated as an ornamental.  The unique blooms look like streamers bursting out of the central blossom, and showy varieties have been bred to almost look like pompoms.

My native witch hazel is much more subdued, but the blossoms are still unique and beautiful.

witch hazel blossoms in late November

witch hazel blossoms in late November

Witch hazel blooms in the late fall, long after everything else has gone dormant.  Here in Vermont, blossoms appear around thanksgiving and persist until mid-December.  Our first frost is usually sometime in September, and we often have snow on the ground by October…so that’s rather late indeed.

A related species, Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) grows further south and actually blooms mid-winter.

If you can positively identify witch hazel in the wild, the best time to harvest is actually during bloom or right after, as that’s when the medicinal constituents are the most concentrated in the plant tissues. 

(I’ve also read other sources that say it’s best to harvest during spring when it’s just breaking bud and sap is running, so clearly there’s some disagreement on this based on the source you check.  Regardless of the “best” time, it can be harvested year-round.)  

All the aerial parts of the plant are used, including the leaves, bark, and small twigs.  I’m harvesting small twigs and flowers right as they’ve past prime, which is usually when I notice witch hazel in the landscape.

harvesting witch hazel

harvesting witch hazel

You can also just purchase dried witch hazel bark, which is easy enough to have on hand year-round.  Starwest Botanicals sells dried witch hazel leaf, and other online sources sell dried witch hazel bark, so you can take your pick.

When using leaves, witch hazel extract is made as a gentle infusion (like making tea).  For bark and twigs, they’re simmered for 20-30 minutes to make the extract.

Benefits of Witch Hazel Extract

These days, witch hazel extract is almost always used externally because what’s sold is a weak steam distillation of the twigs preserved with isopropyl alcohol.  It’s not meant for consumption, it’s meant for use as a topical disinfectant and anti-inflammatory.  

Most often you’ll see it recommended as an acne treatment, cleaning wounds, or as a cooling anti-inflammatory pad for treating hemorrhoids.

Historically, a water extract of witch hazel was made fresh and used both internally and externally.  According to Chestnut School of Herbs,

“Native Americans have long used the twigs and bark of witch hazel as a medicinal herb, both internally and topically, for a wide variety of ailments. The tea is taken to remedy sore throats, diarrhea, intestinal bleeding, colds, coughs, bruising, and to prevent postpartum hemorrhaging.

The tannins in witch hazel help lessen the inflammation of mucous membranes in sinus congestion from allergies, sinus infections, and head colds.  These same astringent tannins are also helpful for conditions related to the mouth: bleeding gums, gingivitis, and other infections.”

The Herbal Academy also has a list of benefits and uses of witch hazel, covering the various external uses of witch hazel extract for treating burns, dandruff, hemorrhoids, and many other things.

witch hazel extract

How to Make Witch Hazel Extract

Making witch hazel extract is pretty simple.  Start with about a tablespoon of witch hazel bark in a cup of water.

Commercial witch hazel bark is finely chopped so it’ll pack neatly into a tablespoon.  I just have a rough 1/4 cup of twigs which amounts to roughly the same amount.

Bring the water and bark to a simmer and gently cook for about 20-30 minutes.  The volume will reduce by about half, and you’ll have roughly 1/2 cup of witch hazel extract after you filter the plant material.

While it’s simmering, your house will smell a bit like a hospital.  The scent isn’t unpleasant, but it just smells strongly antiseptic, like an operating room after sterilization.  

Simmering witch hazel twigs to make a decoction (fresh water extract)

Simmering witch hazel twigs to make a decoction (fresh water extract)

(If using leaves, use the same ratio, 1 tablespoon chopped leaves to a cup of water, but make an infusion by steeping the leaves for around 20 minutes.)

This fresh witch hazel extract is now ready for use.  Since it’s not preserved with alcohol, it’ll spoil quickly.  Removing as much plant material as possible will help it keep longer, but in the best of cases, it’s still should be kept in the refrigerator and used within a week.

Shelf Stable Witch Hazel Extract

If you’d like to make a shelf-stable witch hazel extract, you’ll need to add alcohol.  A high proof vodka, whisky, or rum works well.  (Isopropyl alcohol will also work, but then it’s not for internal use.)

To be shelf-stable, the mixture will need at least 20% alcohol.  Some sources suggest higher, around 30% alcohol.  I’ve had homemade tinctures spoil at 20% alcohol, so now I opt for at least 25%.

The herbal academy suggests 25% for a 1-2 year shelf life, and recommends higher alcohol concentrations for longer shelf life.

If you’ve started with 1 cup of water and simmered it down to 1/2 cup extract, you’ll need to add 1/2 cup of 100 proof alcohol (50% ABV) to reach a final concentration of 25% alcohol.

I don’t happen to have any immediate use for witch hazel, so that’s what I did.  I now have a half-pint mason jar with shelf-stable witch hazel extract ready to go if needed anytime in the next year.

Since witch hazel is sometimes made as a tincture instead of a water extract, I’m going to do a double extraction here.  I’ve added the alcohol and I’ll leave the plant material in for a week or two before filtering.  After that, I’ll top off the jar with a bit more 100 proof alcohol just to be sure it stays above 25% ABV.

This isn’t the “traditional” method, and usually the plant material would be filtered before alcohol is added to stabilize the witch hazel extract.

Homemade witch hazel extract

Homemade witch hazel extract before the plant material has been filtered.

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How to Make Witch Hazel Extract

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lin Simpson

    December 15, 2020 at 11:45 am

    Any chance you have a pick of the whole plant for reference or a link to a site that shows it?

    Reply
    • Ashley Adamant

      December 21, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      Lots of good pictures here, including multiple different regional witch hazel species: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hazel

      Reply
  2. Melissa Zoller

    August 24, 2021 at 9:46 pm

    Do I add the 1/2 cup of alcohol during cooking or after?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Ashley Adamant

      August 25, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      After cooking so that the alcohol doesn’t cook off. It should be cool when you add the alcohol.

      Reply
  3. Diana

    September 23, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    I used bark that I shaved off a couple of smaller limbs. The simmered down witch hazel looks correct but how do I know if i have a “good” batch of extract?

    Reply
    • Administrator

      September 23, 2021 at 5:06 pm

      If you followed the directions in the post then you should have a good batch.

      Reply
  4. Adrianne

    October 15, 2021 at 10:28 am

    Hi! I tend to have to stay away from grain alcohol, even for external uses. Would an 80-proof potato/grape vodka (like Chopin or Lukusowa) work in terms of preservation, or does it have to be a grain-based 100 proof? Wondering if that 20 percent really does make a difference. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Administrator

      October 15, 2021 at 2:21 pm

      You could definitely use an 80 proof alcohol. The most important factor in preservation is not necessarily the type of alcohol but the percentage. You want your final alcohol percentage to be 20 to 30% and 25% is suggested for 1 to 2 year shelf-life. If it’s 80 proof, you could simply add a little more alcohol to increase the percentage or just know that it will have a little shorter shelf life.

      Reply
  5. Carol L

    November 8, 2021 at 5:57 pm

    What, please is ABV? acronyms should have a”key” so they are understandable to everyone

    Reply
    • Administrator

      November 8, 2021 at 6:47 pm

      So sorry about that. ABV means alcohol by volume. It will always be shown on the label.

      Reply
  6. William Moore

    November 9, 2021 at 3:16 am

    Great article, but where can I get a witch hazel plant?

    Reply
    • Administrator

      November 16, 2021 at 9:58 pm

      I don’t have a good source for plants but I’m sure a quick internet search should help.

      Reply
    • GinPhil

      February 19, 2022 at 10:54 am

      You can purchase with hazel bark or powder at http://www.pennherb.com.

      Reply
  7. Gwen Boyles

    November 11, 2021 at 10:34 pm

    Are the blooms used as well?

    Reply
    • Administrator

      November 16, 2021 at 9:55 pm

      Yes, you can use all aerial parts.

      Reply
  8. Hannah

    December 23, 2021 at 4:51 am

    Thanks for all the great info! Does the final product need to be diluted at all? Or can it be used as it is? X

    Reply
    • Ashley Adamant

      December 23, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      It can be used as is.

      Reply
  9. Naomi

    February 1, 2022 at 12:15 am

    Very useful infomation on how to produce witch hazel extract. Thank you very much. My question is how can I get the clear colour like the commercial ones bought in stores? I noticed that the colour advertized on your site looks brown.

    Reply
    • Administrator

      February 2, 2022 at 9:53 pm

      A proper alcohol extract will naturally have a darker color. Sometimes they are a green color or sometimes they are more brown depending on the plant material that is used. The witch hazel that is commonly found in stores doesn’t have much plant matter in it and is mainly alcohol which is why it has a clear color. Is there a particular reason why you want it to be clear?

      Reply
    • Erin

      February 12, 2022 at 6:23 am

      Actually the reason its clear is that it has been distilled. You can Google ways to distill herbal hydrosols at home with basic kitchen equipment. Or look up how to distill rose water on YouTube you’ll get lots of videos that will show you the process. Just use the same process but with witch hazel twigs and you’ll have a nice clear extract. Then add alcohol to preserve it if you aren’t using it within a few days.

      Reply
  10. Cara Bier

    March 14, 2022 at 7:32 pm

    Which Isopropyl alcohol do you recommend using 71% or 91%? How much of each would I use?

    Reply
    • Administrator

      March 17, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      You can use any kind of alcohol that you want. Just remember if you are using isopropyl alcohol that it can’t be used internally. You can use any percentage that you want, you will just need to adjust your ratios to get the proper percentage of alcohol if you want it to be shelf stable.

      Reply
  11. Gianluca

    April 28, 2022 at 2:54 pm

    Hi all,
    I was looking for a way to make homemade witch hazel and found your website.
    Everything clear, except for the part when the author says she had spoilage with a 20% alcohol: how can this be, since at 20% ethanol it could be not ideal as sanitizer but should be enough alcohol to inhibit bacterial growth indefinitely?
    Like fortified wines at 20% don’t spoil.
    Maybe she intended spoilage as change in smell, but not related to bacteria?
    Asking because would be concerned about the safety of the tincture.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Administrator

      April 29, 2022 at 4:35 pm

      The Herbal Academy recommends a higher alcohol percentage for a longer shelf life. The percentage of alcohol will vary based on the length of time that you wish to store it.

      Reply
  12. Josh

    June 19, 2022 at 10:53 am

    Thank you😊

    Reply
    • Administrator

      June 20, 2022 at 8:51 pm

      You’re very welcome.

      Reply

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I’m an off-grid homesteader in rural Vermont and the author of Practical Self Reliance, a blog that helps people find practical ways to become more self-reliant. Read More…

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