I think you're onto something with the evaporation idea. From my experience, airing things out can definitely help mellow harsher smells—especially when dealing with herbal extracts or tinctures. Gentle warmth could speed things along, but I'd be cautious here; too much heat might alter or damage the beneficial compounds you're trying to preserve.
One thing I've noticed personally is that patience often pays off. A friend of mine once made a peppermint tincture that initially smelled super strong and medicinal, almost unpleasant. She was tempted to toss it, but after leaving it loosely covered for a couple days, the harshness faded significantly. It ended up being pretty pleasant actually.
So, don't be discouraged if your first attempts are a bit... intense. Experimenting like this is half the fun, and you learn a lot through trial and error. Keep at it, you're probably closer than you think.
Good points all around, airing it out can definitely mellow things down. But have you thought about diluting it a bit, too? Sometimes just adding a neutral carrier oil or even a little alcohol (depending on your extraction method) can help tone down the intensity without losing too much potency.
I remember making a clove tincture once that was basically overpowering—like, seriously numbing strong. I aired it out for a day or two, and it improved somewhat but still wasn't quite right. Ended up mixing it with some coconut oil and let it sit another couple days. That diluted the harshness enough to make it usable, and actually turned into something pretty nice for toothaches (go figure, right?).
Speaking of dental stuff... if you're dealing with anything minty or herbal that's tasting medicinal or sharp, sometimes just adding a touch of sweetness can help balance things out. Honey or glycerin can smooth over rough edges without completely masking your herbs.
Also curious: Did you strain your tincture thoroughly after extraction? Sometimes leftover plant material can keep releasing bitter or intense compounds over time. Doing another careful strain through cheesecloth or even coffee filters might help clean up any lingering funkiness.
Anyway, like others said—don't toss it yet. These things usually mellow with time and tweaking. You're probably closer than you think!
Great suggestions here, especially about diluting and sweetening. I've had a similar experience with a homemade peppermint tincture—it was so strong it felt like mouthwash on steroids, lol. I initially thought airing it out would help, but it stayed pretty intense. Ended up mixing in a bit of almond oil and a tiny bit of vegetable glycerin, and that really smoothed things out nicely. It mellowed the sharpness without losing the cooling effect.
Also, totally agree about straining thoroughly. I once rushed through filtering an herbal mouth rinse and regretted it later—bits of plant matter kept releasing bitterness over time. A second careful strain through a coffee filter made a huge difference.
If you're still stuck after trying dilution and straining, maybe consider blending it into something else entirely? Sometimes adding a few drops into a homemade toothpaste or mouthwash can mask the weirdness and still let you benefit from the herbs. Just a thought... hope you find something that works!
Good points about dilution and blending, but I'd be cautious about mixing tinctures directly into toothpaste or mouthwash. Alcohol-based tinctures can sometimes irritate sensitive gums or soft tissues, even when diluted. I've seen patients who thought they were doing something beneficial but ended up with mild irritation or dryness. Maybe test a tiny amount first to see how your mouth reacts before fully committing to that approach... just to be safe.
Good reminder about alcohol-based tinctures—I’ve seen similar issues with patients who got a bit too enthusiastic about DIY herbal mouth rinses. If someone did accidentally make their tincture way too strong, would diluting it further with something neutral like coconut oil help ease irritation?
