Totally agree about the vodka quality making a difference. I used a cheaper brand once, thinking it wouldn't matter much, and ended up with something that smelled like rubbing alcohol mixed with herbs—not exactly appealing, haha. Switching to something mid-range definitely helped smooth things out.
Another thing I've noticed is that sometimes airing it out a bit can help mellow the harsher smells. Like, after straining, I'll leave the tincture uncovered for an hour or two (in a clean, safe spot obviously) to let some of the sharper alcohol notes evaporate. It doesn't always completely fix it, but it usually softens the scent a bit.
Also, if you're dealing with something that's just too strong or funky, diluting it slightly with distilled water can tone things down without messing up the potency too much. I've done this when I accidentally made a mouth rinse that was way too intense—just added a bit of water and it became way more pleasant to use. Might be worth trying if nothing else works out...
Haha, been there with the rubbing alcohol smell—definitely not the herbal spa vibes I was hoping for. Airing it out helps a bit, but I've also found adding a tiny bit of honey or glycerin can smooth out harsh tinctures. Just a drop or two, nothing crazy. It doesn't mask everything completely, but it softens the edges enough to make it usable. Worth a shot if airing or diluting doesn't fully do the trick...
Totally relate to the rubbing alcohol thing—my first tincture smelled like a doctor's office, lol. Honey's a good call, never thought of glycerin though...might try that next time. Honestly, sometimes just letting it sit longer helps mellow things out too. I had one batch that was borderline unusable at first, but after a couple weeks tucked away in the cabinet, it actually turned out pretty decent. Patience can be your friend with these DIY projects...
Had a similar experience with my first herbal oil extraction—ended up smelling like some weird combo of grass clippings and antiseptic wipes. Not exactly what I was going for, haha.
Did you use fresh herbs or dried ones? I've noticed using fresh plant material tends to amp up the moisture content, sometimes leading to funky smells or even mold if you're not careful. Switching to dried herbs helped me a ton—way less chance of things going south.
Also curious, what alcohol percentage did you start with? My first tincture was way too high-proof; I went straight for Everclear thinking "stronger = better," but it just ended up harsh and medicinal-smelling. Diluting it down with distilled water afterward helped somewhat, but honestly, it never fully lost that sharp smell. Maybe next time I'll try starting with something milder from the get-go.
The glycerin idea sounds interesting...doesn't that make it sweeter though? I wonder how well that would work if you're trying to keep flavors neutral or herbal. Honey's great for masking bitterness, but glycerin could be hit or miss depending on your goal.
And yeah, totally agree about patience. Letting stuff sit longer has definitely saved some of my borderline fails too. I guess some things just need time for flavors and aromas to mellow out and blend better. Ever had any luck speeding up that mellowing process—like gently heating or aerating it—or is patience really the best solution here?
I've actually found glycerin pretty neutral if you don't overdo it. It adds a subtle sweetness, sure, but nothing overpowering. Might even help smooth out that harsh medicinal edge you're getting without masking the herbal notes too much...worth a shot maybe?
