Totally get the struggle—herbal stuff can go sideways real fast. I’ve had a batch of sage rinse that was so overpowering, it felt like chewing on a Christmas wreath. Tried masking it, but nothing helped. Ever tried mixing a failed batch with a milder one, or do you just toss it when it’s too far gone? Sometimes I wonder if there’s a “rescue” trick I’m missing...
I’ve had a batch of sage rinse that was so overpowering, it felt like chewing on a Christmas wreath.
That made me laugh because I’ve been there—except mine was with clove oil. I got a little too ambitious trying to make my own mouth rinse after a rough dental cleaning, and wow, it was like gargling with potpourri. I tried diluting it with water, then with some plain saline, but the taste just lingered. Mixing it with a milder batch helped a bit, but honestly, I was so paranoid about making things worse for my gums that I ended up tossing it.
I always worry about making something too strong and then irritating my mouth even more. My dentist once told me to steer clear of DIY stuff unless I’m really sure about the ratios, and now I get why. I guess I’d rather waste a batch than risk another week of stinging gums. Sometimes I wish there was a safe “undo” button for these experiments, but for now, I just go super light-handed and cross my fingers.
I always worry about making something too strong and then irritating my mouth even more.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, sometimes I think we overthink it a bit? I’ve had a couple batches of homemade stuff go sideways—one time I made a thyme rinse that smelled like cleaning spray, and I still tried to salvage it by adding honey (don’t recommend). But I’ve also had a couple times where just letting the mix sit for a day or two mellowed it out enough to use.
I do agree that it’s easy to make things too strong and end up regretting it, but I guess I’m more willing to experiment if it means not tossing everything. Diluting, mixing with something bland, or just giving it time sometimes works out. Worst case, yeah, you waste some herbs, but it’s not the end of the world. I’m probably a little too stubborn to throw stuff out right away... but I haven’t had anything go so wrong that it made things worse for my gums. Yet, anyway.
I do agree that it’s easy to make things too strong and end up regretting it, but I guess I’m more willing to experiment if it means not tossing everything. Diluting, mixing with something bland, or just giving it time sometimes works out.
That’s honestly such a good point about experimenting and not tossing stuff right away. I’m usually the type who gets a little anxious if a batch smells off or tastes super intense—like, my brain immediately jumps to “what if this just makes things worse?” But last winter I tried making a clove and sage mouth rinse because my gums were acting up (thanks, stress), and I definitely overdid the clove. My mouth felt like it was on fire for hours. Not fun.
Instead of dumping it, I did what you mentioned—just kept diluting it with water and even added some chamomile tea to mellow it out. It actually ended up being pretty soothing after that. I think sometimes we forget that these things aren’t set in stone; you can always tweak as you go. And yeah, worst case scenario, you lose a handful of herbs and have to start over... but at least you learn what *not* to do next time.
I totally get the urge to play it safe though, especially if your mouth is already sensitive. It’s easy to get spooked by one bad reaction. But in my experience, as long as you’re not using anything super harsh (like essential oils straight up—learned that lesson the hard way), most homemade rinses are pretty forgiving if you dilute them enough. The waiting game helps too; some weird smells really do fade after a day or two.
It’s reassuring hearing other people have had similar “oops” moments without any major disasters. Makes me feel less paranoid about trying new combos, honestly.
Have you ever tried adding a bit of honey or xylitol to a rinse that was too bitter? I’ve found it can really help balance out strong flavors, especially if you’re making something for sensitive gums. Curious if anyone’s noticed a difference in texture or aftertaste doing that.
