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Bay rum is a fragrant liquid made from the leaves of the West Bay Tree and traditionally steeped in rum. It is used in men’s skin care products, with a woody, sweet, and earthy scent. The perfume originates in the West Indies and is still produced there, as well as outside the region. It is perceived as masculine and should be applied lightly.
Bay rum is a distillation of the leaves of Pimenta racemosa or the West Bay Tree. Traditionally, the leaves have been steeped in rum to extract their essential oils, although modern versions are made by blending distilled oils with a variety of tropical fragrances, leaving out the rum. This liquid is used to perfume an assortment of products, most of which are intended for men, and is typically available in markets and shops that supply men’s skin care items.
The scent of Bay rum is very characteristic. It is used in aftershaves, colognes, soaps, and moisturizers, and in addition to bay, the product can include items such as citrus, lavender, rosemary, juniper, and other fragrances. Most blends have a slightly woody, sweet and earthy scent, which will slowly dissipate throughout the day, especially when the wearer is warm.
This perfume originates in the West Indies where sailors have used the leaves of the bay tree for centuries. With the establishment of formal colonies in the West Indies, people came up with all kinds of creative ways to use local produce and bay rum was one of them. Thanks to sugar cultivation, rum would have been readily available in the area, making it convenient as a means of macerating bay leaves and other plant products from the region, such as vanilla, which originated in Mexico.
To make modern laurel rum, producers press the leaves and put them through a steam distillation process to extract the fragrant oils. Once extracted, the pure oils can be blended with carrier oils, water, and other fragrance oils to create products. Several West Indian companies continue to produce laurel rum, building on formulas they have used for decades to create a familiar product. Manufacturers outside the West Indies also make their own blends, which may use ingredients outside the tropics for a signature scent.
Because bay rum is most commonly associated with shaving products, many people perceive the scent as very masculine. While there is no particular reason why women should not wear it, if they do they may encounter a messy look and many women would find it difficult to wear the perfume well. As with any fragrance, on men or women, bay rum should be applied lightly, creating a hint of perfume, rather than an overpowering smell.
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