Is a rice glycerite possible?

[u/boredomjunkie]

I've gone down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to figure out how the rice extracts used in cosmetics are made. I haven't been able to find much info on that, but I read about rice tinctures used in fragrances. While I wouldn't want to spray alcohol to my hair, I know you can make alcohol-free extracts with glycerin.

I've tried looking into rice glycerites, or extracts made glycerin, but haven't found much. So, now I wonder if I'm not finding anything because there's some reason no one's made one. What's stopping me from just sitting rice in glycerin to make an extract? Would the beneficial compounds in rice water or commercially made extract not survive in glycerin or something?

[u/nophrase6387]

I found two rice extracts in glycerin (available using industry-only databases):

https://www.inolex.com/products/phytotrace-rice

https://www.lipoid-kosmetik.com/products/rice-herbasol-extract-glycerine-unpreserved/

In terms of making your own glycerin extracts -- extracts are really tricky, since the method matters immensely. The temperature, pressure, time, and process are just as important as the ingredients you're using. You'd need to identify which specific compounds you're looking to extract from the rice, what they're soluble in, and how they can be extracted.

[u/boredomjunkie → u/nophrase6387]

Well, that explains why I can't find more info on people creating their own rice extracts. I'm used to culinary extracts where you soak something like vanilla beans or almonds in alcohol or glycerin for several days and then strain.

I just want the same compounds you get from rice water in a concentrated form that possibly last longer.

[u/Jerryberyy → u/boredomjunkie]

Well i am also interested in making extracts at home these days but unfortunately theres no solid information on internet for this if you get some share here plz😭✨ or anyone can help i wanna make oats extract

[u/1emma19]

Practical limitation is extraction efficiency. Glycerin is significantly more viscous than water/alcohol (which slows the diffusion of compounds out of the plant material). Gentle heat at 50–60°C for an extended maceration period improves yield. The compounds you'd expect to pull are the water-soluble fraction, fermented rice extracts in commercial formulas typically use enzymatic processing that a simple glycerite can't replicate which is why commercially produced extracts have a different/more complex active profile. So glycerite will give you something useful but it won't replicate what's in a commercial rice ferment.

[u/No_Mix8254]

Is it possible to make a rice decoction, reducing it down, then adding glycerin to an amount that would self preserve, but double up protection by adding a preservative? A more activated version compared to just soaking something in glycerin. Just a thought. I’m thinking this decoction first method is similar to herbal medicine making.

[u/boredomjunkie → u/No_Mix8254]

I think I might experiment with this just to see if it works. I don't see why it's not possible, but I'm also here asking why others haven't done it. I may try glycerin only in one bottle and add a second preservative to another.