How to Use This Calculator
- Choose herb state — fresh (undried) or dried. Fresh triggers the moisture-correction mode.
- Enter your herbs — add one or more herbs with their weights. The tool calculates a combined batch.
- Set moisture % (fresh herbs only) — use the reference presets or enter your own measured value. This is the critical step most other tools skip.
- Choose your herb-to-menstruum ratio — e.g. 1:5 means 1 g of herb per 5 mL of menstruum. Lower numbers = stronger tincture.
- Set your target alcohol % — the percentage you want in the final menstruum.
- Choose your spirit — single spirit + water (most common), or blend two spirits (for flavor or hitting unusual targets).
- Results show ethanol needed, water to add, the herb's water contribution, total menstruum, herb concentration per mL, and how many bottles the batch fills.
Why Moisture Correction Matters for Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs release their water content into the menstruum during maceration. A batch of lemon balm at 83% moisture contributes a substantial amount of water — enough to drop a 95% ethanol menstruum to well under 60% if not accounted for. By measuring your herb's moisture and entering it here, you calculate exactly how much extra water the plant contributes, then compensate by starting with more concentrated ethanol or less added water.
This is why clinical herbalists and those working with dose-dependent or potent herbs always correct for moisture. The folk method (cover-the-herb) produces variable results; weight-to-volume with moisture correction produces consistent, reproducible potency batch after batch.
Key formulas used:
Water from herb (mL) = Herb weight (g) × Moisture% ÷ 100
Total menstruum (mL) = Herb weight (g) × Ratio
Ethanol needed (mL) = Total menstruum (mL) × Target ABV% ÷ Spirit ABV%
Water to add (mL) = Total menstruum (mL) − Ethanol needed (mL) − Water from herb (mL)
Two-spirit blend uses alligation medial: Vol_A / Vol_B = (Target − ABV_B) / (ABV_A − Target)
Source: Juliette Abigail Carr, Old Ways Herbal; Avery Apothecary; Herbal Academy
Water from herb (mL) = Herb weight (g) × Moisture% ÷ 100
Total menstruum (mL) = Herb weight (g) × Ratio
Ethanol needed (mL) = Total menstruum (mL) × Target ABV% ÷ Spirit ABV%
Water to add (mL) = Total menstruum (mL) − Ethanol needed (mL) − Water from herb (mL)
Two-spirit blend uses alligation medial: Vol_A / Vol_B = (Target − ABV_B) / (ABV_A − Target)
Source: Juliette Abigail Carr, Old Ways Herbal; Avery Apothecary; Herbal Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does fresh herb moisture matter in tincture making?
Fresh herbs contain significant water — typically 60–85% by weight. When you add them to your menstruum that water is released into the liquid, diluting the alcohol percentage below your target. If you use 95% grain alcohol without accounting for the plant's water, your final tincture may end up at only 50–60% alcohol. The moisture correction step calculates exactly how much water the herb will contribute, then adjusts your ethanol and added-water volumes so the final blend hits your target alcohol percentage.
What is the weight-to-volume ratio in tincture making?
The weight-to-volume (WtV) ratio expresses grams of herb per milliliter of total menstruum. A 1:5 ratio means 1 gram of herb to 5 mL of menstruum. For fresh plants, a 1:2 ratio is common (more concentrated because the fresh plant is denser with moisture). For dried herbs, 1:4 to 1:6 is typical. The ratio determines potency — the lower the second number, the stronger the tincture.
What alcohol percentage should I use for my herbal tincture?
The right alcohol percentage depends on what plant constituents you want to extract. 25–40% alcohol works for water-soluble constituents like minerals, mucilage, and some glycosides. 40–60% is the standard range for most dried herbs and covers both alcohol- and water-soluble compounds. 60–75% suits fresh aromatic herbs, berries, and resinous plants. 85–95% (near-pure grain alcohol) is reserved for gums, resins, and essential-oil-rich materials.
How do I dilute 190-proof grain alcohol to a target percentage?
Use the formula: ethanol_needed = target_abv% × total_menstruum ÷ spirit_abv%. For 190-proof (95%) ethanol: if you need 500 mL at 60% alcohol, you need 500 × 0.60 ÷ 0.95 = 315.8 mL of 190-proof, then add 500 − 315.8 = 184.2 mL of water. This calculator performs that math automatically, including fresh-plant water correction.
What is a typical moisture content for common fresh herbs?
Moisture content varies by plant part: leafy fresh herbs (lemon balm, nettle, mint) are typically 80–85% water. Berries and juicy roots run 75–80%. Woody roots and barks are 50–65%. Dense roots like fresh echinacea root are around 70%. Measure exactly by weighing a small fresh sample, drying it fully, and reweighing — weight loss divided by fresh weight equals moisture percentage.
Can I use two different alcohols to blend my menstruum?
Yes. Some herbalists blend high-proof grain alcohol with a lower-proof spirit like brandy or vodka for flavor, or to hit a specific target percentage between two available spirits. The calculator uses the alligation method to find the exact volumes of each spirit needed. Enable two-spirit blend mode, enter each spirit's proof, and the tool calculates how much of each to use for your target menstruum.
How do I calculate how much menstruum I need if I know my jar size?
Start with your herb weight (not jar size). Multiply the herb weight in grams by your chosen ratio to get total menstruum in mL. The jar should hold both the herb and the menstruum — a rough guide is to add the herb weight (in grams ≈ mL) to the menstruum volume to estimate your jar capacity. For example, 100 g of herb at 1:5 ratio needs 500 mL menstruum; allow for a 600–700 mL jar.
This tool is for educational and home-herbalism guidance only. It does not constitute medical advice. Tincture formulation for clinical or commercial use should be reviewed by a qualified medical herbalist or pharmacist. All results are estimates; actual alcohol percentages depend on accurate measurement and pressing technique.