Genuine witch hazel products contain pure, natural ethyl alcohol, as defined by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) as a preservative. Alcohol-free formulations are also available.
Witch Hazel itself is not an alcohol. It is a natural distillate made from the Witch Hazel plant by a steam distillation process.
Alcohol is an organic compound and is either made through fermentation of sugars or by synthetic means.