The 10 Best Beard Oils

GQ's beard oil roundup names Honest Amish Classic its best overall, and it has been a steady seller for years. It blends seven plant oils, among them avocado, argan and jojoba, with a woodsy mix of cedarwood, clove and anise. It's hand made in the U.S., and the bottle holds twice the usual amount. The clove, cinnamon and peppermint can sting tender skin, and sweet almond oil rules it out for anyone with a nut allergy.

For very little money, Viking Revolution Sandalwood keeps the recipe short: organic jojoba and argan oils, with sandalwood seed oil for scent. That simple base suits most skin, and there's little in it to cause a reaction. The same oil comes in a long row of other scents, and a three-scent pack lets you try a few. The dropper bottle is small, so a long beard goes through it fast, and the maker doesn't say where it's made.

If a dropper feels fussy, Jack Black Beard Oil gives a measured dose in two or three presses of its pump. Kalahari melon, marula and plum seed oils make up the base, and they sink in without leaving a greasy look. The maker leaves out parabens and synthetic fragrance, so the scent is mild and botanical. It's pricey for such a small bottle, and the long ingredient list is less simple than a two-oil blend.

Only two ingredients go into Ranger Grooming Unscented: organic jojoba and argan oils, with nothing added to clash with cologne. The brand used to sell it as Leven Rose, so you may know the old name. A list this short is a sensible start for skin that reacts to essential oils, and the brand bottles it in the U.S. It isn't odorless, though. The raw oils keep a faint natural smell that some people notice.

Bossman Jelly Beard Oil is a thick, gel-like oil, with beeswax added to avocado, jojoba, castor and other plant oils. It clings to the hair instead of running through your fingers, so it's easy to spread through a long or wiry beard and it helps tame flyaways. The squeeze bottle holds a lot and lasts. On short stubble the wax and heavier oils can feel greasy, and it contains sweet almond oil.

Shoppers who want certified organic ingredients should look at Badger Organic Beard Oil, built on babassu and jojoba oils with vitamin E and pomegranate extract. Vanilla and bergamot give it a soft, sweet scent. A pump on the clear glass bottle lets you dose with one hand and see how much is left, and the maker is a certified B Corp. It's a small bottle for the price.

Smoky palo santo wood, cardamom and dry papyrus give Cremo Palo Santo a warm, incense-like scent that reads more like cologne than grooming oil. Argan and jojoba oils do the conditioning, from a slim amber dropper bottle. Cremo sells it in drugstores as well as online, and the oil comes in several other scents. The maker doesn't post the full ingredient list on its website, which matters if fragrance bothers your skin.

Leather and cedarwood set Grave Before Shave Aphrodisiac Blend apart, a darker scent than the usual sandalwood or citrus. The bottle wears the brand's skull tattoo art, which makes it an easy gift for a bearded friend. The seller lists it as all natural and free of alcohol, but no full ingredient list turned up, so patch test it first. Photos show both dropper and pump tops, so the cap you get may vary.

A pump top and a modest price make Every Man Jack Sandalwood Teak an easy everyday pick from the drugstore aisle. Argan and borage oils soften the hair, while a little shea butter and vitamin E help the skin underneath. The maker skips parabens, phthalates and dyes, and the scent leans toward warm wood and amber. Shea makes it a touch richer than a pure oil, and the bottle runs out quickly on a full beard.

Thick, curly and coily beards get the most from SheaMoisture Beard Conditioning Oil, which pairs maracuja, or passion fruit seed, oil with fair-trade shea butter. The pump bottle holds about three times as much as a typical dropper, so it lasts a long while. It leaves out parabens, phthalates and mineral oil. The shea makes it heavy for fine or short hair, which can end up looking greasy.